Abstract:

This work presents a interesting didactic strategy for teaching probability and statistics concepts, such as discrete confidence intervals and hypothesis testing about population means and proportions. Strategies require computer simulations to improve concepts understanding. It takes place in four phases:

Discovery phase:
Students engage in computer simulations and experiments using board games to analyze different situations.

Group Prediction:
Small groups are formed for students to predict outcomes relative to population averages and proportions.

Theoretical reinforcement:
Several math concepts are introduced, followed by problem solving sessions and in-class exercises.

Online assessment:
Students take online tests focusing on basic concepts.

Interactive applications are developed using Visual Basic in Excel. For example, in order to introduce the confidence interval, a ball game is proposed. The game consists of colored balls contained in a box, randomly distributed when shaken. This randomness helps establish the probability distribution for the spheres, so that color frequencies and ratios can be predicted. Excel is used to generalize the game, generating various outcome data at random. Visual Basic tools make it easy to create interactive worksheets that allow users to change input parameters. The results of these simulations are then used to determine confidence intervals and perform hypothesis testing on the population parameters. Lesson content after class, using interactive whiteboards can compare theoretical principles and simulation procedures. Finally, several learning results of students are showed.

Keywords:

Technology, Statistics, Educational Innovation, Higher Education.