Statistics Interactive Activities
(scroll down to Statistics and Probability concepts)
A set of interactive tools for exploring histograms, pie charts, boxplots, stem-leafs, and mean, median, variance, and standard deviation of data. Can enter your own data or explore the examples. www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/tools.html
An Open Learning Initiative Statistics Course
A free online course comparable to the full semester course on Statistics taught at Carnegie Mellon University. Your access includes the complete online course including all expository text, simulations, case studies, comprehension tests, interactive learning exercises and StatTutor. www.cmu.edu/oli/courses/statistics
GapMinder
Visualizing human development trends (such as poverty, health, gaps, income on a global scale) via stunning, interactive statistical graphs.
This is an interactive, dynamic tool and not just static graphs. Download the software or the reports for free.
www.gapminder.org
WorldOdometers
World statistics updated in real time. Useful for general educational purposes - for some stunning facts.
How to Lie With Statistics
A bit dated, but fun! This book remains relevant as a wake-up call for people unaccustomed to examining the endless flow of numbers pouring from Wall Street, Madison Avenue, and everywhere else someone has an axe to grind, a point to prove, or a product to sell. Statistics are rife with opportunities for misuse, from "gee-whiz graphs" that add nonexistent drama to trends, to "results" detached from their method and meaning, to statistics' ultimate bugaboo--faulty cause-and-effect reasoning.
How To Lie With Charts
The main focus of How to Lie with Charts is on the principles of persuasive-and undistorted-visual communication. It's about careful thinking and clear expression. So don't blame the computers. People are running the show.
A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper
In this book the author reveals the hidden mathematical angles in countless media stories. His real life perspective on the statistics we rely on and how they can mislead is for anyone interested in gaining a more accurate view of their world. The book is written with a humorous and knowledgeable style that makes it great reading.
You can find a chapter on probability in the following books as well:
Mathematics, a Human Endeavor: A Textbook for Those Who Think They Don't Like the Subject
Though technically a textbook, this is excellent reading for anyone who's interested in learning about math. The subjects provide the reader with a broad introduction to the mathematical sciences, including geometry, probability, combinatorics, statistics, topology and more. More importantly, Jacob's examples and explanations make it relevant and fun.
Challenge Math For the Elementary and Middle School Student
There is a great lesson at the beginning followed by practice and then three levels of questions. The author has taken concepts that are generally saved for older kids (and can be dry and tedious) and made them accessible to a younger age group. Some of the concepts are fairly simple but as you work through how to apply them with increasing difficulty to some real-world problems then it does get you thinking.
November 2009 newsletter
