08/29/08

Statistical Literacy studies summary statistics used in everyday arguments. Statistical literacy helps people read and interpret numbers in graphs, tables, statements and studies.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

Oct 10-12, PKAL-QUIRK: Q/L Conference at Carleton College (MN). Assessing Quantitative Reasoning.
Tentative schedule. Workshop details. Talks include ""The Quantitatively Reasoned Life" by Bernie Madison and Lynn Steen, "Use, Misuse, and Missed Use of Quantitative Reasoning in Student Writing" by Nathan Grawe, and "Challenges of QR Assessment" by Donna Sundre.
Jan 5-9, 2009 MAA JMM: Washington, DC. [Note the change in dates]
Quantitative Literacy Across the Curriculum: Wednesday Morning; Kimberly M. Vincent, Washington State University, and Cinnamon Hillyard, University of Washington, Bothell. There are a growing number of colleges and universities with programs that embed QL in various disciplines. We would encourage dissemination of this important work by soliciting papers from any individuals or groups actively involved in Quantitative Literacy across the curriculum. The need to interpret and make inferences from quantitative data arises in all disciplines. Individuals and teams, who have embedded QL in various disciplines or institution wide, are welcome to submit contributed papers. Papers should provide examples from various disciplines that authentically embed QL in mathematics and/or other curriculum. Preference will be given to abstracts that provide evidence on the impact of the program or projects on student learning. If you have been working with faculty from other disciplines we encourage you to bring these faculty to JMM to present with you. The session is sponsored by SIGMAA-QL. Abstracts must be submitted by Tuesday, September 16, 2008.

2008 StatLit Highlights

Aug 3-7, ASA JSM: "Statistical Literacy 2008":
Interpreting the substantive significance of multivariate regression coefficients by Jane Miller. 1up slides.
Just Plain Data Analysis by Gary Klass. 6up slides
Numbers in the News by Robert Raymond and Milo Schield, W. M. Keck Statistical Literacy Project. 6up slides and 1up slides
Using Simulation to Teach Statistical Literacy by Marc Isaacson, W. M. Keck Statistical Literacy Project. 6up slides.
Von Mises' Frequentist Approach to Probability by Milo Schield and Tom Burnham, W. M. Keck Statistical Literacy Project. 6up
Student Attitudes Toward Statistics at Augsburg by Milo and Cynthia Schield, W. M. Keck Statistical Literacy Project. 6up
Teaching Confounding and Multivariate Thinking in Introductory Statistics Roundtable by Milo Schield. 1up.
July 30-Aug 2, MAA MathFest with SIG-QL
Panelists Maura Mast, Caren Diefenderfer, Corrine Taylor, Nicole Hoover, Judy Moran & Cinnamon Hillyard discuss "Role of Q/L Centers".
Milo Schield, Augsburg College, presents Confounder Influence on Cases Attributed. 6up slides
Donald Saari, University of California at Irvine, presents "The Chaotic Evolution of Newton's Universe."
Rebecca Goldin, George Mason University, presents "The use and abuse of statistics in the media".
Panelists Miller, Saari, Hodge and Madison discuss "Math Matters: Numerate Approaches to Everyday Issues."

May 15-17: National Numeracy Network Q/L Conference at Sawyer-Colby.
What Numeracy can learn from Theories of Literacy, Eric Gaze, Alfred University 6up
Grant-Writing in Support of QL, Nathan Grawe, Carlton College
Developing a QR program: getting from hostility to acceptance and faculty buy-in, Glenn Sproul, Johnson State College. Transparencies
Analyzing Numbers in the News: A Structured Critical-Thinking Approach, Milo Schield, Augsburg College, 6up slides
Lexis Nexus Statistical DataSets, Daniel Coyle 6up slides
2008 Q2 News about the NNN Q/L Conference (5/15-17) at Sawyer-Colby with QUIRK and NECQL.

2008 Q1 News about Numeracy -- the new E-journal of the National Numeracy Network.

2007 STAT-LIT HIGHLIGHTS

What three colleges got a total of more than a million in grants for numeracy/QL/statistical literacy?
Who said that you can’t achieve the GAISE goals in one course if you also teach a long list of methods?
Who said that most students would be better served by a statistical literacy course than a methods course?
Who said that the definition of quantitative literacy should be expanded to include 'construction'?
What Blog said an ASA paper was "pretty interesting" and inspired over 8,000 downloads?
How prevalent was the word "significant" in 250 news stories involving statistics?

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