ED X375A - Numbers Tell a Story
Course Description
Numbers are all around us, whether we recognize them or not. Some are obvious: the cost of a gallon of gas, or the temperature forecast for the day. But others are invisible, go unnoticed, or are even avoided. This course seeks to demystify these omnipresent numbers by examining how they are used to build stories about our world, to inform decisions made by policymakers, advertisers, and politicians, and support persuasive arguments (sometimes incorrectly).
Course Outline
Week 1 Topic: Math is all around us: What is it doing? Observing mathematics and its uses in everyday life; how mathematical tools are used to tell a story and to make an argument Assignment: Observe math around you; Think about connections to your classroom.
Week 2 Topic: When a scientist says “model”... Defining conceptual, statistical, and dynamic models. How models are used to make decisions that impact our daily lives (Example: disease model simulations and concepts) Assignment: Review NGSS and identify places where “model” concepts arise.
Week 3 Topic: How the sausage is made: Statistical inference. How scientists use statistical tools to develop confidence in their estimates of specific numbers. Common statistical fallacies. Assignment: Think of (and submit) a (ideally biological) problem that a model could help address.
Week 4 Topic: Building models with kids! Practice developing different types of models based on submitted questions. Workshop what this activity might look like for classrooms of different learner ages and interests Assignment: Meet asynchronously with your group to develop a lesson plan for your classroom.
Week 5 Topic: Workshopping capstone projects: Making cases with numbers. Teachers work in groups to improve their lesson plans, and present on their projects to the full class Assignment: Finalize lesson plans for implementation in your classroom next year.
Learner Outcomes
After this 5-week crash course in applied math, you will:
- Understand the scientific concept of a model, including conceptual, statistical, and dynamic models.
- Recognize the connection between models and the stories that we tell using numbers.
- Be able to evaluate the quality of a model (and its associated story) based on statistical principles.
- Develop tools for bringing these concepts into your K-12 classroom.