Talking statistics with high schools

The Pittsburg State University Mathematics Department, through then Mo-Kan Council of Teachers of Mathematics (Mo-Kan), is helping area high school teachers in their efforts to introduce statistics into the high school curriculum and make it interest.  Professor Ananda Jayawardhana has been key in spearheading this initiative.

“This contest is a result of my visit to the headquarters of the American Statistical Association (ASA) in Alexandria, VA,” says Jayawardhana. “I brought the idea to Mo-Kan and was overwhelmed with the support I received.”

This year the contest was piloted and a limited number of schools were invited to participate.  The PSU Mathematics Department is sponsoring cash prizes for the top poster and two runner-up posters. 

	This year’s grand prize winning poster was Breakin’ the Law:  Cell Phone use During School prepared by Lindsey Gilbert, Ashley Nickolaisen, and Michael Testerman from Diamond, Missourit under the direction of sponsor Julia Price-Allison
Runner up from Sarcoxie	Runner up from Sarcoxie

“This year’s grand prize winning poster was Breakin’ the Law:  Cell Phone use During School prepared by Lindsey Gilbert, Ashley Nickolaisen, and Michael Testerman from Diamond, Missourit under the direction of sponsor Julia Price-Allison,” said Jayawardhana. “The two runner-up posters were from students at Sarcoxie High School sponsored by Kelli Blackford.” 

The winners posters are currently displayed in the PSU Mathematics Department on the second floor of Yates Hall.

Plans are being made to increase the number of posters submitted and send next year’s regional winner on to the national competition.  To do this Dr. Jayawardhana will visit area schools to promote mathematics, statistics, and actuarial science next fall.

“I hope that this contest will result in interdisciplinary projects between mathematics and science teachers,” he says. “The long term goal of this competition and underlying interaction with secondary students and teachers is to instill the message of the importance of statistics in many fields and the opportunities for employment for area students.  I hope students will understand that statistics are all around them and the careful analysis of statistics is a valuable career option.”