Weekly Report & Reflection Week #10!

Reflection 10

In this week's session we had covered the topic of probability. Probability can be easily dismissed and sometimes be labeled as common sense, hence we do not need to study it. You can, however, think of probability as common sense put into calculations. 

"As with other beautiful and useful areas of mathematics, probability has in practice only a limited place in even secondary school instruction" (Moore, 1990, p. 119). The development of students' mathematical reasoning through the study of probability is essential in daily life. Probability represents real-life mathematics. "Research in medicine and the social sciences can often be understood only through statistical methods that have grown out of probability theory" (Huff, 1959, p. 11). Moore (1990) stated:

"Probability is the branch of mathematics that describes randomness. The conflict between probability theory and students' view of the world is due at least in part to students' limited contact with randomness. We must therefore prepare the way for the study of chance by providing experience with random behavior early in the mathematics curriculum."


From reading the quote above it is understood that students are mostly exposed to structured and organized matter around them. They are not exposed to taking risks and being random. So how as a teacher can you expose randomness?


Have students just play with dice, cards, different colours and other objects randomly. Have them explore what it means to role dice randomly and predicting what the outcome will. Probability can even be taught through other mediums that can pick up the students' interest and motivation. Use technology that can include different apps and games that can teach probability. There are many interactive probability games over the web. 


In our class this week, my classmate and I created a presentation that introduced concepts of probability through an activity using coloured marbles and Kahoot. We used Kahoot to do a quiz/survey with the whole class using probability terms such as: Likely, Unlikely, Certain, Impossible and etc. We observed that Kahoot can be a very interactive and fun way to teach students something because they can get excited in a friendly and safe competitive environment. The coloured marbles activity was also fun and simple where students get to use different manipulative to learn probability concept rather than sitting and listening to a boring lecture from a teacher. 


Here is a fun that you can teach probability to students: using M&Ms!! Who doesn't like chocolate?