Modern requirements to teaching statistics

Abstract

Problem. The statistical analysis of the changing and uncertain information is an increasingly important component of decision making in the modern world. Therefore, the necessity to develop statistical thinking of students of all levels of education has grown significantly. The "statistical literacy" of students is a relatively new term in statistics education research which needs special attention. Goal. The purpose of this article is to attract attention to the problems of teaching modern statistics to university students which is necessary to meet the requirements of statistics knowledge in today’s information world, and to comprehend the matter of the term "statistical literacy" of students in modern understanding of these words, to understand what should be considered as the desired outcomes of the statistic education. Methodology. The results presented in this paper were obtained by the analysis of the existing methodological investigations in the modern statistics education with the emphasis on the development of the students’ statistical thinking and reasoning, and on the ability to apply their knowledge in statistics in fulfilling the professional tasks. Results. Application of new pedagogical techniques in the statistics education is of paramount importance for the development of students' statistical thinking and reasoning. It is important for students to develop statistical thinking by combining abstract conceptions of statistics with the actual content of information to which statistical analysis is applied. The statistical reasoning of the students can best be assessed through oral discussions or detailed student work with professional content. For deeper understanding of statistical concepts, it is important to simplify learning rather than extending the educational program. Students should be encouraged to explain their reasoning, to mutually criticize arguments and to find new ways of solving problems. They should be encouraged to ask «why» rather than «how», and pushed to substantiate their thinking process and, by this means, modern understanding of statistics will be provided. Originality. Training engineers as sufficiently informed workers capable of making correct decisions requires educations in the area of methods of modern statistics in close connection with professional education. Practical value. Summing up, it has been proved that one of the most important tasks of the students’ education in statistics is, first of all, to develop their understanding of the practical necessity and economic feasibility of using statistics in their future professional activities, to develop their statistical thinking, and to learn how to use the methods of mathematical statistics for analyzing professional information.