Members of the San Antonio Chapter of the American Statistical Association have volunteered to assist students in the San Antonio area with the statistical aspects of their science projects. IT IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE TO ASK THESE VOLUNTEER STATISTICIANS FOR ASSISTANCE VERY EARLY IN THE RESEARCH PROJECT.

Students who have received advice in statistical design and data analysis BEFORE STARTING science fair projects have been recognized not only for SPECIAL AWARDS IN STATISTICS, but also have placed very high in their special science fair category. In the 1997 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF97) in Louisville, KY, the project that received the FIRST PLACE award in STATISTICS also received FIRST GRAND PRIZE in BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. In the 1998 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF98) in Ft. Worth, the project that received the SECOND PLACE award in STATISTICS also won the SECOND GRAND PRIZE in BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES. The THIRD PLACE winner in STATISTICS also received THIRD GRAND PRIZE in TEAM PROJECTS.

167 East Arrowhead Dr., San Antonio, TX 78228-2402

(210) 433-6575 FAX: (210) 433-2828

Email: joeward@alumni.utexas.net

** Have you ever had students enter research projects into competition and

-- be marked down because of

-- insufficient data?

-- student's inability to explain the data analysis?

** Have you had students doing research projects come to you with a "pile" of

-- data and not know what to do with it?

** Have you had a problem finding statistical computer programs to support

-- data analysis for research projects?

** Have you had a problem locating someone to help with the statistical

-- aspects of student research projects?

This program provides an unusual opportunity for teachers (and their students) to acquire capabilities for data analysis using statistical software not available elsewhere. A tenth-grade participant in this program won first place in the 1999 American Statistical Association (ASA) Project Competition.

This project is designed to strengthen the skills of students who are about to begin independent science research initiatives. In the past, students who work on science fair or research projects have had a difficult time collecting, sorting, analyzing and interpreting numerical data. Few students or teachers have experienced real-world problem solving using modern computer-based data analysis procedures.

This project will empower students to: (1) Identify and express real-world problems in natural language in preparation for creating formal mathematical/statistical models, (2) Translate the natural language problem statement into a mathematical model appropriate for analysis using a statistical software package, and (3) Interpret and present the results in both written and verbal form appropriate to assist in real-world decisions.

Students who have participated in this program in past years have received special awards in Alamo Regional Science Fairs for the best application of statistics in their projects. In 1996, a project that was submitted by graduates of this program received the special award for the best application of a computer in a research project from the American Statistical Association's (ASA) national project competition. In 1999, a project of a graduate of this program received the first-place award in the ASA national project competition.

The project director is Dr. Joe Ward. Dr. Ward has had much experience in introducing high school students and teachers in the applications of statistics and computers in research. He has developed curriculum and taught Problem Solving Through Data Analysis in the San Antonio PREP program. He is a past member of the American Statistical Association-National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Joint Committee on the Curriculum in Statistics and Probability. Dr. Ward is assisted by experienced high school AP Statistics teachers. In addition, visits by several statisticians will provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about the activities of practicing statisticians.

(Last Name) (First, Name) (MI)

Mailing ___________________________________________ Phone:____________________Fax:

Address

___________________________________________ Email:____________________________________

School: ___________________________ Subjects taught: _____________________________________________

I recommend the following student for participation in STCP2001:

Student Name:_____________________________________________________________________________________

(Last Name) (First, Name) (MI)

Mailing ____________________________________________ Phone:______________________ Fax:__________________

Address

____________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________

School: ___________________________ School grade Sept. 2001 __________________

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