Process Skills & Statistical Education

Abstract

In the UK there is a new National Curriculum where procedural techniques are given much lower prominence and subject content greatly reduced. There is greater emphasis on skills and processes that individuals can use in order make all young people successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. I shall illustrate how this is an opportunity for statistical education to play a greater role both within mathematical education and also in cross curricula dimensions and important personal, learning and thinking skills. Within the mathematics curriculum the key processes have a great similarity to the Statistical Problem Solving Cycle and offer us the incentive to drive statistical education forward. I shall explore ideas and possibilities for ways to engage on the next steps forward. The paper may have a UK emphasis but the vast majority of ideas included are easily transferable to other countries and different school settings.