For Teachers>Compiled Data

Baseball statistics abound online (check the For Reference section). Some students like to track one or two favorite players. Others like to follow a team. Others still have a favorite division or league. Some prefer to track pitching statistics. Whatever the desire, there is data available. One student was known to be able to make predictions based on the umpire behind the plate for a game.

What a wonderful setting for learning! Students can be assigned to collect data for a particular instance (batter, pitcher, team, umpire, etc.) for a two-week period. We usually break the data into three-game series data sets and then an overall set. We compare each of the data sets to the overall to discuss data that might influence the mean.

If time permits, having the students make a prediction based upon the data collected and then compiling another two-week data set is powerful for students understanding. The smiles of students when they see confirmation of their predictions is knowledge of success. When predictions do not come to be, analyzing the data to determine why or to conclude how rare the feat was is just as important for the students.

For Teachers>Further Notes