- An undergraduate course
in
Education
and
Mathematics and Statistics.
Developing statistical thinking
- On this page
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | ME626 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-module assessment | |
| No residential school | |
This course will help you develop your knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the learning of statistics particularly at Key Stages 2 to 4. As well as improving your statistical thinking, you’ll learn about different teaching approaches, including use of ICT tools such as graphics calculators and computers. There is no formal examination: assessment is based on three tutor-marked assignments and an end-of-module assessment. To complete these assessments, you’ll need access to learners of statistics at Key Stages 2–4, which could include adult learners.
Modules at Level 3 assume that you are suitably prepared for study at this level. If you want to take a single module to satisfy your career development needs or pursue particular interests, you don’t need to start at Level 1 but you do need to have adequately prepared yourself for OU study in some other way. Check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service to make sure that you are sufficiently prepared.
Register for the course
What you will study
This course will broaden your grasp of the ‘big ideas’ of statistics and how people learn and use them, and:
- develop your data handling skills and statistical thinking
- raise your awareness of the importance of learners being able to collect, analyse and interpret data to solve problems
- provide experience of different teaching approaches and the learning opportunities they afford
- develop your awareness of, and facility with, ICT in the learning and teaching of statistics
- develop your knowledge and understanding of the statistical ideas underpinning Key Stage 2–4.
The course consists of four blocks, covering the following:
Block 1: describing, comparing and interrelating with words and numbers; uncertainty.
Block 2: describing, comparing and interrelating with pictures; picturing probability.
Block 3: describing, comparing and interrelating with ICT; probability with ICT.
Block 4: modelling; statistical investigation; teaching and learning statistics.
You will learn
Successful study of this course should enhance your skills in:
- communicating mathematical ideas clearly and succinctly
- explaining mathematical ideas to others.
Entry
The course is open to everyone, though in particular it has in mind teachers, teaching assistants, home-school parents and special educational needs co-ordinators.
Your own knowledge of statistics should be at or above the level of a B on GCSE maths, or you could have studied Mathematical thinking in schools (ME620) or the discontinued courses ME624 or MEXR624.
It is recommended that you study ME620 before this course as it provides a useful background in mathematics education and you are more likely to successfully complete this Level 3 course.
If you are considering taking ME626 alongside another OU course, please bear in mind that the workload for ME626 alone is around 12 hours a week.
In order to complete the course assessments, you will need regular access to at least one other learner of statistics, with whom to work on approximately two tasks a week. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.
If you have a disability
The study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. This course may be very challenging if you have impaired sight. Diagrams and data tables are used extensively in the course, both in text and on computer screens, and you will be asked to interpret graphs. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Visit our Services for disabled students website for more information, including:
- help to determine your study requirements and how to request the support that you need
- Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)
- using a computer for OU study
- equipment and other support services that we offer
- examination arrangements
- how to contact us for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
A course text, course guide, bookmark and website.
You will need
It would be very helpful, but not compulsory, to have access to a graphics calculator – the recommended models are either the TI-83 Plus or TI-84 Plus.
You require access to the internet at least once a week during the course to download course resources and to keep up to date with course news. You will be expected to use a spreadsheet as part of the course.
Computing requirements
You will need a computer with internet access to study this course as it includes online activities, which you can access using a web browser.
- If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2007 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
- If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
- If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.6 or later.
You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. There will be individual telephone tutorials rather than face-to-face group tutorials. Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
Please note that TMAs for all undergraduate mathematics and statistics courses must be submitted on paper as – due to technical reasons – we are unable to accept TMAs via our eTMA system. This may be subject to change.
The end-of-module assessment will take the form of a 3000-word tutor-marked assignment. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in April 2014. We expect it to be available once a year.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button.
Student Reviews
“I did this course after MEXR624 and ME624 (now replaced by ME620 Mathematical Thinking in Schools). The earlier courses were ...”
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“I really enjoyed this course. ME626 allows consideration of the best way to approach a statistical problem and also reflect ...”
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Distance learning
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.
For more information read Distance learning explained.
Undergraduate
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | ME626 |
| Credits | 30 |
| OU Level | 3 |
| SCQF level | 10 |
| FHEQ level | 6 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 3 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| End-of-module assessment | |
| No residential school | |
Your questions
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