Students from area high schools, accompanied by their teachers, met April 25 to take an exam hosted by the George Mason University Department of Statistics and proctored by members of the George Mason University Stem Education Club. More than 160 students from eight schools practiced their statistical knowledge by taking a mock Advanced Placement (AP) statistics exam, which served as real-time practice for the test that will be administered in early May by the College Board.
Assistant professor Beth Johnson of the Volgenau School of Engineering’s Department of Statistics, who organized the session, said, “This event was a wonderful way for the university to make connections with the local community. Not only did it provide the students with valuable practice as they prepared for the actual exam, it also allowed teachers the opportunity to meet and discuss issues related to the AP Statistics curriculum.”
As the students answered the free-response and multiple-choice sections of the practice exam, their teachers discussed issues related to the AP Statistics curriculum and the scoring of exams.
Meta Smith, a mathematics teacher and department chair at Herndon High School, was excited about the opportunity and said she learned a great deal from the workshop. She hopes to recruit additional teachers and students for next year.
The event was cosponsored by the Washington Statistical Society, and the American Statistical Association provided promotional materials. Johnson—who has experience leading similar events at the University of South Carolina, The College of New Jersey, and Wilkes University—hosted the event.
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