Students today are constantly bombarded with information from various media, much of it based on data. Statistical literacy skills are critical if students are to make socially responsible decisions.
These skills are developed through the Statistics and Probability content strand of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics, in conjunction with the proficiency strands – Understanding, Fluency, Problem solving and Reasoning. Numeracy, a cross-curriculum general capability, links statistical literacy to most other disciplines in the curriculum.
Statistics involves investigating meaningful, context-based questions using data. An investigation usually follows a pathway – the question, data collection, data representation, summarising of the data and ultimately a conclusion.
Problem-solving experiences that exemplify these investigative stages help build understanding of the fundamental big ideas that underpin statistics. Students should develop fluency with these skills, as well as reasoning for decision-making. Students can use statistical literacy skills in other school subjects and in aspects of their lives outside school.
