Dear Colleague: Information is now available about the statistics Literacy activities planned as a key part of the the Sixth International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS-6), which will take place in Durban, South Africa, 7-12 July, 2002. The conference theme is "Developing a Statistically Literate Society", and should thus be of interest to members of this list. Since the deadline for submission of proposals is just around the corner, we encourage you to examine the new information avaialble. All key details about the conference, including the timeline and the general Call for Papers, can be found at: http://www.beeri.org.il/icots6/ (see "Scientific Program") Please also share this message with interested colleagues. ICOTS-6, and especially its activities related to Statistics Literacy, should be of interest to a wide range of professionals interested in statistics, statistics education, and the public's understanding or usage of statistical information. Such professionals can be involved in research, education in a wide range of educational settings, policy-making or administration in public and business organizations, statistical consulting, and more. Below is the asbtract of Topic 1 of the Conference, "Statistics Literacy", with information about the different clusters of talks and presentations envisioned, followed by details on how to submit proposals. TOPIC 1 ABSTRACT: STATISTICS LITERACY --------------------------------------------- There are many questions involving statistical thinking which confront people when they are at work, handling household affairs, reading a newspaper or watching TV, or in leisure. Some examples are: How does investing on the stock market compare with gambling? How should we interpret news stories about the latest health research findings? Is it wise to bet on the underdog? How can we interpret reports involving tables and graphs? How can we know when statistics are being misused or abused in the media or in advertisements? Such and related questions face people from all walks of life, whether or not they have had any formal education in statistics. The term "statistics literacy" does not have a single accepted meaning, but in general refers to people's ability and propensity to interpret, critically evaluate, and communicate about statistical information, data-related claims, or chance-related phenomena which they may encounter in diverse life contexts. In many societies or communities citizens are increasingly being expected (or declare their right) to be informed and act as critical consumers of statistical and probabilistic information. To that effect, some level of statistics literacy may be desirable not only from all school or university graduates, but also of all adults, regardless of their educational and personal backgrounds. As the conference theme for ICOTS-6 is "Developing a Statistically Literate Society", several clusters (areas) of activities are envisioned under Topic 1: CLUSTER 1: CONCEPTUALIZING AND PROMOTING STATISTICS LITERACY (SO's: Iddo Gal and Brian Phillips) This cluster is planned to include keynote talks and other "big picture" presentations that will address the conceptualization of statistics literacy, examine the relevance of statistics literacy for the average citizen, and outline requirements from citizens in general or in particular target groups. Talks in this cluster will also address needs, policies, or plans that governmental agencies, community and Non Governmental Organizations, the media, employers, unions, and non-formal or adult education systems may have for promoting statistics literacy, and the roles they could play in this regard. CLUSTER 2: RESEARCH AND STUDIES ON STATISTICS LITERACY (SO: Iddo Gal) This cluster may include reports discussing findings describing people's statistics literacy skills (as opposed to formal knowledge in statistics), such as on the basis of large-scale comparative surveys or more focused forms of both quantitative and qualitative research. Presentations may suggest research agendas, examine useful assessment methods, or discuss educational, social, or policy implications of such research. (Researchers who are only starting a study whose findings may be relevant in this regard are encouraged to send an inquiry even if they do not have a full report by the deadline for application). CLUSTER 3: STATISTICS FOR THE CITIZEN (SO: Brian Phillips) This cluster is planned to involve presentations that discuss the role of statistics in a number of everyday contexts and illustrate ways to enable citizens and non-specialist users of statistical data to better deal with statistical and probabilistic information and arguments. The approach will be non-technical and suitable for a non-specialist audience (teachers, policy makers, administrators, journalists, health professionals, and others from the general population) who would like to learn how to make better use of and critically interpret probability and statistical information and messages they may encounter in everyday or work settings in which chance, risk, and data are involved. Talks in this cluster will be held throughout the ICOTS-6 program and will be different from the traditional papers given at ICOTS. These talks should be of interest to general non-specialist audiences such as those outlined above who will be invited to join ICOTS-6 expressly for that purpose, as well as to the regular ICOTS participants (possibly for use as models for outreach activities). Proposals for presentations that address educating for statistics literacy in formal education systems such as schools or universities, and especially those that discuss instructional approaches in this regard, should be sent to Topic 5 ("Statistics and the Wider Society"), possibly for inclusion in Session 5B. Such talks should concentrate either on a few examples or on practical issues that would be of particular interest to teachers with ideas for them to use in the classroom, and may involve to some extent hands-on activities. Proposers whose presentations may cut across Topic 1 and Topic 5 (or any other Topic) are advised to send their proposal to the convenors for either Topic 1 or the other Topic, but not both, and indicate that their presentation may fit under both topics. Such proposals will be jointly evaluated in order to determine where they best fit. When the final program is published, talks and presentations related to the three statistics literacy clusters listed above will be classified under Topic 1. Talks classified under other Topics that also pertain to statistics literacy will be specially marked in the ICOTS-6 program. Overall, we hope that the availability of keynote presentations, talks, and paper sessions with diverse formats pertaining to all three areas envisioned under Topic 1, and the synergy between Topics in this regard, will enable ICOTS-6 to address its general theme and promote a statistically literate society. To submit a proposal under "Topic 1: Statistics Literacy", or for further inquiries regarding this Topic, please contact either one of the co-convenors listed below, preferably by e-mail: BRIAN PHILLIPS: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> School of Mathematical Sciences Swinburne University of Technology PO Box 218, Hawthorn 3122, AUSTRALIA Fax: +61-3-9819-0821 IDDO GAL: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Department of Human Services University of Haifa Eshkol Tower, Room 718 Haifa 31905, ISRAEL Fax: +972-4-824-9282 All key details about ICOTS-6 conference and the general Call for Papers can be found at: http://www.beeri.org.il/icots6/ ================================================================= Instructions for joining and leaving this list and remarks about the problem of INAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES are available at http://jse.stat.ncsu.edu/ =================================================================
