Creating a universally engaging classroom environment can be challenging, but having the right tools that make lesson content relevant to students helps! Below are 5 ways to get your students more excited about statistics:

1. Interesting Data
Finding data on topics students think are fun, like beers and breweries across the country, might pique interest. Use this spreadsheet from the U.S. Census to show them socioeconomic trends they may witness themselves in their own demographic (or age bracket).

2. Visualization Tools
Seeing is believing. The free online resource Gapminder offers a graphical simulator depicting 5 dimensions of real-world data in 2D. Students can change the relationships between demographic, economic, and societal variables animated over time to see some pretty neat relationships in motion.

3. Applications Challenge
Knowing the immediate value of the lesson they’re learning gives students more encouragement to commit the content to memory. Asking students to find their own data sets on their favorite sports team or something they connect with might engage their interest and help them truly grasp the concepts.

4. Games
You know statistics can (and is!) fun, and who doesn’t like to win? Interacting with a game and trying to win it make learning more exciting. View some examples of statistics games here.

5. Simulations
Help students grasp key concepts through simulations that hold their attention! Use simulations in class and encourage students to work through as a group to liven up the lecture time. Check out fun simulations here.

EXPLORE MORE ENGAGING APPLICATIONS OF STATISTICS