Virtual Laboratories in Probability and Statistics

Welcome!

The goal of this project is to provide interactive, web-based modules for students and teachers of probability and statistics. Please explore our web site.

Main Contents

Special Models

• Buffon's Experiments
• The Ball and Urn Experiment
• The Matching Experiment
• Ball and Cell Experiments
• Red and Black

Basic Probability

• Probability Spaces
• Combinatorics
• Distributions
• Expected Value

Basic Statistics

• Descriptive Statistics
• Special Distributions
• The Sample Mean
• Interval Estimation

Appendices

• Introduction
• Tables
• Resource Lists

Navigation

This site is organized into modules that are similar to chapters in a book. Each page in a module shows the title of that page and the title of the module. Click on the module title to return to the table of contents for that module. In addition, most pages have the following icons:

	Click on this icon at the top of a page to return to the virtual probability and statistics home page (this page).
	Click on this icon to start a Java applet. The Java applets for a page are at the top, below the title bar. Each applet runs in a separate window so you can keep the applet window open as you move through the text. Try it here!
	Click on this icon at the bottom of a page to go to the next page in the current module.
	Click on this icon at the bottom of a page to go to the previous page in the current module.

Exercises

The exercises in the text are of two basic types and are keyed with the following icons:

	This icon denotes a mathematical exercise, requiring only paper and pencil (and understanding). The mathematical exercises are intended to develop the mathematical theory and provide basic computational drills.
	This icon denotes an applet exercise, keyed to a Java applet on the current page. The applet exercises are intended to demonstrate the theory in a dynamic, interactive way.

Browser Requirements

The interactive modules are written in Java, and the expository text uses subscripts and superscripts. Thus to use this site, you will need a browser that supports Java 1.0 or higher and HTML 3.0 or higher. The latest versions of Netscape or Internet Explorer are recommended.

Evaluation

We are eager to find statistics teachers to help evaluate the course materials that will be developed in this project. Please send e-mail to the address at the bottom of this page if

• You would like to stay informed of the status of our project.
• You would be willing to class-test the course materials.
• You have comments or criticism.
• You know of links to related resources on the web.

Workshop

During the summer of 1999, we will have a workshop on active teaching methods in statistics. This workshop is intended for faculty members who teach statistics at colleges and community colleges, particularly faculty who teach courses taken by students planning careers in secondary education. The workshop will include instruction on the use of the course materials developed in this project as well as other active learning methods, the use of data analysis software, and the use of web resources in statistics. We have some funds to help with the expenses of workshop participants. Please send e-mail to the address at the top of this page if you are interested.

Authors

• Kyle Siegrist, Principal Author
• Jason York, Graduate Research Assistant

Address information

Department of Mathematical Sciences
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Huntsville, AL 35899
Voice: (205) 890-6470
FAX: (205) 890-6173
E-Mail: siegrist@math.uah.edu

This project is partially supported by the National Science Foundation, through the Course and Curriculum Development Program of the Division of Undergraduate Education in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources. Opinions expressed here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation. The authors are very grateful to the Foundation for its support.