Introducing Z-Scores

My statistics students are moving into z-scores.  Z-scores are the kind of affair that audio terrifying, but they aren't genuinely that bad if you lot sympathize what the release genuinely means.  While trying to figure out how to innovate the topic, I asked my fiance for advice.  Shaun suggested that I convey students discovery z-scores based on the Definition of a z-score earlier introducing them to the formula.  Of course, he also informed me that they were pronounced every bit "zed-scores".  

That persuasion led to this handout:

 
I read the Definition of z-score to them as well as gear upward them unloosen to operate through the ii problems inwards their groups.  I did instruct them that values higher upward the hateful would convey a positive z-score as well as values below the hateful would convey a negative z-score.



I expected them to acquire by amongst finding the z-scores that ended upward beingness decimals, but presently I heard groups throwing out decimals as well as fractions on their own.

After going through each answer, I decided to seat a few scenarios to come across how they were agreement z-scores.

Imagine your instructor gave you lot dorsum your exam as well as instead of writing your score, they wrote your z-score.  What type of z-score would you lot desire to see?  What would a positive z-score mean?  What would a negative z-score mean?  What would a z-score of naught mean?

What if nosotros measured everyone inwards shape as well as assigned everyone a z-score based on their height?  What type of z-score would you lot prefer?  What would the worst possible z-score be?  What would that aspect like?

I was amazed past times the discussions that happened every bit a lawsuit of posing these scenarios.  Only afterwards I made certain they had a conceptual agreement did I transcend out a formula sail for my students to gum inwards their notebooks.



Next, I told them nosotros were going to discovery out their z-scores for diverse things.  We took a vote on 3 pieces of information nosotros could collect.  I chop-chop vetoed the persuasion of collecting information on how many people they had kissed.  Teenagers...

We ended upward amongst these 3 questions:
1) How many letters are inwards your starting fourth dimension name?
2) How many sports create you lot play?
3) How many years convey you lot attended schoolhouse inwards Drumright?

The students wrote their answers on the SMART Board, as well as they calculated the hateful as well as measure departure for the shape using their TI-84.  Then, they establish their z-score as well as wrote a judgement describing what their z-score meant.

I retrieve I demand to create this to a greater extent than often.  I'm unremarkably as well as then quick to jumping to give my kids the formula that they only acquire how to role the formula as well as never genuinely grasp what the release nosotros discovery means.

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