----- Forwarded message from Michael Granaas -----
I honestly believe that there is something to be learned from
memorizing several of the basic formulas that are involved in defining
statistics. I, less elegantly, tell my students that it is important
to have this basic understanding so that it can 1) be utilized when we
have the machines start doing the computations for us and 2)be drawn
on for understanding when the mathematics is no longer so simple.
----- End of forwarded message from Michael Granaas -----
I doubt your students will gain ANY understanding from memorizing
formulae. Once they have the understanding, then formulae MIGHT
provide a summary or reminder -- but only for students who are VERY
fluent at READING mathematics -- as opposed to mindlessly manipulating
formulae. I do not see any such students in the undergraduate
introductory course that I often teach. I noted that Karl presented
all the understandings he sought verbally on the list. Why not do the
same in class?
_
| | Robert W. Hayden
| | Work: Department of Mathematics
/ | Plymouth State College MSC#29
| | Plymouth, New Hampshire 03264 USA
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| ) Ashland, NH 03217
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