Betekenisvolle statistiek in beroepspraktijken als brug tussen wiskunde en natuurwetenschappen: evaluatie van een ontwerponderzoek

Creating coherence between mathematics and science, and making these school subjects meaningful are still topical challenges. This study investigated how students made meaningful connections between mathematics, statistics, science and applications when they engaged in a specially developed unit. This unit is based on professional practices in which mathematical, statistical and scientific knowledge is used. The central question is to what extent professional practices can serve as meaningful contexts for senior high school students (aged 16-17) to help them make connections between mathematics, statistics, science and professional practices. Surveys on the opinions of students (388 before and 27 after completing two chapters of the unit) on the educational strategy, and student work are used to answer this question. The analysis of responses to surveys shows that students consider an educational strategy based on authentic professional practices meaningful. The results indicate that an educational strategy based on professional practices can help students to make connections between mathematics, statistics, science and professional practices.