A Visual and Engaging Approach to Teaching and Learning the Normal Distribution

Abstract

This paper focuses on a visual, intuitive, example-based, and engaging approach to teaching a specific Probability and Statistics concept, namely the normal distribution. The point of this approach is to provide students with easy to understand examples that translate bookwork to real life and help in comprehension of the material. This more intuitive understanding allows them to be more successful when introduced to equations and calculations associated with the topic. To teach this concept, the paper shares supplemental materials that can be introduced during class instruction prior to delving into mathematical details. The paper introduces this concept using (1) Examples, such as a Galton Board and flipping coins, (2) Visualizing basic concepts and some key concepts, (3) Real-life, experience-based examples such as height distribution, (4) A puzzle involving a multiple-choice exam, and (5) An in-class experiment of rolling a die.