Mrs Anna Fergusson

BSc (Operations Research), BMus (History & Literature), Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary), MProfStuds (Mathematics Education)

Professional Teaching Fellow

In: Statistics » Faculty of Science

Doctoral Candidate - Doctor of Philosophy

In: Statistics » Faculty of Science

Biography

I joined the statistics department at the start of 2015 as a Professional Teaching Fellow. Before joining the department, I was Director of Mathematics and Statistics at Avondale College. I have a Master of Professional Studies (Mathematics Education) with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland. I am currently studying towards a PhD in Statistics Education, under the supervision of Maxine Pfannkuch, Chris Wild and Stephanie Budgett.

I am interested in Statistics Education, in particular curriculum and assessment design, and enjoys facilitating workshops to support professional development of statistics teachers. I have worked with the New Zealand Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority on the development of national assessment standards, tasks and teaching resources for statistics. I also runs a blog for statistics teachers: Teaching statistics is awesome

Research | Current

My MProfStuds (Mathematics Education) explored how teachers use informal tests to determine the fit of a probability distribution model. I developed a new informal test for the fit of a probability distribution model that incorporates sample size and the expected variation of sample proportions within a new simulation-based modelling visualisation tool.

My PhD research aims to find accessible ways to introduce statistics students to data science. This will include building data-related knowledge and capabilities and computational thinking within the New Zealand Curriculum for Statistics.

Teaching | Current

STATS100 Functioning in Statistics

STATS101/101G/108 Introduction to Statistics

STATS150 Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics

Distinctions/Honours

Mathematics Education Technology Prize (University of Auckland, 2016)

Jim Campbell Award for Excellence in Teaching (New Zealand Association of Mathematics Teachers, 2013)

Areas of expertise

Statistics education

Education data

Technology for learning

Educational leadership

Committees/Professional groups/Services

New Zealand Statistical Association Education Committee (Steering group)

American Statistical Association

International Association for Statistical Education

Auckland Mathematical Association

New Zealand Association of Mathematics Teachers

Selected publications and creative works (Research Outputs)

Fergusson, A., & Bolton, E. L. (2018). Exploring modern data in a large introductory statistics course. In M. A. Sorto, L. White, L. Guyot (Eds.) Looking back, looking forward. Proceedings of the Tenth International Conference on Teaching Statistics (ICOTS10, July, 2018) Voorburg, The Netherlands: International Statistical Institute. Related URL.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/42580
Other University of Auckland co-authors: Liza Bolton
Fergusson, A. G. (2017). Informally testing the fit of a probability distribution model The University of Auckland. ResearchSpace@Auckland.
URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2292/36909
Starnes, D., & Martin, A. (2015). The AP Statistics Exam: An Insider's Guide to its Distinctive Features. CHANCE, 28 (3), 28-37. 10.1080/09332480.2015.1099363