Abstract
Probability theory is the cornerstone of mathematical statistics and econometrics, serving as the core of modern economic theory. The students studying “Chance and Probability” are first-year college students who have just entered university. This course is essential for two majors, Applied Statistics and Applied Data Science, offered by the Faculty of Statistics at the Complutense University of Madrid, serving as a fundamental foundation for data analysis. Students find many concepts in this course abstract and struggle to understand their importance, resulting in low motivation for learning. Therefore, it is necessary to innovate teaching materials and methods, integrating them with case analysis. With this innovation, we propose to combine probability theory with practical cases, encouraging students to apply probability concepts to solve problems across various scenarios. To this end, we simulate random experiments by tossing balls or coins using the Galton Board, and playing variations of the South Korean series “Squid Game”. The analysis of various cases demonstrates to students the real-life applications of probability theory. These innovative teaching measures implemented in the “Chance and Probability” course can effectively engage students, ignite their enthusiasm for learning, enhance their problem-solving skills, and fortify their understanding and grasp of probability concepts.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Batanero, C., Chernoff, E. J., Engel, J., Lee, H. S., & Sánchez, E. (2016). Research on teaching and learning probability. In C. Batanero, E. J. Chernoff, J. Engel, H. S. Lee, & E. Sánchez (Eds.), Research on teaching and learning probability (pp. 1–33). Springer International Publishing.
Bliss, C. I., & Fisher, R. A. (1953). Fitting the negative binomial distribution to biological data. Biometrics, 9(2), 176–200.
Chew, C. Y., Teng, G., & Lai, Y. S. (2024). Simulation of erlang and negative binomial distributions using the generalized Lambert W function. Journal of Computational Mathematics and Data Science, 10, 100092.
Chikwere, P., & Ayama, K. (2016). Teaching of geometric construction in junior high school: An intervention. Journal of Elementary Education, 26(1), 139–146.
Clayton, A. (2021). Bernoulli’s fallacy: Statistical Illogic and the crisis of modern science. Columbia University Press.
Conners, A. C. (2024). Galton’s Quincunx: Creating an accessible model of the central limit theorem.
Galton, F. (1894). Natural inheritance. New York: London, Macmillan and co.
Ibe, O. C. (2013). 1—basic concepts in probability. In O. C. Ibe (Ed.), Markov processes for stochastic modeling (2nd ed., pp. 1–27). Elsevier.
Illowsky, B. (2018). Geometric distribution. Adapted By Darlene Young introductory statistics.
McCarthy, K. (2022). Binomial distribution. Introduction to statistics.
Molugaram, K., & Rao, G. S. (2017). Chapter 4—random variables. In K. Molugaram & G. S. Rao (Eds.), Statistical techniques for transportation engineering (pp. 113–279). Butterworth-Heinemann.
Najim, K., Ikonen, E., & Daoud, A.-K. (Eds.). (2004). Chapter 2—estimation of probability densities. In Stochastic processes (pp. 93–166). Kogan Page Science.
Ramachandran, K. M., & Tsokos, C. P. (2015). Chapter 2—basic concepts from probability theory. In K. M. Ramachandran & C. P. Tsokos (Eds.), Mathematical statistics with applications in R (2nd ed., pp. 53–109). Academic Press.
Sylla, E. D. (2014). Tercentenary of Ars conjectandi (1713): Jacob Bernoulli and the founding of mathematical probability. International Statistical Review, 82(1), 27–45.
Wang, B., & Li, P. (2022). Digital creativity in STEM education: The impact of digital tools and pedagogical learning models on the students’ creative thinking skills development. Interactive Learning Environments, 1–14.
Acknowledgements
The author Ziwei Shu would like to acknowledge the financial support from Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Banco Santander (Project CT58/21-CT59/21). The authors also extend their gratitude to the Faculty of Statistics at Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Shu, Z., Medina Sánchez, M.Á. (2024). Development of Practical Skills in Probability: A Teaching Innovation Project to Make Applied Economics More Fun with Games of Chance. In: Valls Martínez, M.d.C., Montero, J. (eds) Teaching Innovations in Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72549-4_23
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-72549-4_23
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-72548-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-72549-4
eBook Packages: Economics and FinanceEconomics and Finance (R0)