Probability/Statistics Object Library

The Probability/Statistics Object Library is an NSF supported (DUE 0089377) virtual library of web-based "objects" for teachers and students in probability and statistics.

Applets are small, self-contained programs that can be downloaded and "dropped" into the user's web page, and then enhanced with expository text and other elements. A basic assumption of the project is that useful applets can be constructed that stand alone, apart from any mathematical exposition, and that such applets can be valuable for students at different mathematical levels. Components are building blocks of applets and of other components. These can be used by teachers and students (with some programming interest) to create new applets without having to program everything from scratch. The Java components are organized according to an "object model" that parallels the underlying mathematical structure, to the extent possible. The second basic assumption of the project is that the construction of applets from components is itself pedagogically valuable, given an object model of this type. Specifically, the Java components are organized into three "packages":

Devices

This package includes graphs, tables, interface objects, and analogs of physical objects such as coins and dice.

Distributions

This package contains Java analogs of mathematical objects such as probability distributions and data structures.

Experiments

This package contains the top level objects that form the applets. All objects (including source code) are freely available for use, modification, and re-distribution under the terms of the General Public License.