Probability Explorer (Stohl, 1999-2005) is a research-based software application designed with tools that enable students and teachers to design, simulate, and analyze a variety of probabilistic situations. The software environment can be used for activities from upper elementary grades through high school.

Probability Explorer is purposefully designed as an open-ended learning environment with multiple ways to represent data that engage students in designing, simulating, and analyzing results of probability experiments. At a fundamental level, data is represented in PE with randomly generated icons that can be sorted, stacked (in a pictograph) or lined up in the sequence in which they occurred. A Pie Graph (relative frequency), Bar Graph (frequency), and Data Table (counts, fractions, decimals, and percents) are also available to display results in both static form as well as dynamically changing during a simulation.

In April 2000, Probability Explorer received an Honorable Mention in the Learning Software Design Competition sponsored by the University of Minnesota’s Design Institute.

Contact Hollylynne Stohl Lee at Hollylynne@ncsu.edu