An Interactive Environment for Conceptualising Statistical Inference: Stat Applets

As a foundational topic of study in college undergraduate statistics courses, statistical inference has created conceptual difficulties for many students, especially in coursework that excludes formal proofs. This study introduced Stat Applets, a set of interactive tools designed to support conceptual understanding within regular statistical coursework. The applets were created to respond to common difficulties in sampling distributions, estimation and hypothesis testing, and multivariable inference. After traditional lecture instruction, the relevant applets were demonstrated and discussed at the end of each lesson to reinforce key concepts. In addition, they were assigned for practice and then reviewed at the beginning of the next class. Web-based access supported the same process across face-to-face, online, and hybrid formats, allowing students to revisit the applets between sessions. The study drew on classroom use and qualitative student feedback. No controlled evaluation was reported; the article presents a design-oriented framework to inform course design.