Facing the Odds

FACING THE ODDS:

THE MATHEMATICS OF GAMBLING AND OTHER RISKS

Source:

Harvard Medical School Division on Addictions and the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling.

Program description:

Facing the Odds: The Mathematics of Gambling and Other Risks is a middle school curriculum on probability, statistics and mathematics. The curriculum was designed to enhance students' critical thinking ability, number sense and knowledge of mathematics of gambling so that they can develop rational views about gambling and make their own informed choices when confronted with gambling opportunities. The aim of this project is to:

(1) make mathematics more meaningful by increasing its relevance to the daily lives of students;

(2) develop students' critical thinking skills, allowing them to make decisions and choices about gambling activities based on mathematical reasoning; and, as a by-product,

(3) delay the onset or diminish the level of participation in gambling activities.

Evaluation: Developers provide evaluation mechanisms to measure its effectiveness and use in schools across the United States.

Risk factor(s) assumed to be addressed:

Poor impulse control

Protective factor(s) assumed to be addressed:

Healthy beliefs and clear standards

Skills

Delayed onset of initial use

CSAP strategies:

Education

Type of IOM approach:

Universal

Populations appropriate for this promising program:

Middle school math students

Availability / More information:

http://www.hms.harvard.edu/doa/main_frame.htm

The curriculum can be downloaded by registering at:

http://www.hms.harvard.edu/doa/html/registrationform.htm