Quantitative analysis has enjoyed a new spotlight in recent years, as prognosticators in fields ranging from politics to sports have embraced advanced analytic techniques to make decisions. In the 2011 film Moneyball, Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, a former professional baseball player who became a front office executive for the Oakland A’s and embraced unconventional methods for using statistics to put together a roster. Janet Johnson is to some the Billy Beane of secondary education, as she has championed the use of analytics to overturn conventional thinking about student placement in math class. Talking with her was a refreshing reminder that science and everyday life can intersect in unexpected but helpful ways with creative application of research. You can listen to our discussion with her, and hear a few seconds of Brad Pitt, here.
[Image: Sony Pictures]
The Measure of Everyday Life 