How to introduce historically the normal distribution in engineering education: a classroom experiment

Little has been explored with regard to introducing historical aspects in the undergraduate statistics classroom in engineering studies. This paper focuses on the design, implementation and assessment of a specific activity concerning the introduction of the normal probability curve and related aspects from a historical dimension. Following a teaching-learning approach inspired by history, this idea was put into practice at an engineering school. To this purpose a historical module on the normal curve elaborated by Katz and Michalowicz (2005) was adapted to develop different aspects of the topic. Since the activity fostered cross-curricular competences, it was designed in keeping with the guidelines of the European Higher Education Area.