Randomness is such a fickle notion

Abstract

Is it possible to imagine criteria that may help to distinguish finite binary sequences generated by the repeated tossing of a coin from those imagined by a human agent or simulated by a calculator using a deterministic algorithm? Is it possible to identify characteristic properties of the sequences of these different classes?
Around these questions we built a learning path, proposed in an 11th grade class, that stimulated students to critically reflect on their beliefs about probability and chance.