Based on years of experimentation in the teaching of statistics at the university level, this book takes the view that statistical training should make real connections with statistical practice. Chapters fall into three sections. The first two chapters discuss what statistics is and what its special features are, and offers a list of abilities that an ideal statistician would have. Using this list as a reference, Chapter 3 discusses the various methods that have been used to promote the acquisition of practical statistical skills. Finally, Chapters 4 and 5 describe a sequence of 36 carefully tailored projects, which have relevance to actual statistical practices, and can be taught in the classroom.