ABSTRACT
This paper proposes a classroom-oriented approach to teaching the coefficient of variation (CV$$ mathrm{CV} $$) across school and university levels. The CV is introduced through its relationship with the mean and standard deviation, with attention to interpretation, common misunderstandings, and practical limitations (e.g., when the mean is zero). The main contribution is a set of adaptable learning activities: problem-based tasks for university students, collaborative comparisons for secondary classrooms, and hands-on activities for younger learners to build intuitive ideas of relative variability. Supporting materials include simulated datasets and Stata code to facilitate implementation. By positioning the CV alongside familiar measures such as the range and standard deviation, the approach aims to strengthen students’ understanding of variability and support meaningful comparisons across different contexts and units.