Threshold concepts in statistics and online discussion as a basis for curriculum innovation in undergraduate medicine

This paper is the first of two papers reporting on plans for implementation of statistical e-learning tools generated through the MSOR Network-funded project ‘Statistics in medicine: a risky business?’ and other funded development work. An emphasis is placed on the need for research in understanding threshold concepts in statistical learning within undergraduate medicine. Further, online discussion forums are promoted as a means of informing this process as well as enhancing student learning more generally. This will in turn form the basis in the follow-up paper for reporting on a larger educational project which is due to commence later this year through funding awarded by the Principal’s Teaching Award Scheme (PTAS) at Edinburgh. As such, the current paper serves both as a project update and as the forerunner to a later paper on a more extensive project.