Statistics plays an important role in the research methodologies, knowledge generation and solving of data-driven problems in most subjects. It is taught across a wide range of academic disciplines at undergraduate and graduate levels in the UK and elsewhere. Traditionally in the UK the statistics courses that were taught outside mathematics and statistics departments were delivered as so-called ‘service teaching’ through mathematical sciences groups within those departments, where colleagues who did the statistics teaching may, or may not, have been qualified in statistics.
However, in recent years, largely as a consequence of the changing model of Higher Education (HE) funding since the 1980s, the individuals undertaking this teaching have not been based in statistics groups in HE (see [1]). Many of them work alone without being able to discuss issues with close colleagues who also teach statistics. Often they are not trained statisticians and most have had no formal exposure to the pedagogy of statistics. Among the many problems that have faced statistics educators for many years is how they can reach these individuals and provide them with the support and collegiality that would help them to improve their statistics pedagogy and, in turn, the learning experience of their students.
At the end of April 2010 the Royal Statistical Society Centre for Statistical Education (RSSCE) and the University of Plymouth Teaching and Learning Directorate (UoP TLD) organised a half-day event about improving the engagement of UoP students in learning statistics. The objectives were to:
reach out to all colleagues with the responsibility for the teaching of statistics, regardless of their background;
* share experiences in teaching statistics;
* demonstrate teaching through a problem solving approach;
* present new learning and teaching resources;
* establish collaborative links between UoP statistics teachers and the RSSCSE; and,
* introduce the distance learning course that leads to the Royal Statistical Society Certificate in Teaching Statistics in HE.
The event was publicised as a joint initiative between the UoP TLD and the RSSCSE and 30 members of academic staff from a very wide range of backgrounds registered for the afternoon’s activities.
Statistics plays an important role in the research methodologies, knowledge generation and solving of data-driven problems in most subjects. It is taught across a wide range of academic disciplines at undergraduate and graduate levels in the UK and elsewhere. Traditionally in the UK the statistics courses that were taught outside mathematics and statistics departments were delivered as so-called ‘service teaching’ through mathematical sciences groups within those departments, where colleagues who did the statistics teaching may, or may not, have been qualified in statistics.
However, in recent years, largely as a consequence of the changing model of Higher Education (HE) funding since the 1980s, the individuals undertaking this teaching have not been based in statistics groups in HE (see [1]). Many of them work alone without being able to discuss issues with close colleagues who also teach statistics. Often they are not trained statisticians and most have had no formal exposure to the pedagogy of statistics. Among the many problems that have faced statistics educators for many years is how they can reach these individuals and provide them with the support and collegiality that would help them to improve their statistics pedagogy and, in turn, the learning experience of their students.
At the end of April 2010 the Royal Statistical Society Centre for Statistical Education (RSSCE) and the University of Plymouth Teaching and Learning Directorate (UoP TLD) organised a half-day event about improving the engagement of UoP students in learning statistics. The objectives were to: reach out to all colleagues with the responsibility for the teaching of statistics, regardless of their background;
share experiences in teaching statistics;
demonstrate teaching through a problem solving approach;
present new learning and teaching resources;
establish collaborative links between UoP statistics teachers and the RSSCSE; and,
introduce the distance learning course that leads to the Royal Statistical Society Certificate in Teaching Statistics in HE.
The event was publicised as a joint initiative between the UoP TLD and the RSSCSE and 30 members of academic staff from a very wide range of backgrounds registered for the afternoon’s activities.
