Dear RG experts, how can we make statistics attractive to our students at all academic levels?
Thank you
Oluwaseun
How can we make statistics attractive to our students from all academic levels?
Perhaps we can consider the following approach:
Hello Oluwaseun,
As with any subject it is important to find ways to attract the student's attention. One way that might be helpful is approach the subject in such a way that the students can relate to it. For instance, you can present the idea of a normal distribution followed by providing real world examples that they can relate to. You can start by saying here is how it works followed by showing 'hypothetical grades' of students--made up of course--and showing how a statistical distribution like the normal distribution can be used to extract information about the mean and standard deviation. Another good way is applying statistics to social situations. There are countless studies people do on social norms, medical disease, poverty, etc. The last point, however, is that you have to present the material using your body and language as a tool. Student's are always more engaged if the teacher is engaged or animated.
Dear Dr. Edward J. Strobach, I really appreciate your contribution on this discussion.
Thank you for your time.
Oluwaseun
Statistics is a practical subject as it applies to real-life. The more practical it is the more interesting to the students. Students should be exposed to exploratory data analysis as individuals as well as in groups. The use of the computer should be encouraged. Project work must be involved. Of recent I have noticed that my students interest in time series analysis has been aroused as I gave each student a time series to analyze by his laptop and report to the class.
Dear Dr. Otekunrin,
I appreciate your question! Statistics might be more atractive if approached on a "problem-based way". As a student I use to try to find on statistics better way to understand the whole scenario of our research!
Best regards, Paulo
Dear Dr. Paulo Bogossian, thank you for your valuable contribution.
I definitely agree with Edward, Raid, Ette, and Paulo’s suggestions of real world examples and providing students real world problems to solve with statistics. The only thing I have to add is that there’s a funny, classic, easy-to-read, book from the 1950’s by Darrell Huff called, “How to Lie with Statistics.” I feel it’s nice to use for teaching statistics, either as an assigned reading for those who have never taken statistics or as fodder for you to plan examples in your class. Best wishes teaching your students, Oluwaseun! ~ Kevin
Randomness is something very counter intuitive. By letting them first guess in a particularly paradoxical problem before spelling out the solution, they will realise how wrong they can get, and that they have much to learn. If it is pure statistics and not probability theory at all, the outlook is much more gloomy. Nowadays the students are more interested in earning money. Analysing stock market and trading could attract them.
By making them practice a lot, ideally using a computer software like R for example which is free and multi-platform. Using an example each time you introduce a new concept. With interactive quizzes.
I Really appreciate the contributions of our distinguished RG experts in this field like Prof. Raid Amin, Drs. Ette Etuk, Kelvin Grobman, Claude Pierre Masse and Pierre Lafayette de Micheaux. Thank you for you insightful inputs in this discussion.
Oluwaseun
One aspect we often forget is the need to use up-to-date computer packages such as R. So I see applied statistical education as the intersection of practical context, appropriate design and the exciting use of good software. It is very appealing to some students. Also a good quantitative knowledge and skills in design and analysis gives scientists an edge in the job market.
Thank you Dr. Miranda Mortlock for your contribution.
Oluwaseun
How can we make statistics attractive to our students from all academic levels?
Perhaps we can consider the following approach:
Many thanks Dr. Han Ping Fung for this wonderful contribution to this discussion.
Oluwaseun
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