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This initiative aims to support non-statisticians in learning and applying statistical concepts. Through a dedicated Statistics Advisory Service at Coventry University and Loughborough University, we offer drop-in help, consultancy appointments, and specialized short courses. Our service is designed to assist students and staff in understanding statistical topics, applying practical solutions, and guiding them through study design and data analysis challenges. We prioritize self-learning, facilitating resources, and creating an inclusive space for all types of learners.
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Mathematics Education Centre SUPPORTING NON-STATISTICIANS TO LEARN STATISTICS Alun Owen
SUPPORTING NON-STATISTICIANS TO LEARN STATISTICS • Provision of a Statistics Advisory Service at: • Coventry University • Loughborough University • Beyond • statstutor • a sigma pilot study
PROVISION OF A STATISTICS ADVISORY SERVICE • Loughborough University: • http://mlsc.lboro.ac.uk/servicesstat.php • Drop-in statistics help • Consultancy appointments • Disability and Additional Needs Service • Eureka Centre • Short courses (research students)
GROWTH IN NUMBERS OF SAS APPOINTMENTS • Note: • one-hour appointments at Coventry University • half-hour appointments at Loughborough University • In 2007/2008 both institutions had staffing shortages
ACCESS TO STATISTICS ADVISORY SERVICE BY STAFF • Sigma’s aim NOT to provide a statistics advisory service for staff • But demand from staff significant • Roberts funding and staff development funding enabled us to widen support to staff • An unexpected outcome of sigma’s work • Brings additional benefits
WHAT SUPPORT IS REQUESTED? • Topic based: help with understanding part or all of a statistics topic • Conceptual • Practical application • Problem based: help with various statistical aspects of a problem • Study design • Data collection • Analysis • Practical application • Interpretation of results
TOPIC BASED SUPPORT • Mainly provided via the drop-in centre • First need to diagnose the students learning needs • Opportunities to develop students self-learning skills • Help identify suitable resources they can refer to • Encouraged to work in centre and ask for help
PROBLEM BASED SUPPORT • “We will NOT do the work for you” • Again need to diagnose the students learning needs • Again develop students self-learning skills • Again identify suitable resources they can refer to • Consider other aspects of collecting and analysing data such as planning, choice of technique etc. • Pragmatic approach sometimes needed • (gold-standard not always possible/necessary)
HOW DOES LEARNING TAKE PLACE? • Learning is student-centred • Problem based • We act as advisors • But also act as facilitators • Fits with aims of project work and research training • Also fits with recent developments in the HE agenda
PROVISION OF STATISTICS ADVISORY SERVICES • Significant growth in institutions developing their own mathematics learning centres • Some of these supported by sigma • Targeted statistics advisory services appear to be not so well developed • Aware of Coventry, Loughborough, Sheffield and Cardiff and others?
STATISTICS SUPPORT FOR DISTANCE LEARNERS • What about students studying/researching “off-campus” e.g. distance learners? • Loughborough and Coventry universities making use of Elluminate for this • http://www.elluminate.com
statstutor • Online resource for statistics • Alternative to drop-in and consultancy • For undergraduates and postgraduates • Make use of existing resources • Pilot at this stage • Anticipate go live Easter 2010
CONTENTS • Topic-based resources • using STEPS Glossary as a basis • Case studies • using RSS CSE materials as a basis
MATHCENTRE • mathcentre • http://www.mathcentre.ac.uk/students.php • mathtutor • http://www.mathtutor.ac.uk
STEPS GLOSSARY • STEPS Glossary • http://www.stats.gla.ac.uk/steps/glossary