Implementing Modern Pedagogical Guidelines in Business Statistics: Challenges and Possible Solutions

• Activity Number: 310
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 3, 2010 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): Bodapati V.R. Gandhi*+
• Companies: University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
• Keywords: statistical education ; business statistics ; textbooks ; curriculum ; reform ; business research

Abstract

Leading thinkers in statistical education have emphasized the development of and statistical thinking, writing and statistical research, ideally using real life project data. Instructors face a number of challenges when implementing modern pedagogical guidelines. These begin with student attitudes: their deficiencies in mathematics and their lack of enthusiasm not only for the subject but its texts. Many techniques, including teamwork and the use of statistical software, consume valuable instructional time, as the number of topics covered has not been reduced. Statistics, finally, is often insufficiently integrated into the rest of the business curriculum. Some of the solutions presented in this paper include the introduction of statistical labs, curricular and textbook reforms, and a greater emphasis on research in grading.