Using Active Learning to Teach Data Analysis to Undergraduate Students

• Activity Number: 654
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 13, 2015 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): Therri Usher*
• Companies: The Johns Hopkins University
• Keywords: Data Analysis ; Education ; Undergraduate ; Active Learning ; Biostatistics

Abstract

Johns Hopkins is the first research university in the United States. Surprisingly, the biostatistics curriculum for undergraduates at Hopkins, and other schools across the country, does not reflect a research-oriented education. Biostatistics courses tend to consist of lecture-based instruction and assessments that have predefined goals and utilize clean, complete data. As a result, when students need to perform data analysis in their research, they are unprepared for the challenges of data analysis beyond fitting a statistical model. Therefore, we designed a data analysis course for undergraduates that focuses on the entire process of data analysis, from formulating a research question to synthesizing the results. The course utilizes individual and collaborative active learning techniques, such as in-course implementation of aspects of data analysis, to mimic the research process and facilitate student-oriented learning to promote a deep knowledge of data analysis that students can use in their future careers. The course culminates with a research paper and presentation based on their own data analysis and an evaluation of an existing data analysis project.