Some Strategies That Contribute to the Mastery of Statistical Methods

• Activity Number: 243
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 1, 2011 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Teaching of Statistics in the Health Sciences
• Author(s): Winston Ashton Richards*+
• Companies: Penn State University at Harrisburg
• Keywords: Introductory Statistics ; Teaching ; Convenience samples ; Experimental units ; Stem and leaf diagrams ; Regression analysis

Abstract

Students enroll in my Statistics course either because they are required to take my course or they have a strong interest in Statistics. As an instructor therefore I am faced with two initial challenges. I have to capture the interest of those required to take my course by presenting the topics in such a way that students will see the relevance, importance, pervasiveness and beauty of Statistics. The hope is that they will become like the group who are taking my course by choice. With the second group the task is less formidable because they come with an intense desire to master the subject matter, and I proceed in a manner that will sustain their interest and enable them to further develop their statistical skills. This presentation will consist of the strategies I have employed to accomplish these goals as a faculty member at Penn State Harrisburg, at The University of The West Indies