Statistics Education Through Online Courses

• Activity Number: 404
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 11, 2015 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Teaching of Statistics in the Health Sciences
• Author(s): John McGready* and James L. Rosenberger* and Simon Sheather * and Camille Fairbourn*
• Companies: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Penn State and Texas A&M University and Utah State University
• Keywords: Online Statistics Education ; Graduate Courses ; MOOC ; Professional Certificates ; Online Curriculum ; Online Delivery Methods

Abstract

In the past decade, there has been an explosion of online course offerings, both within academic institutions, and via Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) providers such as Coursera, EdX, and Udacity. Professional certificate programs in statistics/data science are now being offered in a MOOC format. Advance in technology coupled with changes in student and institutional expectations and needs necessitates that all disciplines, including statistics, keep up with and further their online initiatives. In this panel discussion, four faculty members from well-known statistics/biostatistics departments with successful online programs will discuss the audience, curriculum, delivery methods, integrity of the courses, instructor's role, and use of technology. Challenges faced in the evolving online learning environment will also be discussed. Such challenges include technological support, institutional support, and the recognition of these activities in the academic promotion process.