Teaching to, and Learning from, the Masses

• Activity Number: 223
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Monday, August 10, 2015 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Teaching of Statistics in the Health Sciences
• Author(s): Mine Cetinkaya-Rundel*
• Companies: Duke University

Abstract

The emergence of massive open online courses (MOOCs) has prompted challenging questions about whether or not and how people can successfully master topics traditionally taught for college credit in brick-and-mortar universities using a free online platform. Anecdotal evidence suggests excitement over this new platform, and continued high participation numbers demonstrate a general interest in the public for learning, even without a degree attached. However, differing learning goals between MOOC and traditional college students also complicate comparing learning outcomes and mastery rates. In this talk we will highlight the MOOC titled Data Analysis and Statistical Inference offered by Duke University. We will share experiences from both development and delivery of the course as well as findings from quantitative and qualitative data collected from the enrolled students to answer questions relating to the above concerns. Particular research questions discussed will be on a statistical computing language, R, through an interactive web-based application as well as sense of community in the online course environment.