Keeping It Real: Using Big Data and Interactive Visualization Tools in the Classroom

• Activity Number: 545
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): Mia Stephens* and Rob Carver
• Companies: SAS Institute and Stonehill College
• Keywords: Real Data ; Visualization ; Social Media ; Interactive ; Statistics Education ; JMP

Abstract

This is an exciting time to be teaching introductory statistics! Technology and the internet are readily available to most students. Data are collected on just about any subject imaginable, and much of this information is open and easy to access. Modern statistical software packages are designed to more easily produce dynamic and interactive visualizations and analyses, with large and even unruly data. And, most students are internet savvy and active in the wide range of social media options available. All of this allows us to better engage our students, and to explore core statistical questions using real and interesting data and examples that our students can relate to.

In this talk, we'll illustrate the use of publicly available data sets and social media data to create interactive visualizations and explore core statistical concepts using off-the shelf software.