Teaching and Consulting: A One-to-One Mapping

• Activity Number: 97
• Type: Roundtables
• Date/Time: Monday, August 10, 2015 : 7:00 AM to 8:15 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Consulting
• Author(s): Jonathan Berkowitz*
• Companies: University of British Columbia
• Keywords: Consulting persona ; Teaching best practices ; Consulting best practice

Abstract

Many consulting statisticians have previous or concurrent experience as teachers at universities or colleges. What experiences in the classroom can also be useful in the consulting boardroom? Conversely, what is done in a consulting environment that can enhance the classroom teaching and learning experience? Consulting can be viewed as teaching a tiny class, sometimes with an enrollment of one. Teaching a class can parallel making a presentation to a client. During this roundtable, we will discuss similarities between a teaching persona and a consulting persona, ways to put clients and students at ease, explanations of statistical concepts suitable for both the classroom and boardroom, establishing the tone at the first meeting and the first class, setting expectations, giving feedback, and more. Thankfully, we won't be addressing how to evaluate students' and clients' performance, nor what is on the final exam! Come with your stories and experiences and questions; leave with new tools for your consulting toolkit.