Methods for Improving Student Success in Introductory Statistics Courses at Oregon State University

• Activity Number: 562
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 12, 2015 : 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): Katie Jager* and Juliann Moore
• Companies: Oregon State University and Oregon State University
• Keywords: teaching introductory statistics ; student success

Abstract

With increasing capabilities to collect and store data, it is essential for students to have the skills to consolidate and interpret data to help answer important questions. The purpose of the introductory statistics sequence at Oregon State University is to provide tools for the student to become literate in statistical arguments and becoming familiar with calculations involved in arriving at a statistical conclusion. This sequence is an introduction to Statistics for non-majors. In an effort to improve student success we have changed the structure of our introductory courses with the addition of a recitation. Implementing the recitation into the curriculum has shown to improve student's successful completion of these courses. Weekly recitation includes group work, quizzes, extra practice, applied problem solving and short lectures in a smaller thirty person classroom environment. In addition to weekly recitation, students are required to complete problems through an online companion website to the text. Our goal is to illustrate that these changes have shown improved passing grades as well as overall student success in the sequence.