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Passion Driven StatisticsA Supportive, Project-based, Multidisciplinary

Introductory Curriculum

Lisa Dierker, Arielle Selya and Jeffrey Nolan

Part 1, Friday, August 2, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pmPart 2, Saturday, August 3, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Connecticut Convention CenterRoom 25

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We’ll start after clip (3 mins)

Starlight over Wesleyan

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Speakers

Lisa Dierker, PhD*Professor, Psychology

Chair, Quantitative Analysis Center

Arielle Selya, PhDResearch Professor

Jeff NolanVisiting Instructor

* In China delivering a Passion-Driven Statistics course

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2-Day Overview

• Day 1 Fri, 3:00 – 5:00Context & background

Course format & materials Results to-date

Lab activity & discussion

• Day 2 1 Sat, 3:00 – 5:00Lab activity completed

Samples of student workLive demonstration

using R Challenges & discussion

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Mathfest Description

• This minicourse exposes participants to a multidisciplinary, project-based model for teaching introductory statistics.

• We will present new learning materials and innovative teaching strategies that directly and creatively tackle many of the most significant challenges currently faced by introductory statistics instructors and students.

• The curriculum is aimed at taking advantage of students’ natural curiosity and providing a common language for approaching questions across numerous scientific disciplines.

• Core features of this curriculum include providing opportunities for students to flexibly apply their knowledge, the use of computing as a window to core statistical concepts, and supporting students with varying levels of preparation.

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Lisa Dierker, PhDWESLEYAN UNIVERSITY

Introduction by Lisa Dierker

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A Supportive, Project-based, Multidisciplinary

What we will talk about

Passion Driven Statistics

Introductory Curriculum

• Approach to delivering an introductory course• American Statistical Association’s Guidelines (GAISE)• Valuable across disciplines to open opportunities• Aim is to INVITE new talent to the field• NOT GATEKEEPING• Provide high-availability support for SUCCESS

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We fan into flamethat unique,

idiosyncratic spark of personal passion

by demonstrating how statistics can fuel that

flame

What we do in the course

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So what?

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Why care?

Why change?Change what?What specifically?

What, no math!?

Why Wesleyan?

Data is transforming societyTransformation facilitated by

statisticsCalls for change in way statistics is

taught

Economic necessityASA endorsed guidelines (GAISE)Intrinsic motivation

PROJECTSUnder-represented groups

TALENTConcepts, data, software TOOLSHigh-availability assistance

SUPPORT

Eliminate gatekeeperExpand the pool of talentInvigorate the field

Tradition of learning through discovery

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The changing world

Hans Rosling00:25 – 05:15

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Transformation

• Advancements in the field of statistics are among the greatest achievements of the 20th Century

• It’s impact is seen EVERYWHERE• The world has changed dramatically

in a remarkably short period of time because of the application of statistics

• The effects are lasting and irreversible

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Accelerator of innovation

AgricultureMedicineEngineeringManufacturingMarketingFinance...

Ronald A. Fisher

Karl Pearson

Statistics acceleratesinnovation in other fields

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Marketing

John Wanamaker

"Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half."“Big data” refers to vast data sets… Ranging from a few dozen terabytes to many petabytes, they’re so extensive and complex that specialized software tools and analytics expertise are required to collect, manage, and mine them.

Selling into Micromarkets

July-August 2012

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Liberal Arts schoolHistory majorFather History Professor

Value of information

"Information about money has become almost as important as money itself."

Wriston built Citibank into America’s largest

bank

Walter Wriston

Decisions are informed bythe meaning of data

rendered through statistics

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Big Data: V3

Volume ZettabytesVelocityStreamingVariety 80% unstructured

growth 15x structured

Sensors, Connected, Available

Supercomputer = Personal Computer

1000 KB kilobyte10002 MB megabyte10003 GB gigabyte10004 TB terabyte10005 PB petabyte 2000 800,000 PB 10006 EB exabyte10007 ZB zettabyte 2020 35 ZB10008 YB yottabyte

Data Stored in the World

Facebook 10 TB dailyTwitter 7 TB daily

35 sextillion bytes1021

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Data: Economic Asset

Balance Sheet AssetsCash

CommoditiesProperty, Plant & Equipment

GoodwillIntellectual Property

Data

Agricultural

Industrial

Information

“Data is a new economic asset”

http://www.weforum.org/reports/big-data-big-impact-new-possibilities-international-development

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Help Wanted

Analytical experts150,000 – 190,000

JobsRetrained and New Hires

Analytically literate1,500,000

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Aerospace Industry saying:“Nice jet, no pilot”

Our Challenge

• Recruit talent from historically overlooked sources• Recognize intrinsic motivation as the key driver• Invite don’t gate keep : “Love them through the process!”

Attract, retain & motivatethe next generation

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Pilot Training!

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Retooling Stat Ed

• Recommendations»Concepts

»Literacy, Thinking

»Active Learning

»Technology

»Real Data

»Assessments

What

How

Feedback

(GAISE)

No Math!?

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Curriculum Guidelines

George Cobb22:05 – 23:50

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Statistical Consulting

Attraction & Retention

QAC201 Data Analysis

Research Methods

Independent Study

Faculty Research

Honors Thesis

Internships

TA

Peer Tutor

TA - Lead

TA - Manager

1 : 5 : 20Instructor : TAs : Students

New Courses Opportunities Responsibilities

Peer Tutor Apprenticeship

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5

1

6 Sections@ 20 students

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Student request

Hi Professor Selya, I am a senior at Wesleyan and I am majoring in Art History. I am interested in taking QAC 201, but I see that there are no reserved spots for senior non-majors. I am planning on applying to graduate programs and I'm interested in the research opportunities that this course would afford me. Do you think that there is a possibility of getting into this course? 

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Try it!

Wesleyan is a small liberal arts college that has no specific course requirements.

The QAC201 course, based on the ASA endorsed guidelines, now attracts more students than all other statistics courses combined.

We invite you to share the material we’ve created, to learn and discover as we have, and to develop your own version of Passion Driven Statistics.

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Why care?

Why change?Change what?What specifically?

What, no math!?

Why Wesleyan?

Data is transforming societyTransformation facilitated by

statisticsCalls for change in way statistics is

taught

Economic necessityASA endorsed guidelines (GAISE)Intrinsic motivation

PROJECTSUnder-represented groups

TALENTConcepts, data, software TOOLSHigh-availability assistance

SUPPORT

Eliminate gatekeeperExpand the pool of talentInvigorate the field

Tradition of learning through discovery

Summary√

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√

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ThankYou!