CSALT,
Dept of Educational Research,
County College South
Lancaster University
LA1 4YD,
UK.
Tel: +44 (0) 1524 592685
E-mail: Alice Jesmont
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Summary: A new research methods project funded by ESRC at Lancaster This interdisciplinary project will develop a small set of modules and associated delivery system for teaching introductory statistics to social science students early in their undergraduate studies. Familiar and interesting scenarios will be used to enhance students' engagement with quantitative skills and illustrate their usefulness.
Funder: ESRC
Principal Investigator: Catherine Fritz (Educational Research)
Co-investigators: Brian Francis (Mathematics and Statistics), Peter Morris (Psychology), Moira Peelo (CELT, Applied Social Science)
Associates: David Denver (Politics, Philosophy and Religion PPR), Andrew Folkard (Geography, Lancaster Environment Centre), Julie-Ann Sime (Educational Research)
Dept/Research Groups: Centre for Studies in Advanced Learning Technology, Educational Research
Keywords: Statistics, E-learning, Virtual learning environment VLE
Many people are discouraged by the idea (and reality) of dealing with information that involves numbers. But people who shy away from numbers lose out: Job prospects and pay are limited for people with poor numeracy skills. Many budding social scientists seem unconvinced that they can develop quantitative skills, or even that they need to. But lacking these skills can limit their career prospects.
This project will develop a small set of modules and associated delivery system for teaching introductory statistics to social science students early in their undergraduate studies. The modules will be interactive and will include screening for prerequisite mathematical skills and ongoing assessment of the new material; students' performance will guide an automatic intelligent scheduler to select materials for study based on previous performance. Familiar and interesting scenarios will be used to enhance students' engagement with quantitative skills and illustrate their usefulness.
The development of the system will be guided and supported by a team of advisors from across the university: Dr Catherine Fritz is the director of the project; Co-PIs include Prof. Brian Francis (statistics), Dr Moira Peelo (CELT), Prof. Peter Morris (Psychology); and the STeering Group also includes: Prod David Denver (Politics), Prof Andrew Folkard (Geography) and Dr Julie Ann Sime (Educational Research).
We will develop materials during 2007, implement the system with social science students in 2007-8 and offer the materials to interested tutors in 2008.
SIMPLE
ESRC