A Technology Pilot for Small Group Teaching of Statistics

Abstract

We report on the first year of an ongoing pilot of large-screen interactive whiteboards (IWBs) in small group tutorial and lab classes for a major second-year mathematical statistics subject, exploring what they may bring to our teaching of both core theoretical principles and computation/software use. In the tutorials, students worked collaboratively in small teams, hand-writing solutions to conceptual problems, following established previous practice, but a modality well supported by IWBs. However, the labs were completely revamped to focus primarily on open-ended team exercises, which challenged students to be creative and think laterally together, including team presentations sharing approaches. Whereas our traditional computer labs have students working individually using rows of computers on benches, the new classroom structure with IWBs enabled open-ended, engaging and collaborative team problem-solving supported by shared visualisation tools. As assessed by experienced teachers, student interest, engagement, conceptual understanding, presentation skills, self-insights into their own statistical thinking and team work were all enhanced. Indeed, students entered into a genuine co-construction of meaning through dialogue with the staff. Key lessons for statistics educators wishing to follow this path are to bring in the university IT early in the process, but without underestimating the academic staff time required to reshape approaches to realise full potential and to ensure good training and support for the tutoring staff.