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StatsCasts: supporting student learning of introductory statistics using screencasts
Conference presentation

StatsCasts: supporting student learning of introductory statistics using screencasts

Peter K Dunn, Christine McDonald, Birgit Loch and Vida Weiss
2013 Learning & Teaching Week Program Booklet, p.13
Learning & Teaching Week, 2013 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 26-Aug-2013–30-Aug-2013)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2013
url
https://www.usc.edu.au/View
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Abstract

StatsCasts
USC, like many Australian universities, has many students with weak quantitative (statistical and mathematical) skills entering university. In addition, many USC students are accepted from nontraditional, non-academic backgrounds. These students need access to additional, online structures to support these skills. However, USC, unlike almost all other Australian universities, has no dedicated mathematics or statistical support centre. To provide students with the flexibility to receive statistical explanations whenever they like and wherever they are, we have produced StatsCasts: short, screen video recordings of statistical problem solving with narration. StatsCasts enable students to watch, online, targeted screencasts that connect new concepts with material they already understand. The StatsCasts give students the flexibility to watch an expert explain how to approach and then solve a problem, while having the ability to pause the recording when needed. During Semester 1 2013, fifteen StatsCasts were developed covering topics that students usually struggle with, and aligned SCI110 Science Research Methods. The StatsCasts were evaluated (among other methods) using a short (voluntary) survey. Of the 221 responses, 217 (98%) rated the StatsCasts as "Very helpful" (85%) or "A little helpful" (13%). StatsCasts are open educational resources under the Creative Commons licence, are peer-reviewed to ensure quality, are available for free; and are short. While other similar resources are available to students, only StatsCasts offer all these features. In addition, our StatsCasts are of direct relevance to USC students. StatsCasts will e utilised in one online USC course and one blended-learning USC course in 2014.

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