Integrating Data Analysis Across the Curriculum Feel free to edit and change this slide

Integrating Data Analysis at the Community College: Thinking about Introductory Courses Presented by Katherine R. Rowell Professor of Sociology Sinclair Community College November 2012

Agenda Introductions and Welcome Why integrate data analysis? What are challenges faced by community college faculty or faculty teaching introductory courses? Pedagogy and Integrating Data Analysis Examples and Resources Closing activity

Why Integrate Data Analysis? The majority of college students in the United States are not exposed to data analysis until their Junior and Senior year ( this is especially true in liberal arts). Students typically statistics and research methods near their end of their college careers. Evidence suggests that this process needs to begin early and continue often throughout the college learning experience. In other words, data analysis and exposure to research should be integrated throughout.

5 Why continued….. Movement towards the importance of scientific literacy as a core component of general education. Many disciplines are beginning to analyze this possibility. The American Sociological Association and the Integrating Data Analysis Project funded by National Science Foundation. Chemistry and January 2001 publication in the Journal of Chemical Education on the Data Driven Classroom notes….the data driven classroom develops habits of critical thinking not generally fostered in more traditional approaches. Exposing students early and often to data just makes sense and leads one to wonder “What took so long?” Community College Undergraduate Research Project

6 Why? Student Benefits Quantitative literacy general education outcome Critical thinking Piques student interest (The QUEST in Question)… Why is this? Helps students connect see the SCIENCE in social science Prepare them to live in a data driven world

Challenges to Integrating Data Analysis in the Community College Classroom? What are some challenges you see with integrating data analysis? Activity 1: Ask Participants to brainstorm challenges and be prepared to share back with group.

Challenges Time Academic Readiness of students “Math” anxiety on both part of student and/or faculty Computer access Lack of awareness and/or access to resources Other

Pedagogical Strategies Flipped Classroom Design Teaching Naked: How Moving Technology Out of Your College Classroom Will Improve Student Learning by Jose Antonio Bowen, Teamwork Time on task Repetition

What types of integrating data analysis can you do in an introductory course? Reading and interpreting tables, maps, and graphs that are data based. Measures of Central Tendency Contingency tables Recognizing independent and dependent variable in a table and stating a hypothesis in a table Correlation recognition Depending on resources there may be other things you can show in class

Resources and Activities Reading data visually is a good place to start. There are numerous resources for looking at data presented via tables, graphs, and maps.

Activity 2 Participants form pairs or groups and share ways they are integrating data analysis currently in their courses Ask participants to report out

Helping students see the importance Hans Rosling stats/ stats/ Ted Talks Local newspaper articles Student Success rates Unemployment rate

Activity #3 Identifying and developing an integrating data analysis module that you can use in class

of-stats/ of-stats/ nth=november-2012http://visualizingeconomics.com/blog/?mo nth=november ome.aspxhttp:// ome.aspx Websites noted in presentation

actionhttp://teachingwithdata.org/qssdl/welcome. action More websites

Questions or concerns? Thank You!