JSM, August 10, Teaching Statistics Via Distance Learning at Simmons College Robert Goldman Simmons College

JSM, August 10, HCANursingNutritionPT PT Bridge Program SHS 412 Survey Instrument Design WebStat SHS 413 Working with Research Data School for Health Studies Simmons College

JSM, August 10, Characteristics of SHS Online Students  Mature working professionals  Highly motivated  Geographically dispersed  Reluctant to seek help  Generally lack a background in quantitative methods  Great variability in comfort with technology

JSM, August 10, WebStat  A pilot version ran in the Spring  The course is coordinated with an online self-assessment statistics test  The course satisfies the statistics prerequisite for each of the four programs  The course last eight weeks and carries zero credits  The course costs $750  We use the text Intro Stat by DeVeaux and Velleman  We limit enrollment to 20 students  The course will be offered three times a year

JSM, August 10, Components of a WebStat Module

JSM, August 10, WebStatSchedule

JSM, August 10, WebStat: Supplemental Notes

JSM, August 10, SHS 413 Working with Research Data  The course includes only practicing physical therapy students  The course lasts nine weeks and carries two credits  The students are required to acquire Minitab  Most of the work is done in groups  The course is based on 90 filled-out questionnaires related to exercise habits  The questionnaire contains a good mix of variable types, VA scales, missing data, etc.  Students enter, clean, and analyze the data and prepare a polished article

JSM, August 10, SHS 413 Homepage

JSM, August 10, SHS 413 Weekly Modules

JSM, August 10, SHS 413 Assignment for Module 3

JSM, August 10, Support for Students : WebStat  WebCT tutorial  Grader/Course assistant  Grades homework and returns with comments  Hosts the chat room for a specified three hours a week  Is available on campus two evenings a week  Technical support person  Answers technical questions  Faculty support  Five hours of “office hours”  Outside of these hours, telephone and messages answered within 24 hours  WebCT “Whiteboard”

JSM, August 10, Support for Students: SHS 413 Technology Guidelines for online students WebCT tutorial Technical support person Answers technical questions Program advisor Faculty support Five hours of “office hours” Outside of these hours, telephone and messages answered within 24 hours WebCT “Whiteboard”

JSM, August 10, Support for Faculty Creative, flexible course designers Technical support Monthly meetings of faculty involved in distance-learning WebStat Grader/course assistant SHS 413Faculty assistant

JSM, August 10, Assessment of Students: WebStat  Simmons Honor Code  Weekly homework  Four bi-weekly exams  Homeworks are counted as one exam and the final course score was computed as a weighted average of the ‘five’ exams.  The course is pass/fail and students need 70+ to pass

JSM, August 10, Assessment of Students: SHS 413 Simmons Honor Code Weekly group deliverables submitted through the Assignment Drop Box In five of the weeks there are discussion topics. Students submit responses to the Group Discussion Board At the end of the course students are asked to assess the overall contribution of each group member Sixty-percent of final score is based on the group work and 40% on individual assignments.

JSM, August 10, Lessons and Plans Making resources available to students does not mean that students will use them In your instructions, you can never be too specific or sufficiently clear Create a legend for statistical symbols Create video clips with animation for key problem areas Set ground rules for groups

JSM, August 10, Some Advantages of Distance Learning Students cannot be passive Students cannot hide With help, DL encourages student interaction Students have control over the pace and place of learning Course material is always available

JSM, August 10, Some Disadvantages of Distance Learning Students miss the benefits of being in class Technical problems can be frustrating Without help, DL can leave the students feeling isolated Cheating is easier

JSM, August 10, With support, constructing, teaching, and improving a distance learning course in statistics is challenging, creative, and enjoyable!