Online Statistics Education: An Interactive Multimedia Course of Study

跨学科(99)赖斯统计虚拟实验室是一个集模拟、案例研究、数据分析常规程序和说明文于一体的综合实验室，旨在实施上世纪90年代初S提出的统计教育改革。这些改革包括(A)减少对数学的重视，更多地强调数据分析，(B)开发模拟，使抽象的概念更加具体，并允许学生自己发现重要原理，(C)增加对真实数据的使用，以及(D)包括动手活动或主动学习任务(边做边学)。以其在互联网上的使用量衡量，RVLS在为课堂教师提供资源方面取得了成功。然而，它的主要限制是它没有提供一个完整的、自主的课程。具体地说，它不包含允许学生在没有正规课堂环境指导的情况下自主学习的独立教学模块。为了纠正这一点，我们开发了一本统计在线多媒体教科书，纳入并扩展了RVLS中的材料。这本教科书包括整合课程片段、模拟、自我测试练习和来自案例研究的真实数据的模块。除了纯文本选项外，它的讲课还可以通过“黑板”演示文稿的音频覆盖提供。学生在每一章结束时的练习表现将被记录下来(可选)，以证明他们对特定主题的掌握。这本教科书可以在互联网上免费获得。该项目体现了莱斯大学和休斯顿大学市中心校区之间的合作努力。这种协作确保了这些材料适合具有不同数学背景的学生。它还有助于扩大代表不足群体的参与，因为休斯顿大学市中心校区主要为少数族裔学生服务。

Interdisciplinary (99) The Rice Virtual Lab in Statistics (RVLS) is an integrated collection of simulations, case studies, routines for data analysis, and explanatory text and is designed to implement reforms in statistics education that were proposed in the early 1990's. These reforms include (a) placing less emphasis on mathematics and more emphasis on data analysis, (b) developing simulations to make abstract concepts more concrete and to allow students to discover important principles themselves, (c) increasing the use of real data, and (d) including hands-on activities or active learning tasks (learning by doing). Measured by its use over the internet, the RVLS has been successful in providing resources for classroom instructors. Its major limitation, however, is that it does not provide a complete and autonomous curriculum. Specifically, it does not contain stand alone teaching modules that allow students to learn autonomously without the guidance of the formal classroom setting. To remedy this, we developed an on-line multimedia textbook in statistics, incorporating and extending the materials in the RVLS. The textbook consists of modules that integrate lecture segments, simulations, self-testing exercises, and real data from case studies. Its lectures are available as audio overlays of "blackboard" presentations (in addition to a pure text option). Students' performances on exercises at the end of each chapter are recorded (optionally) as evidence of mastery of particular topics. The textbook is freely available on the internet. The project embodies a collaborative effort between Rice University and the University of Houston-Downtown Campus. This collaboration ensures that the materials are appropriate for students with varying degrees of mathematical background. It also serves to broaden the participation of under-represented groups since the University of Houston-Downtown Campus serves primarily minority students.