SBI-listserv participants

See below for an invitation to participate in an assessment project.

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As you may know, we recently received NSF funding (DUE-1323210) to facilitate assessment of (algebra-based) introductory statistics courses, with a focus on gaining a better understanding of potential differences in student learning between “traditional” and simulation/randomization-based introductory statistics courses.  As such, we are asking you to consider having your students participate in the assessment project regardless of how much (if any) simulation- and randomization-based inference methods you use in your course. As a thank you for your participation, we are happy to offer a $100 stipend and a customized report on your students’ performance in your class. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this short survey, as soon as possible, but early enough to allow time to set up individualized links for your class before your term starts: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9SYS8H3.

Some brief details follow, with answers to some commonly asked questions here.

1.     Students in your introductory statistics course (undergraduate or high school level) will take a pre-test (preferably before the course starts, but no later than the first week of classes). The “test” contains multiple choice questions that assess conceptual understanding and student attitudes toward statistics.  Most students take approximately 45 minutes to complete the test. The test is administered completely online (we will provide you the link). Students can complete the test either inside or outside of class.  See the FAQ for more information on encouraging student participation and IRB including opt-out options.  After the closing date you specify, we will send you the student names and individual performance data. At the end of your course, students will take a single multiple choice, online post-test about attitudes and concepts (or, for the post-test only, separated concepts and attitudes tests). Again, we’ll provide you the individualized link.

2.      Assuming your sections attain at least 75% participation rates, and you fill out a brief (<30 minute) survey about your course (e.g., size, pedagogy, classroom technology, etc.) at the conclusion of the course, you will receive the stipend and customized report.

We anticipate publishing a series of articles on the data gathered as part of this project. Neither student-nor instructor-level information will be reported individually (only in aggregate) in these articles. If you are interested in participating but have questions about your institution’s IRB, please contact us as well.

Again, if you are interested in participating, please fill out this short survey, as soon as possible, but early enough to allow time to set up links for your class before your semester starts: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9SYS8H3. After we receive your survey responses, you will be contacted directly by us with more information/details.

Please direct additional questions to either Cindy Nederhoff (assessment administrator: cindy.nederhoff@dordt.edu) or Nathan Tintle (project director: nathan.tintle@dordt.edu).

Thanks for considering this,

Nathan Tintle (on behalf of the PIs: Nathan Tintle, Beth Chance, Dennis Pearl, Soma Roy and Todd Swanson)