The U.S. Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS) will be held virtually on June 28 - July 1, 2021, with pre-conference workshops starting on June 24. This conference provides a welcoming and engaging (perhaps even fun!) environment in which teachers can exchange ideas and motivate each other to improve their teaching of statistics. The conference features thought-provoking plenary sessions, interactive breakout sessions, informative posters-and-beyond sessions, and opening and closing sessions with inspiring and lively five-minute presentations. Other highlights include birds-of-a-feather discussions, a speed mentoring session, an awards ceremony, extensive pre-conference workshops, and exhibitor technology demonstrations.
The USCOTS theme for 2021 is "Expanding Opportunities." Sessions will explore many aspects of this theme, including strategies for increasing participation and achievement in the study of statistics for students from underrepresented groups, supporting and encouraging students and colleagues who are beginning or contemplating careers in statistics education, and leveraging the emerging discipline of data science to democratize opportunities for students from all backgrounds.
USCOTS has been held in odd-numbered years since 2005. This will be the first USCOTS to be held virtually. We hope to reproduce the welcoming, engaging, interactive, and fun aspects of USCOTS as much as possible in a virtual setting.
Please consider submitting a proposal for an interactive breakout session, pre-conference workshop, "posters and beyond" contribution, or "birds of a feather" discussion topic. See below for links to submit proposals.
Pre-conference Workshops
Pre-conference workshops provide an opportunity for more extensive study of a topic and more interaction among participants and presenters. Workshop durations range from a half-day to two days. Decisions on workshops are expected to be made by February 22, 2021.
Proposal deadline: February 1, 2021
Breakout Sessions
Breakout sessions (75-minutes) provide interactive engagement among participants and presenters, on topics related directly to the conference theme of "Expanding Opportunities." Decisions on breakout selections are expected to be made by February 22, 2021.
Proposal deadline: February 1, 2021
Posters & Beyond Sessions
The P&B sessions provide an opportunity for conference participants to display a virtual "poster" of their ideas or provide a small demonstration of their favorite examples, activities, and teaching methods, the "beyond". Abstracts for posters or beyond activities in the USCOTS Posters and Beyond session submitted before March 11, 2021 will receive feedback from the session organizers. Final abstracts should be submitted by Thursday, April 22, 2021. Abstracts submitted between March 11 and April 22 will be considered for selection, but will not receive feedback from the session organizers.
In our virtual setting, a "poster" will be a 5-minute video presentation that will be posted on the conference website with the opportunity to interact during scheduled sessions. A "beyond" session will be a live virtual showcase of your demonstration, activity, idea, etc.
For "Posters," describe the teaching environment (e.g., type of institution, type of students, number of students per class), what takeaways viewers of the poster should expect, and whether the work has IRB approval if necessary. It is helpful, but not necessary, for those submitting posters to have some citations to support their work. Please note that the committee will be looking for evidence or potential for efficacy in the classroom.
For Beyond, provide the activity, demonstration, applet, etc., if possible describe how you incorporate the demonstration, activity, or method into your classroom, and how you assess (formative or summative) the demonstration. Provide a brief description of the teaching environment (e.g., type of class, number of students, etc.) in which you use the activity.
Final decisions on poster and beyond selections are expected to go out by May 15, 2021 along with information about your scheduled session.
Birds-of-a-Feather Discussions
The highlights of the U.S. Conference on Teaching Statistics include interaction and discussion among statistics educators with similar interests. One mechanism for facilitating such conversations is a birds-of-a-feather discussion, in which people with similar interests gather to discuss a particular topic.
Proposal deadline: May 31, 2021