Learning and applying the statistical thinking theories and techniques of the Deming management philosophy of Quality Improvement in introductory statistics courses can produce quality general education graduates for the 21st century. Advantages for the graduate who experiences a statistics course with emphasis using the Statistical Process Control (SPC) methodology include: a) replacing fear of mathematics with statistical critical thinking, team problem solving, and writing and communication skills that enable learning for a life time, b) statistical interpretations and analysis of data using reasoning skills that are imperative survival skills necessary for the competitive job market, c) statistical foundations with the Quality Improvement (QI) philosophy which can contribute to improving disciplines and attitudes. The implementation of this new paradigm for statistics courses will require new attitudes for both students and teachers, new methodology of management and teaching, and new context for the course.
The CAUSE Research Group is supported in part by a member initiative grant from the American Statistical Association’s Section on Statistics and Data Science Education