Taeyong Park (Carnegie Mellon University Qatar)
Abstract
Engaging students in statistics, especially non-majors with varying levels of mathematical and computational skills, can be quite challenging. This session introduces role play as a useful teaching model in business statistics to enhance student engagement. By using Harvard Business Publishing case studies, which provide detailed contexts, characters, and real datasets, we will demonstrate how role play can be applied to regression modeling. This method encourages active discussion and interaction among students, helping them grasp theory-driven model building for statistical inference. This session consists of three sections. First, we will introduce the teaching method to the participants, providing examples and demonstrations. Second, participants will learn the method by participating in a mock class as students. They will be divided into groups, with each group playing different roles according to the example case, just as students do in the role play activity. Third, participants will discuss how they would apply the method in their own classes. By the end of the session, participants are expected to understand the benefits of using role play in teaching statistics and how to implement this teaching model in their classrooms. Experience in teaching introductory statistics or basic knowledge of regression analysis will be beneficial, but not required. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet to engage with the interactive components of the session.