Webcast: Using Service-Learning to Teach Statistics and Critical Thinking Skills to Undergraduates

Clemson Collaborations in Service –Learning Webcast

Monday, March 31, 2014, 4:30 PM  EST

Using Service-Learning to Teach Statistics and Critical Thinking Skills to Undergraduates 

Description: Statistics can be an intimidating, less than exciting course filled with book learning, complex equations and lots of memorization.  Statistics, however, is by nature inferential which means critical thinking skills are imperative.  The question, then, is “how do we change this paradigm?”   In this webinar, students and faculty will share their experiences on working on a Service-Learning project for a local non-profit as part of a statistics class and how their learning was enhanced by this experience.

Laura Shick teaches Elementary Statistics in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Clemson University. She holds a BS in Textiles and MS in Statistics from the University of Delaware. Her professional career began in Business & Industry. She held various supervisory roles in Product Development and Marketing Research at Scott Paper, Campbell Soup, Insurance Company of North America (now CIGNA), and as Consulting Statistician for the Professional Products division of Kimberly Clark.  She has taught basic undergraduate level statistics at Villanova University, University of South Carolina-Aiken and currently, Clemson University.

Laura’s philosophy for teaching Statistics is that students should come away from the course knowing how to be informed consumers -- knowing how to question and interpret research -- rather than being able to do complex calculations. She employs Service-Learning and Critical Thinking components in these courses to help students gain the experience of applying the course concepts while exposing them to some challenges faced by community non-profit organizations.

Hayden Campbell  is a freshman Microbiology major who previously worked with Professor Shick in her Introductory Statistics 3010 course.   Hayden has continued his work with Professor Shick on this project with a creative inquiry designed to help charities and organizations in the local area with statistical analysis and organization.  His career goal is to attend medical school and eventually become an Ophthalmologist.

Genevieve Watkins is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science while working towards two minors which include Aerospace Studies (as a requirement towards her AFROTC involvement) and Digital Production Arts.  She participated in Professor Shick's Critical Thinking and Service Learning Introductory Statics Course and continues to stay involved in the project through Clemson's Creative Inquiry program, which enables students to work on research and projects over multiple semesters.

For Webcast information go to http://www.clemson.edu/public/servicealliance/faculty_fellows_program/webcast_page.html

For Webcast instructions the day of the broadcast, go to  http://www.clemson.edu/public/servicealliance/faculty_fellows_program/webcast_instructions.html