This paper is from Session 3A: Developing undergraduate data science programs grounded in statistics
which comes under Topic 3: Statistics education at the post-secondary level
Paper 3A2 (Tuesday 10th, 14:00-15:30)
Building a foundation in statistics in the era of data science
Presenter
- Alison Gibbs (University of Toronto, Canada)
Abstract
In the era of data science, our undergraduate statistics programs need to cover more territory, including data analysis, statistical theory, computational skills for data wrangling, visualization and analysis, and oral and written communication. Ideally, a first course will introduce students to all of this territory, while immersing them in a framework for solving problems with data, illustrating descriptive, explanatory, and predictive purposes. We’ll describe an introductory course in statistical reasoning and data science that attempts to do this while placing a particularly strong emphasis on communication. The course is a microcosm of our newly renovated statistics program, introducing students to all the knowledge, skills and attitudes that we want them to acquire as they pursue their degrees.