College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University

Computer module

Statistics' Mervyn Marasinghe used Foreign Travel Grant to discuss teaching methods at international conference.
Mervyn Marasinghe, associate professor of statistics, says he didn't even know that fellow faculty members in the Department of Statistics had been invited to an international conference that he was scheduled to speak at.

"We each got separate invitations and spoke on separate topics," Marasinghe said.

And they each also submitted separate applications for a Foreign Travel Grant (FTG) to attend the Sixth International Conference on Teaching Statistics ("Developing a Statistically Literate Society") last July in Cape Town, South Africa.

The FTG program is administered by the Faculty Senate and supports university-related travel to foreign countries. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and for no more than 75% of the least expensive round trip airfare between Des Moines and the individual’s destination.

"The opportunity to present at an international setting gave us additional exposure for our work," Marasinghe said. "I was able to communicate and exchange ideas with people in my area that I have only communicated with through e-mail as well as colleagues that I have worked with before."

Marasinghe was joined at the conference by W. Robert Stephenson, university professor of statistics, and Stephen Vardeman, professor of statistics. Stephenson spoke during a distance learning session on "Experiencing Statistics at a Distance," while Vardeman presented "Providing 'Real' Context in Statistical Quality Control Courses for Engineers."

Marasinghe's presentation at the conference, "Computer Modules for Teaching Statistical Concepts," was included in a session on computer-based demonstrations of statistical phenomena. Over the past several years, Marasinghe and his students have used modern computational environments to develop graphical tools useful for data analysis and teaching.

The computer modules were first developed in 1995 through a National Science Foundation grant. Marasinghe says his project is aimed at improving the effectiveness of undergraduate and graduate statistics courses.

"Its main goal is to develop computer-based modules that are more concept-driven than course oriented," he said. "We have designed them to be more easily adaptable for general use and statistics instructors can use them to supplement and enhance their own teaching methods.

"The availability of these easy-to-use modules enables instructors to present and illustrate statistical concepts more effectively than is possible using standard approaches."

The computer modules, which incorporate dynamic graphical displays that provide instantaneous visual feedback, encourage active learning among students according to Marasinghe.

"Using lessons and exercises based on simulation and dynamic graphics will not only improve students' level of understanding of statistical methodology, but also enhance their intellectual curiosity and interest," Marasinghe said. "The dynamic graphical displays also help instructors illustrate the concepts more effectively than traditional methods."

Working with his students, Marasinghe has developed several sets of modules that are continually being updated. The topics covered include general statistical methodology, regression analysis, and experimental design.

The modules, which are available on both PC and Macintosh computers, are not tied to a specific course structure.

"These are free-standing modules," Marasinghe said. "There are several concepts per module, but typically just one area of a topic is explored in a module.

"But the most important thing is that the modules get students involved in the coursework instead of just listening to a lecture."

Marasinghe hopes in the near future to convert the modules to web-based applets.