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A Pilot for a Shared On-line Statistics Advisory Service

Lead name:
Alun Owen
Discipline:
STEM wide
Collaborating Institutions:
De Montfort University, University of Sunderland, Birmingham City University
Funding call:
Maths strand - £5,000
Programme contact:
Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
Abstract
Some HE institutions provide an appointments-based Statistics Advisory Service (SAS) targeted at final year and postgraduate students across STEM disciplines. However, many HE institutions do not provide a SAS, possibly due to lack of statistically qualified personnel, financial resources or lack of direct evidence of demand. Where resourcing is an issue, an alternative that institutions could consider is a shared SAS resource, provided via an on-line learning space. This project would pilot such a shared SAS resource, in order to assess the practical and pedagogical issues involved, and the potential demand for such a service.
Project Aims

To assess the practical and pedagogical issues involved in providing an appointments-based Statistics Advisory Service via an on-line learning space.


To assess the potential demand for such a service.

Project Objectives

To pilot and evaluate a scheme whereby HE institutions without a dedicated SAS can provide an appointments-based Statistics Advisory Service to final year project students and postgraduate students across STEM disciplines through an on-line service which is shared with other HE institutions.

Project Outputs

An on-line shared Statistics Advisory Service (SAS) made available to students at the three partner institutions.


Six half-hour on-line appointments made available each week for 15 weeks, giving a total of 90 appointments during the pilot.


A report evaluating the pilot to assess the practical and pedagogical issues involved, and the potential demand for such a service. Both the shared aspect of the service and the on-line aspect of delivery will addressed.

Project Outcomes

The evaluation of the pilot could be used by HE institutions to inform their decision about whether to provide such a service in the future.

Contact Alun Owen