Mississippi State University
Course Title: Introduction to Statistics
Contact: Mohsen Razzaghi
Mississippi State University (MSU) plans to redesign Introduction to Statistics, which enrolls ~790 students annually in 22 sections. Seven sections, each with 45 students, are offered in both the fall and the spring; eight sections of 20 students each are scheduled in the summer. This three-hour course is currently taught in a traditional lecture format with an online homework component. A coordinator teaches one section and is responsible for the syllabus, assignments and exams used by all sections. The remaining sections are taught by graduate teaching assistants (GTAs.)
The demand for Introduction to Statistics is projected to increase by 190 students or 24% annually to fulfill the university’s math requirement. Enrollment is currently at full capacity, and the redesign will enable the department to serve the additional students and provide a consistent learning experience for all students.
MSU will redesign Introduction to Statistics using the Replacement Model. Each week, students will attend one lecture and one mandatory recitation session and will spend two required hours in the Math Domain computer lab. Recitation sessions, led by GTAs, will review course content and answer students’ questions. Students will work in the Math Domain sessions on projects involving statistical applications and will complete online homework. These sessions will also be used for proctored online quizzes and tests.
The redesigned course will enhance the students’ educational experience, making them active and engaged learners, and will provide a consistent learning experience for all. Online tutorials and guided solutions for homework will support students in their learning. Online mastery quizzes, which can be taken up to three times, and tests will be graded automatically, providing immediate feedback to students. GTAs will provide tutoring and individual assistance in the Math Domain and closely monitor student progress. A principal benefit of the redesign will be uniformity of instruction across sections. An experienced faculty member will provide the core learning material, GTAs will reinforce it during the recitation sessions and students will practice it in the Math Domain.
Student learning outcomes will be assessed by comparing common final exams in the traditional format during 2007-2008 to the redesigned sections. Success rates and course grades, using common criteria, will also be compared.
MSU will reduce the cost of instruction by increasing the number of students served annually from 790 in 22 small sections to 980 in seven large sections. Two sections, each with 200 students, will be offered in the fall and spring. Three sections with 60 students per section will be offered in the summer. The number of faculty will increase from four to five and GTAs will decrease from eight to seven. These actions will reduce the cost-per-student from $133 to $110, a 17% savings. The redesign plan will also enable the department to meet anticipated future enrollment growth on the same resource base, thus producing an additional reduction in the cost-per-student.
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