Activity-based learning of statistics: Using practical applications to improve students' learning

Many obstacles are involved in teaching statistics to undergraduates, including high attrition rates, students' anxiety, and a limited ability to grasp difficult concepts. These concerns can be addressed effectively by implementing strategies that require students to be actively engaged in the learning of statistics. First, we discuss how activity-based strategies and information technology can be an effective way to teach a statistics course. Second, we discuss how we changed a statistics course to include activity-based strategies. Finally, we discuss how cooperative learning, as a type of activity-based strategy, can increase students' understanding of statistics.