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Expensive but Worth It: Live Projects in Statistics, Data Science, and Analytics Courses

Expensive but Worth It: Live Projects in Statistics, Data Science, and Analytics Courses

Authors :
Christian Ritter
L. Allison Jones-Farmer
Frederick W. Faltin
Source :
Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education, Pp 1-11 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
Taylor & Francis Group, 2024.

Abstract

Students in statistics, data science, analytics, and related fields study the theory and methodology of data-related topics. Some, but not all, are exposed to experiential learning courses that cover essential parts of the life cycle of practical problem-solving. Experiential learning enables students to convert real-world issues into solvable technical questions and effectively communicate their findings to clients. We describe several experiential learning course designs in statistics, data science, and analytics curricula. We present findings from interviews with faculty from the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East and surveys of former students. We observe that courses featuring live projects and coaching by experienced faculty have a high career impact, as reported by former participants. However, such courses are labor-intensive for both instructors and students. We give estimates of the required effort to deliver courses with live projects and the perceived benefits and tradeoffs of such courses. Overall, we conclude that courses offering live-project experiences, despite being more time-consuming than traditional courses, offer significant benefits for students regarding career impact and skill development, making them worthwhile investments. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
26939169
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.1a129e6f97f4d1abdc7dcf2524f5c2f
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/26939169.2024.2374565