1F: Effective teamwork and communication: process oriented guided inquiry learning (POGIL) in the statistics classroom (Room 106)

Abstract

The POGIL approach is a student-centered, group-learning instructional strategy and philosophy developed through research. Originally developed in undergraduate chemistry classrooms, the POGIL approach has two broad aims: to develop content mastery through student construction of their own understanding, and to develop and improve important skills such as communication. Teaching strategies that encourage students to construct their own understanding are not new in statistics education. What is different about the POGIL approach is that it intentionally addresses how to communicate and how to work effectively as a team rather than assuming these skills will be learned by students as a by-product of active learning. Many educators have experienced student teams that do not work well together: one student may dominate group discussions, while others do not participate at all. The POGIL approach assigns group members specific roles and delineates what each student should be doing during a group activity so, while a student learns a statistical concept through a designed activity, they are also learning how to contribute effectively as part of a team. This in turn forces each student to communicate their thinking and ask questions, as this approach requires participation from all group members. By the end of this session, participants will have 1. Experienced a POGIL classroom themselves. 2. Examples of how POGIL can be implemented in a statistics and/or data science classrooms 3. Resources to further explore the POGIL approach. We will have slides and other classroom materials to share. There is no prerequisite knowledge needed.