Using Online Video Examples in Introductory Business Statistics

Monnie McGee, Jing CaoDepartment of Statistical Science

Robert Skinner, Ian Aberle, and Steve SniderAcademic Computing Services, Office of the Provost

Southern Methodist University

August 10, 2006

JSM 2006 Seattle 2

Outline

• Motivation• Static vs. Dynamic Examples• Equipment• Recording the Videos (live!)• More Example Videos• Going Further

JSM 2006 Seattle 3

The Problem

“She never gave us enough examples on how to work the homework problems”

“I fail to see how this course will ever be useful to me in the future”

JSM 2006 Seattle 4

Why Videos?

• Solutions posted on course website are not dynamic

• Important for students to see thought processes involved in working the problem

• Digital video allows placement on the course website

JSM 2006 Seattle 5

Typical Problem and SolutionEmployers may ask job applicants to take an IQ test if the test has

been shown to predict performance on the job. Score on one test for the 20 to 34 age group are approximately Normally distributed with mean of 110 and standard deviation of 25. Use the Empirical Rule to answer the following questions:

a) About what percent of the people in this age group have score above 110? Since 110 is the mean, and the mean is equal to the median for a normal distribution, 50% of the people in this group will have scores above the mean.

b) About what percent have scores above 160? 160 is 2 standard deviations from the mean. That means that there are 2.5% (5%/2) of the scores above the mean.

Video Version

JSM 2006 Seattle 7

EquipmentCurrent Implementation • Headset microphone• Macintosh Computer• Snap Z Pro software• Digital Writing Tablet

Original Implementation• Document camera (Elmo Desktop Presenter)• Sony Media Converter & audio mixer• iMovie software (free with mac)

JSM 2006 Seattle 8

Document Camera• Elmo DT-150AF

PAL Desktop Presenter

• Portable (1.9 kg)• Zoom capability• Remote Control• $

JSM 2006 Seattle 9

Snap Z Pro Software

• Captures activity on screen

• Used to capture Excel and PowerPoint

• $69

JSM 2006 Seattle 10

Recording the Videos

• A simple “work by hand” problem• Concept problems• Incorporating PowerPoint slides• Incorporating Excel

JSM 2006 Seattle 11

Going Further

• Assessment of student attitudes• End of semester evaluation• Focus groups

• Creating CD of examples

• Virtual Guest Lecturers