TASK 2

Task 2a: Critique your module outline document. (Do you think this document is useful for your students? If your answer is yes, in what ways is it useful? If your answer is no, can you recommend ways of improving its design?).

1. Module overview

According to the teaching roles of academic in Science Higher Education, with reference to learning-centered teaching strategies and development programme at UWC, the module outline document of STA 151 is useful for our students.

With reference to the structure of the module outline, the Statistics for Life Sciences Module Outline of STA 151 of 2013 provide first the module overview. In this section, the key focus or purpose of the module is provided. This section indicates how the module relates to previously studied modules, and how it prepares students for subsequent module which are second year Statistics. Furthermore, this section indicates how this module relates to the degree/discipline or programmes by providing the students a sound basis to further their statistical studies.

This module outline is useful because it provides the main outcomes of the STA 151 which means that students will be able to recognise the importance of statistics in both private and public sectors, and to summarise data into summary measures, to do simple statistical analysis, and use computer to analyse data.

Despite the main outcome of this module, the main content of the module is provided as well such as descriptive statistics, sampling methods, probability distributions, confidence interval, hypothesis testing, Chi-square tests, Analysis of Variance, and Simple Linear Regression Analysis.

2. Teaching and learning activities

The STA 151 course outline indicates that MAM151 is a pre-requisite, while there is no co-requisites. Methods of student assessments are planned carefully which are tutorial tests, computer analyses and a final examination. Looking at teaching and learning activities, the mode of teaching is face-to-face in weekly classes for two semesters. Activities include a lecture with a discussion forum, a 3 hour practical and tutorial session from 2pm to 5pm every Monday afternoon. A tutorial test after the end of every chapter, and a main term test after each term are planned. The module is scheduled weekly according to topics and in class learning activities are included in the course outline. The materials of module include the prescribed textbook which can be purchased in the department of Statistics and Population Studies.