Tech Talk Tuesdays: Statistical Education
In this era of fake news, chart junk, and deliberate misinformation, the development of critical numeracy has become an even more important part of developing responsible citizenship. The ability to examine evidence-based claims and make decisions based on quantitative reasoning is crucially important. We are fortunate at UD to have scholars who have contributed enormously to national conversations on these issues through their classes, books, and public presentations.
Joel Gordon Best is a professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware. He specializes in topics such as social problems and deviance. His current research focuses on awards, prizes, and honors in American culture. He is an author of over ten books and dozens of academic articles. Three of his books that are particularly relevant to these issues are: “Damned Lies and Statistics: Untangling Numbers from the Media, Politicians and Activists” ,“Stat-Spotting: A Field Guide to Indentifying Dubious Data”, and “The Stupidity Epidemic: Worrying About Students, Schools, and America’s Future (Framing 21st Century Social Issues).”
Julie Karand is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering. She is an international scholar who was a Fulbright Scholar in Tanzania. Her research areas Engineering Education as well as
Cardiovascular Mechanotransduction and Tissue and Regenerative Medicine.Dr. Karand’s research background centers on understanding which factors contribute to cardiovascular disease and how these factors initiate plaque development in the arteries. To answer these questions, Dr. Karand has conducted experiments on the bench top, in mouse models, and by using computer modeling. Dr. Karand is an avid educator and seeks to incorporate hands-on learning techniques into her lectures. She believes in the importance of developing well-rounded engineers, who can think critically and thrive both independently and on team-based projects.
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THOMAS ILVENTO is Professor of Applied Economics and Statistics. He is also the Co-Director of the StatLab, an Instructor in LEADelaware, and is a Graduate Internship Director. His textbook, “Statistics: Plain and Simple” is already in a second edition and is used across the country. He has developed numerous spreadsheets for his students to learn statistics interactively in his classrooms. His classes include: STAT200 Basic Statistical Practice; APEC/STAT408 Research Methods I; and APEC/STAT608 Statistical Research Methods. His research focuses on Regional Economic Development, Social Demography, and Survey Design and Implementation. In particular, he has studied the impact of agriculture on Delaware’s economy.