Enhancing the process for teaching statistics using web based techniques

Although there is a first year statistics unit at Macquarie having an annual enrolment of around 2500 students, it does not mean that statistics is a wildly popular subject. Indeed, the reality is that virtually every student enrolled only does so because it is compulsory for them to do it as a prerequisite for another subject. There has always been a challenge for the department to convince a significant number to continue their studies in this area. A giant step in the right direction was the recent introduction of a new first year unit involving the statistics of gambling, sport and medicine. Its immediate success was evident when over 400 students enrolled in the first year of offering alone and now the annual numbers are consistently around 300. With the creativity of Macromedia’s Director Lingo and making full use of the capabilities of the World Wide Web, the unit has now become a university showcase and has led to increased numbers in statistics units at higher levels. This paper discusses the progress of this unit from its initial conception to the completed product.