Learning Statistics - in a WEB-based and non-linear way

Have you thought about why most teaching is linear? Do you know what non-linear learning means? Do you use web-based learning? And have you ever thought of combining web-based learning with “standard” university teaching such as lectures, problem based learning etc.? Students nowadays are very different from one another.

They have different prior knowledge and different learning styles so it is a challenging task to teach them all in the same way. Furthermore the world of statistics has become so huge that it is impossible to cover everything. The structure imposed by the Bologna agreement gives a greater mobility which is good for both the students and the universities but leads to even more “inhomogeneity” at the courses.

One possible solution is to combine traditional university teaching with web-based learning organized by using learning objects in a non-linear way. This means that the students can design the course – or a part of the course – so that it fits their individual learning style and their prior knowledge.

Some prefer to look at examples first and afterwards look at which theories it is based on. Others want to do it the opposite way. Some wants to work with the problem themselves at first, then look at some pictures which show the essential parts and then read a text or listen to a spoken explanation.

There are many possibilities – only your fantasy limits you. Learning objects are easy to modify (in contrast to writing a new book) and it is easy to use learning objects made by others and in this way make the job as a teacher both easier and more fun. Of course the non-linear way of organizing learning objects can also be used in stand-alone web-based courses and in many other contexts as e.g .in school education and continuing education.