Introduction

Many universities now have well developed Induction Programmes for new and young lecturers and those research workers who also teach. Such programmes inevitably emphasise the generic issues of teaching, so that staff from many disciplines can be put together as a group. But clearly these programmes should incorporate some discipline specific elements. How is this to be done? The HEA Maths, Stats and OR (MSOR) Network has developed statistics resources for use within induction programmes for new lecturers, whether in mathematics or statistics departments, or in applied disciplines such as geography, psychology, medicine and business studies.

The resources use both written and internet delivery and support and can be studied in a variety of ways. This provides universities with the opportunity to include discipline related material to suit their particular needs and structures. Discussions with universities have suggested a number of approaches to discipline specific induction.

Please consider the materials and approaches described here and their possible use within your university and contact us with any comments, questions or requests. We realise that new statistics lecturers are not numerous; this is allowed for in the design of the materials.

The Statistics Teaching Resources

The resources we provide on Statistics Teaching consist of two units in written form and one that is web-based. The material assumes the users are already familiar with the basic generic educational ideas provided in induction courses. The units are:

• Teaching Statistics: This unit gives a broad study of issues faced by the statistics lecturer. It also includes the opportunity for teachers to look at their own selection of specific statistical topics.
• Feedback and Assessment in Statistics: This unit provides a study of the specific methods appropriate to the formation and assessment of students' understanding and skills in statistics.
• Computer Supported Statistics Teaching: This unit is web based and explores both the use of statistical software and of the Internet in the teaching of statistics.

These units are supported by further materials, resource packs of illustrative material, Reading lists and two support web sites, one specifically to provide support for the units, the other a more general HEA MSOR Network site.

There are also further support units available:

• A unit designed to help the new statistics lecturer to see their work in the context of the variety of support mechanisms that exist.
• A unit that builds bridges between generic educational theory and the practical teaching of statistics.

All these resources have been validated by the Royal Statistical Society.

Using the Resources for Induction

The resources for Statistics Teaching may be used under licence and modified and delivered entirely within the university's own systems. It is recommended, however, that where possible the material be used in the above composite three unit form as a specific credit-bearing package within the university's induction programme so that it becomes possible for your staff to become part of a national and international cohort of lecturers pursuing this and similar programmes of induction.

This facility is augmented by a dedicated web site with chat rooms, discussion boards etc. and options of external tutoring and/or assessment.

Alternatively new staff can take the more extensive Royal Statistical Society Certificate in Teaching Statistics in Higher Education. This may then be accredited to their induction programme.