Abstract:

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are considered as an educational revolution influencing the traditional model of higher education (Waldrop, 2013). Some experts consider that MOOCs may help to overcome obstacles related with borders, social class or income although others think the opposite (Emanuel, 2013). In any case, waiting for further experimental results, the MOOC’s philosophy opens a new spectrum of possibilities to spread free knowledge through the world. In this paper we sum up our experiences running an introductory MOOC about statistical data analysis using R software. R is a free software environment for statistical computing and graphics (www.r-project.org) and we have offered and managed a MOOC introducing most of the key features of this software. Given that some researchers and experts say that statistical literacy is crucial for the optimal evolution of human societies (e. g., Bond, 2009, Seldmeier & Gigerenzer, 2001), we hope our initiative might help people to become more familiar with statistics and statistics reasoning.

References:
[1] Bond, M. (2009, 28 October). Decision-making: risk school. Nature, 461, 1189–1192. doi: 10.1038/4611189a
[2] Emanuel, E. J. (2013, 21 November). Online education: MOOCs taken by educated few. Nature, 503, 342. doi:10.1038/503342a
[3] Rees, M. (2013, 17 October). Time for global statistics we can count on. Nature, 502, 273.
[4] Seldmeier, P., & Gigerenzer, G. (2001). Teaching bayesian reasoning in less than two hours. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 130, 380–400. doi: 10.1037/0096-3445.130.3.380
[5] Waldrop, M. M. (2013, 13 March). Online learning: campus 2.0. Nature, 495, 160-163. doi: 10.1038/495160a

Keywords:

MOOC, university, R software, free education.