ML11: Behind the Analysis: Teaching Collaborative Statistical Consulting Through Observational Learning

Music City Center 

While some undergraduate and graduate programs in statistics, biostatistics, and related areas provide students ample opportunity to develop the skills necessary for collaborative work post-graduation via campus consulting centers or something similar, many programs still rely on coursework to expose students to the ins and outs of statistical consulting as well as the soft skills required to make such consulting successful. Furthermore, some programs even lack coursework related to such topics. During this roundtable conversation, we discuss how faculty can engage students in their own work to facilitate the observational learning of the collaborative consulting process regardless of the type of formal structures in place for such learning at the institutional level. In particular, we discuss the inclusion of students into active consulting work and how this incorporation helps students develop soft skills beyond the scope of their coursework, gain hands on experience working with data, and learn how to communicate effectively with clients from the beginning to end of a project. Some time will also be dedicated to a discussion of the role AI Tools might play in such education.

Statistical consulting

Observational learning

Professional development

Pedagogy

Soft skills

AI Tools 

Section on Statistical Consulting