A Data-First Approach to Learning Real-World Statistical Modeling

This paper presents a novel design for an upper-level undergraduate statistics course structured around data rather than methods. The course is designed around curated datasets to reflect real-world data science practice and engages students in experiential and peer learning using the data science competition platform Kaggle. Peer learning is further encouraged by patterning the course after a genetic algorithm: students have access to each other's solutions, allowing them to learn from what others have done and figure out how to improve upon previous work from week to week. Implementation details for the course are provided, and course efficacy is assessed using a survey of students and a focus group. Student responses suggest that the structure of the course contributed to narrowing the perceived gap between low- and high-performing students, that desired learning outcomes were successfully achieved, and that a data-first approach to learning statistics is effective for learning.