About STARS

The aim of this project is to identify real datasets, of relevance to various disciplines, and develop web-accessible worksheets using these datasets and popular statistical packages. These worksheets use real, in-context, scenarios and can be tailored to satisfy individual preferences. Individualised assignments can be produced, together with (for staff only) suggested "solutions".

Put another way, Coventry, Kingston, Nottingham Trent and Oxford Brookes Universities have joined together to create the STARS project which aims to make available real datasets, from accessible databases, in a form suitable for a learning and teaching resource in HE across a range of disciplines, construct learning materials to accompany these datasets, and develop materials so they can be used with various statistical packages for a range of student abilities, backgrounds and needs.

The materials are accessible electronically for use by both staff and students. All materials reflect real, in-context, scenarios so they address a number of issues, including professional development for lecturers, and student motivation and retention.

The intended outcomes/deliverables include:

links to real datasets suitable for use across a range of subjects
a series of workshop activities
written articles and published papers
discipline-specific worksheets making use of a range of software and able to be modified by staff for local use
individualised datasets, assignments and suggested "solutions", in an attempt to address the problem of copying / plagiarism.