Causal and Statistical Reasoning Online Module
What is it and how does it work?
This Open Learning Initiative (OLI) online course provides an introduction to causal and statistical reasoning. After taking this course, students will be better prepared to make rational decisions about their own lives and about matters of social policy. They will be able to assess critically—even if informally—claims that they encounter during discussions or when considering a news article or report.
Which skill(s) are targeted?
- Identify, define, and navigate the data and information landscape
- Critically evaluate data and information
- Analyze data and engage with information in and across communities of practice
Who else has used it?
Relevant undergraduate courses in CMU’s Social and Decision Sciences Department have used this online course as an interactive textbook (instead of a traditional textbook) and homework resource. In this case, one or two modules were assigned per week as students’ reading and homework activities.
Educator time commitment
The educator time commitment for incorporating the Causal and Statistical Reasoning course is under an hour overall. This includes requesting access to the online course, adding a few instructions to your syllabus/assignments, and, if applicable, incorporating completion data into students' final grade.
Student time commitment
There are a total of 16 modules in the Causal and Statistical Reasoning module and each takes students about 60-90 minutes to complete, i.e., similar to the time students would spend reading a traditional textbook and completing associated homework exercises. NOTE: If used in a course context, this time should be factored into students' coursework time.
Contact eberly-assist@andrew.cmu.edu for help with incorporating this resource.
Educator how-to steps
- Email eberly-assist@andrew.cmu.edu to request that the Causal and Statistical Reasoning modules be added to your Canvas site (or be set up separately if you are not using Canvas). Please include the following information in your request: Course number/name (or Canvas site name) and any other questions you have about using this module.
- Note: you may request that a subset of the course’s 16 modules be included if that best suits your context. If you would like to review the full course outline and preview the modules before deciding, feel free to request this when you email eberly-assist.
- Decide when students should complete the Causal and Statistical Reasoning modules and then include this in the corresponding assignments/instructions to students.