Using ICPSR Data to Teach Deviance and Other Social Science Concepts

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Using ICPSR Data to Teach Deviance and Other
Social Science Concepts

• Lynette Hoelter
• Director, Educational Resources
• Linda Detterman
• Director, Marketing Membership

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Webinar Outline

• What do I need to know to participate in the
  webinar?
• What is ICPSRs Online Learning Center and how
  would my students benefit from using it?
• Where do I find the OLC?
• How can I use the OLC to teach deviance (and
  other social science topics)?

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An orientation to your control panel

• Your control panel will be located in the upper
  right of your screen you can move it around
  your screen, if desired.
• It tends to minimize itself click on the arrows
  to maximize, if desired.
• Its okay to explore the control panel - you
  wont cause the webinar to self-destruct by
  clicking on things! If you somehow disconnect
  from the webinar, just rejoin via your
  registration email.

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Can I get a copy of this Webinar or the slides?

• Yes! A recording of the Webinar and copy of the
  slides will be ready in about two days
• Locating them on our website
• All registered webinar attendees will receive an
  email with the link to the page for downloading
• Well post the links on the announcements section
  on the ICPSR and Online Learning Center front
  pages

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What is the OLC?

• Online Learning Center
• A tool to help develop classroom lectures and
  exercises that integrate data early into the
  learning process.
• Intended for use in introductory-level
  substantive classes.
• Requires no additional software.

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How did it come about (the short version)?

• ICPSR interest in making data more accessible to
  wider audience
• OLC addresses key concerns raised by teaching
  faculty in focus groups and in-depth interviews
• Ability to quickly locate relevant data that are
  easy to work with and work to demonstrate the
  concept(s)
• Ability to customize to personal teaching
  approach and drop into individual syllabus

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How would my students benefit from using the OLC?

• Many schools have focus on quantitative literacy
  and related skills
• ASA charge for exposure early and often
• Engages students with the discipline more fully
• Better picture of how social scientists work
• Prevents some of the feelings of disconnect
  between substantive and technical courses
• Piques student interest
• Opens the door to the world of data

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Where do I find the Online Learning Center?

• Directly www.icpsr.umich.edu/OLC
• Through ICPSR homepage (www.icpsr.umich.edu)
• Under Courses and Learning Tools tab
• In list of Archives
• Typing OLC in search box
• Data-driven learning guides linked from datasets
  and general searches

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Case study Using the OLC to teach deviance

• Choosing a DDLG
• Faculty use of charts in class to introduce topic
• Registering students through MyClass
• Sending students to the website to work through a
  DDLG in class or as homework
• Using DDLG as part of larger project

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Choosing a DDLG

• Search by topic
• Browse by subject
• View all guides
• Keyword search
• Search by level of sophistication
• Browse by analysis type
• Coming soon Search by dataset
• Format of DDLGs allows instructors to make
  decisions on how to incorporate into class
• Based on lesson plan format

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Faculty use of charts in class

• Introduce the concept of deviance as socially
  constructed by exploring the notion that acts or
  individuals are not inherently deviant.
• Example Gambling
• Gambling Behavior in the United States A
  Data-driven Learning Guide
• Able to examine prevalence, types of gambling,
  and characteristics of those who gamble.

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Registering students via MyClass

• Allows students to work on OLC without having to
  create a MyData account.
• All students are linked to instructors MyData
  account.
• MyClass accounts expire after time set by
  instructor.
• Found in Resources for Instructors on OLC or via
  Quick Links on ICPSR homepage.

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Use DDLG as in-class activity or homework

• Ask students to begin to think about micro- and
  macro-level factors related to deviance by
  exploring teen substance use.
• Characteristics of Teen Substance Users A
  Data-driven Learning Guide
• Have students work through whole guide on their
  own, asking them to write answers to the
  questions in the application section before
  moving to interpretation.

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DDLG as start of larger project

• Introductory classes
• Ask follow-up questions about testing related
  hypotheses, possibly testing some in class
  (instructors driving)
• Using bibliography as start for research project
• More advanced classes
• Send students to data in SDA or downloaded

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Also in the OLC

• Currently
• Help for instructors
• Tips for using DDLGs
• MyClass registration
• Announcement list
• Blog
• Related links
• Help for students
• Tips for working through DDLGs
• General help for other parts of the ICPSR site

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Future planning

• Broader topical and analytic coverage
• Tool for instructors to deposit DDLGs
• Assessment tools/suggestions for quantitative
  literacy
• Part of Quantitative Social Science Digital
  Library

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Thank you for attending!

• Slides and a video recording of the Webinar will
  be available in about two days watch your email
  for the link.
• Do you need promotional materials to build
  awareness of the OLC at your institution? We
  have packets ready to mail to you email us at
  olc_at_icpsr.umich.edu
• Further questions about the OLC or educational
  resources? Contact Lynette Hoelter
  (lhoelter_at_umich.edu)