{"id":553,"date":"2008-02-05T11:18:14","date_gmt":"2008-02-05T15:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/?p=553"},"modified":"2008-02-05T11:18:14","modified_gmt":"2008-02-05T15:18:14","slug":"rubiks-cube-adds-new-dimension-to-statistics-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/2008\/02\/rubiks-cube-adds-new-dimension-to-statistics-course\/","title":{"rendered":"Rubik\u2019s cube adds new dimension to statistics course."},"content":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0American Heritage Dictionary<\/em> defines statistics as \u201cthe mathematics of the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data, especially the analysis of popular characteristics by inference from sampling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many of the College of Business Administration\u2019s undergraduate students view required statistics courses as a barrier that stands between them and their diploma. But they should not fear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
\nChristopher Ellis<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Christopher Ellis<\/strong> (EMBA \u201997, BS \u201992), instructor in the college\u2019s Department of Decision Sciences and Information Systems, teaches business statistics with a twist\u2014using the devilish little puzzle known as the Rubik\u2019s cube to provide students with a real, engaging reason to study statistical methods by giving them a business context in which to apply them.<\/p>\n

In Ellis\u2019s\u00a0Quantitative Methods in Business<\/em> class, he engages students in a business simulation game in which teams compete in the unlikely service industry of solving Rubik\u2019s cubes for others.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThe purpose of this course is for students to develop their capability to apply statistical thinking to improve business processes,\u201d Ellis said. \u201cI first got the idea to use the Rubik\u2019s cube as a classroom tool when, at a local yard sale, I found a worn, tattered little book from the early 1980s claiming that any Rubik\u2019s cube can be solved using a simple five-step process. Eureka! The idea for the \u201cJiffy Cube!\u201d\u2014the farcical Rubik’s-cube-solving business\u2014was born.\u201d<\/p>\n

As part of the \u201cJiffy Cube\u201d experience, students learn to use the five key components of statistical analysis: defining the processes, measuring performance, analyzing results, improving the process, and establishing control for permanent improvements.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/div>\n

\u201cThe activities give the students many opportunities to put newly developed skills for problem solving and process improvement to work,\u201d Ellis said.<\/p>\n

One student, marketing major Martin Giian, who expects to graduate in 2008, found the class both entertaining and practical.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned that statistics is not just about formulas and calculations but that it carries real meaning and application in the business world,\u201d Gilian said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have taken many theoretical classes, but this one made connections between course material and its application in the real world. Thanks to this class, I see statistical processes at work every day\u2014as I drive to school, study for exams, or play soccer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The\u00a0American Heritage Dictionary defines statistics as \u201cthe mathematics of the collection, organization, and interpretation of numerical data, especially the analysis of popular characteristics by inference from sampling.\u201d Many of the College of Business Administration\u2019s undergraduate students view required statistics courses as a barrier that stands between them and their diploma. But they should not fear. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[2769],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/553"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=553"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/553\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=553"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=553"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biznews.fiu.edu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=553"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}