Teaching mathematical statistics: one lecturer’s way of testing what students understand

Students had to compile a portfolio and discuss it in an interview to demonstrate their understanding and ability to apply the knowledge.

By: Michael Johan von Maltitz, University of the Free State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: March 6, 2026

Words: 1,120

Last Updated: 4 days, 8 hours ago

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By Michael Johan von Maltitz, University of the Free State

It’s getting tougher to assess how much university students have learnt. In his work as a Mathematical Statistics lecturer, Michael von Maltitz has tried a new way of getting students to learn, and of assessing what they’ve absorbed and retained. Students have to show and discuss how they arrived at their understanding of the subject. They can’t just rely on cramming, because he interviews them …

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