The Department of Statistical Sciences in collaboration with Rotman TD Management Data and Analytics Lab recently hosted its annual ASA DataFest, a thrilling competition where teams of talented students dive deep into data to extract meaningful insights and propose innovative solutions. This year’s competition centered around the CourseKata project, challenging participants to enhance the learning experience of statistics through interactive e-books.
The Challenge
Students were given the unique task of analyzing extensive data from CourseKata, which is designed to improve how students learn statistics by integrating cognitive psychology into its teaching methods. Teams explored patterns of engagement, identified stumbling blocks, and highlighted successful features within the coursework, offering suggestions to both the CourseKata developers and its users.
The Winners Take the Stage
After intense deliberation, the judges announced the winners. The first place was clinched by Data Dawgs, a team comprising Khushil Nagda, Anushikha Joshi, Shivraj Sambhus, and Mudit Chandna, who impressed the crowd and judges with a unique presentation skit and comprehensive analysis.
Cipher Seekers, consisting of Christina Lan, Yuxuan Wu, Siyi Zhu, and Catherine Guo, took a commendable second place with their innovative approach to enhancing user interaction.
The third spot was secured by Shrimp_net, with team members Nagata Aptana, Faraaz Ahmed, Janis Joplin, and Christoffer Tan, who brought creative solutions to the forefront.
An honourable mention was given to Team Senioritis 2.0, the returning champions from the 2023 competition, made up of Afnan Kadir, Abdu Okhunjonov, and Brandon Chen.
Looking Forward
The ASA DataFest once again proved to be a cornerstone event for the Department of Statistical Sciences, showcasing the remarkable talents of students and reinforcing the importance of data science in educational innovation. The successful event not only highlighted the analytical prowess of the participants but also underscored the growing significance of interdisciplinary approaches in solving educational challenges.
A special thanks to this year’s sponsor, the TD Bank Group, and to our judges, mentors and volunteers.
Visit our ASA DataFest page for more information on past competitions and photos.