SurfStat.australia: a Statistics Textbook for the Web

Abstract

SurfStat is a web site comprising the complete text of an introductory service course in Statistics, but with several added interactive features. It demonstrates the concept that existing text-based teaching material (course notes) can be renovated and enlivened for web-based delivery without massive commitment of programming effort. The SurfStat project thus contrasts with projects elsewhere, which showcase very polished material but after years of development are far from delivering a complete course. The web technology is limited to what can be handled by an unadorned browser, including use of frames, JavaScript and CGI scripts for indexing but without video, sound, Shockwave or other multimedia plug-ins. SurfStat is freely accessible at http://www.anu.edu.au/nceph/surfstat/.