Place :
Zoom Meeting & YouTube Politeknik Statistika STIS
Speaker :
Dr. Waris Marsisno, M.Stat
Anugerah Karta Monika, S.Si, M.E
Robert Kurniawan, SST, M.Si
Dewi Purwanti, SST, S.E, M.Si (Moderator)
Description :Politeknik Statistika STIS once again held the *Webinar Series Statistika* in 2021 on Friday (April 23). Aimed at improving statistical literacy, the first installment of this year’s series carried the theme *“Communicating Statistics.”* The webinar was conducted virtually via Zoom Meeting and streamed live on the YouTube channel of Politeknik Statistika STIS. Moderated by Dewi Purwanti, SST, S.E, M.Si, this session differed slightly from last year's series, as it featured three speakers presenting three different topics that expanded on the overarching theme.
The first speaker, Dr. Waris Marsisno, M.Stat, presented a topic titled *“Information and Communication Technology Skills for Future Official Statisticians.”* He began with a general definition of official statistics and its role in government and society. The speaker outlined three essential skills for official statisticians: theory, logic, and practice. These skills must also be complemented by the ability to understand the statistical information market and how to communicate statistics appropriately to that market. He emphasized the importance of the concept of “understanding the context of the object being measured” as a core competency for official statisticians. The discussion then transitioned to statistical literacy, introducing the *official statistics literacy model*, which encompasses the statistical system, statistical techniques, policy issues, and political economy. The development of official statistics was also thoroughly explained, including the phases of its evolution, the potential of ICT in implementing the Generic Business Process Model, and the impact of disruptive technologies on statistical activities in society. He concluded, “Competence, knowledge, and skills only help us *do* something, but what matters more is whether someone has conviction and the right attitude.”
The second topic, *“Digital Communication Platforms for Statistics,”* was delivered by Anugerah Karta Monika, S.Si, M.E. She began by explaining what a digital communication platform is and why the internet plays a critical role in society. She mentioned three primary reasons people access the internet: to stay updated, for entertainment, and to pass the time. This highlights the effectiveness of using online platforms to deliver statistical content. She continued by discussing key considerations for selecting the right platform for statistical communication, including choosing the appropriate type of website or social media and the format of the material (article, video, audio, or visuals). As social media continues to evolve, the opportunities to communicate statistics expand as well. Statisticians must also consider their target audience and the purpose of the information being shared. Understanding audience behavior, the types of issues they face, content credits, comments, and the terms and conditions of each platform are essential in communicating statistics effectively.
The third speaker, Robert Kurniawan, SST, M.Si, followed with his topic *“Statistical Literacy Through Social Media.”* In his presentation, he made specific points relevant to academic environments, emphasizing that during the pandemic, statistical literacy must be optimized as a side effect of distance learning. He showcased several examples of how websites and social media can be used to communicate statistics. He also demonstrated websites and applications he developed personally, along with examples of their content. Audience engagement via social media was shown to be very high, evidenced by the large number of comments and questions. He remarked, “There is still a great opportunity to deliver statistical content using technology. The goal is to make delivery more efficient and well-targeted.”
The event concluded with a Q\&A session. Participants actively submitted questions through Zoom’s chat feature and YouTube’s comment section. The event saw enthusiastic participation from thousands of attendees with diverse backgrounds—not only from Politeknik Statistika STIS and Statistics Indonesia (BPS), but also from Halu Oleo University, Universitas Terbuka, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Bogor Agricultural University, Gadjah Mada University, Diponegoro University, Islamic University of Indonesia, the Ministry of Finance, and many others.
*(Marini Safa Aziza\_62)*
