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Dr.
Mark Brown The release of two samples of public-use microdata was a major initiative of the 1991 UK Census. Although welcomed by the academic community, requirements on the user were initially demanding. Access to the data was remote via a mainframe, and the use of microdata files required competence in statistical analysis packages such as SPSS. These factors limited use of SARs among inexperienced researchers and, particularly as a teaching resource. Ten years on, dramatic advances in personal computing technology and web-based software have presented exciting new opportunities for increasing the accessibility of SAR data to a range of new users. This paper outlines a number of initiatives for the dissemination of 2001 SAR data and in particular a major project to develop SARs as a web-based learning and teaching resource (part of a wider project to develop the UK Census as an integrated learning and teaching resource*). This has involved development of a number of stand-alone learning and teaching units covering a range of methodological and substantive topics. The materials are made available in a variety of formats that can be accessed from the web - either for downloading or on-line use. Integral to all units is a substantial practical element providing the student with hands-on use of the SAR data. Access to the data is facilitated through two new software applications NESSTAR and Beyond20/20. In both cases a browser is downloaded providing a user-friendly interface to the data and incorporating tools for basic exploratory data analysis. The combination of structured teaching materials with web-based access to data provides real opportunities for SARs to deliver on their potential as a major learning and teaching resource. *Note that three other papers are being submitted to IASSIST 2002 by other members of the CHCC project team. Dr. Mark Brown |