Bayesian Computing in the Undergraduate Statistics Curriculum

Abstract: Bayesian statistics has gained great momentum since the computational developments of the 1990s. Gradually, advances in Bayesian methodology and software have made Bayesian techniques much more accessible to applied statisticians and, in turn, have potentially transformed Bayesian education at the undergraduate level. This article provides an overview on the various options for implementing Bayesian computational methods motivated to achieve particular learning outcomes. The advantages and disadvantages of each computational method are described based on the authors' experience in using these methods in the classroom. The goal is to present guidance on the choice of computation for the instructors who are introducing Bayesian methods in their undergraduate statistics curriculum.