Math 281: Introduction to Statistics, 3 credits, Fall 2009, SDSM&T

Your Instructor

Roger Johnson ("Roger" or "Mr. Johnson" is fine), McLaury 314A,
email: Roger.Johnson@sdsmt.edu
web: http://www.mcs.sdsmt.edu/~rwjohnso/,
355-3450 (office), 394-2471 (math/cs department office)

Office Hours

Monday: 2-3, 4-5
Tuesday: 1-2
Wednesday: 1-2
Friday: 9-10, 1-2

& by appointment (catch me just after class, or send an email to make arrangements)

Class Meetings & Important Dates

Class meetings are MWF 11:00 - 11:50 September 2 through December 11 in Classroom Building 204W except September 7, October 12, November 11, 26,27 (for a total of 39 class meetings). Last day to drop (for 100% refund) is September 10; the last day to withdrawl with a 'W' is November 16. The final exam in on Thursday, December 17 from 10:00-11:50. It is the policy of the Mathematics & Computer Science Department that final exams may not be given early.

Math 281 Prerequisites

College Algebra (Math 102) or Pre-Calculus (Math 115).

Course Description

(From the course catalog) A study of descriptive statistics including graphs, measures of central tendency and variability and an introduction to probability theory, sampling and techniques of statistical inference with an emphasis on statistical applications.

Textbook Material (tentative):

What to Purchase for this Class

A Texas Instruments statistical graphing calculator from the following list:
TI-83 plus (good), TI-84 plus (better), or TI-84 plus silver edition (best). You may try local retailers such as Office Depot, Target, Best Buy, Office Max, or buy online through distributors such as Calculators, Inc. (1-800-533-9921). The best sale prices for these calculators over the last month: TI-83+ $80.00 @ Radio Shack, Office Depot and Office Max; TI-84+ $88.00 @ Target; TI-84+ Silver $100.00 @ Office Depot. Sales are not uncommon late-August (at, e.g. Office Depot, Office Max,Target, Walmart, Shopko) just before school starts.

Making Sense of Statistics, 4th edition, by Pyrczak, ISBN 1-884585-70-1 ($37.00 new, $29.75 used @ SDSMT bookstore).

Cartoon Guide to Statistics, by Gonick, ISBN 978-0-06-273102-9 ($16.00 new, $13.00 used @ SDSMT bookstore).

Please bring me the small, rectangular, "Proof of Purchase TI-83 Plus/ TI-84 Plus/TI-84 Plus Silver Edition" coupon (containing the bar-code) from the packaging that comes with the purchase of your calculator. Collecting enough of these will allow the Math Department to obtain additional TI equipment for use in the classroom.

Time Commitment

According to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog (c.f. section 'Definition of Credit Hours') the average student enrolled in Math 281 will need 6 hours of studying time for this class per week (note, for example, that this is 1 hour per day with 1 day off per week).

Grading

Grades will be determined using the following weights:

Homework: 15%
Exams (3): 20% each
Final Exam (Thursday, December 17): 25%

For all exams you may bring an 8.5 by 11 sheet of notes. In borderline grading situations attendance, and class participation may be used to come to a decision. A course grade of 'A' is guaranteed for a 90% or better average, 'B' for a 80%-89% average, 'C' for a 70%-79% average, 'D' for a 60-69% average. The 90%/80%/70%/60% cut-offs may drop a bit depending on the difficulty level of the exams. Expect to use your calculator on each exam; the proficiency level that you will need to do well on calculator-related problems on the exam will be gained by doing the homework and by working along on problems with the calculator in class. Grading in borderline situations will be determined by class attendance and class participation. Any "extra credit" offered will not boost a "D" or "F" grade.

Resources

Topics/Homework (updated during the term)

A Few Comments on the Course

Statistics is a science of reasoning from data. Its purpose is to aid people in making decisions based upon the available data. Statistics is much more than a collection of numerical computations - while some computation is necessary (substantially minimized by the use of calculators), the emphasis of the course will be on understanding statistical concepts and on interpreting the results of statistical analyses. Throughout the course connections will be made to real world problems using real data. These connections may be silly (should we believe the makers of M&Ms about their claimed color distribution?) or serious (does aspirin help reduce the incidence of heart attacks?). Concepts may occasionally be illustrated in class using props of some sort - cards, dice, M&Ms, etc.

Board of Regents General Education Goals & Student Learning Outcomes

This course meets GenEd Goal #5: Students will understand and apply fundamental mathematical processes and reasoning.

Student learning outcomes: As a result of taking a course meeting this goal, students will:

1. Use mathematical symbols and mathematical structure to model and solve real world problems. Assessment: Students will 2. Demonstrate appropriate communication skills related to mathematical terms and Assessment: Students will 3. Demonstrate the correct use of quantifiable measurements of real world situations Assessment: Students will

Suggestions

With apologies to David Letterman (and from fellow statistics educator Allan Rossman from whom I stole most of this), I offer you the following "Top Ten" suggestions as you approach this course:


10.

Come to Class

9.

Ask Questions

8.

Use Office Hours

7.

Don't Get Behind

6.

Don't Get Overconfident

5.

Work Together

4.

Read Carefully

3.

Get Comfortable with your Calculator

2.

Have Fun!

1.

Think!

For Further Reading

If you really enjoy this class and want to find out more about probability and statistics and related applications, then you may wish to read one of the following titles:

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to be familiar with policies stated in the SDSMT Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog. In particular, "the penalty for any act of academic dishonesty . . . shall be at the discretion of the instructor and may . . . [result in] failure in the class."

Homework Policy

Homework, in general, should be turned in at the beginning of class on the date requested. I will accept a late homework set only under the following two conditions: (i) the solutions to this homework set have not yet been distributed or discussed in class, and (ii) I have not yet graded the homework set for those people who turned it in on-time.

For homework that you are to work on as individuals, you may discuss methods and procedures openly with classmates. Once you begin to write-up the homework you are to turn in, however, this must be done alone. Likewise, if I have you work on homework with others (e.g. in pairs) you may discuss methods and procedures with other groups, but only group members may be involved during the write-up.

Freedom in Learning Statement

Under Board of Regents and University policy student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact the dean of the college which offers the class to initiate a review of the evaluation.

Electronic Devices Policy

Please turn your cell phone off or set it to vibrate before class starts. Please leave the room if you must answer your phone. If your phone rings during class you will provide donuts or cookies to the entire class during the next class meeting. No text messaging in class. No earbuds/headphones. If you wish to use a laptop in this class for purposes of note taking, that's great; however, you may be required to download DyKnow software and then join Math/IEng 281 to activate.

Attendance

Attendance is expected and, as described in the SDSMT Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog, "a student who fails to attend classes regularly [apart from school-sponsored activities] must satisfy such requirements as the instructor in a course may prescribe."

ADA Note

Students with special needs or requiring special accommodations should contact the instructor and/or the campus ADA coordinator, Jolie McCoy, at 394-1924 at the earliest opportunity.