Course Syllabus

Math 207-F2F3: Intro to Statistics 

Shenandoah University

Fall 2024




Tuesday/Thursday: 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Gregory 105

Required Materials:

Introductory Statistics - https://openstax.org/details/books/introductory-statistics

My Open Math - https://www.myopenmath.com/

Jamovi - https://cloud.jamovi.org/

 

David Yablonski

dyablons@su.edu

Office: Gregory 113

Office Hours: T/Th 2:00pm - 4:00pm and M/W 1:00pm - 3:00pm in Gregory 113 or by appointment scheduled 24 hours in advance.

 

 

Course Description:

This course will introduce the basics of elementary statistical methods including applications of probability, estimation, hypothesis testing, regression and correlation. It will build problem solving skills and creative thinking in the students. These topics are relevant in many areas outside of Academia and has the potential to be used in many other professions.

 

Course Objectives:

Standard 1:  Sampling and Data

  • Recognize and differentiate between key terms.
  • Apply various types of sampling methods to data collection.

 

Standard 2a: Descriptive Statistics - Means

  • Display data graphically and interpret graphs: histograms, and box plots.
  • Recognize, describe, and calculate the measures of location of data: quartiles and percentiles.
  • Recognize, describe, and calculate the measures of the center of data: mean, median, and mode.

Standard 2b: Descriptive Statistics - Standard Deviation

  • Recognize, describe, and calculate the measures of the spread of data: variance, standard deviation, and range.
  • Project using Jamovi

Standard 3a: Probability Topics - Computational

  • Understand and use the terminology of probability.
  • Determine whether two events are mutually exclusive and whether two events are independent.
  • Calculate probabilities using the Addition Rules and Multiplication Rules.

Standard 3b: Probability Topics - Graphs and Tables

  • Construct and interpret Contingency Tables.
  • Construct and interpret Venn Diagrams.
  • Construct and interpret Tree Diagrams.
  • Project on Probability

Standard 4a:  Discrete Random Variables - Expected Values

  • Recognize and understand discrete probability distribution functions, in general.
  • Calculate and interpret expected values.

Standard 4b:  Discrete Random Variables - Geometric and Binomial

  • Recognize the binomial probability distribution and apply it appropriately.
  • Recognize the geometric probability distribution and apply it appropriately.
  • Classify discrete word problems by their distributions.

Standard 5:  Continuous random Variables

  • Recognize and understand continuous probability density functions in general.
  • Recognize the uniform probability distribution and apply it appropriately.

Standard 6:  The Normal Distribution

  • Recognize the normal probability distribution and apply it appropriately.
  • Recognize the standard normal probability distribution and apply it appropriately.
  • Compare normal probabilities by converting to the standard normal distribution.

Standard 7a: The Central Limit Theorem - Means

  • Recognize central limit theorem problems.
  • Classify continuous word problems by their distributions.
  • Apply and interpret the central limit theorem for means.

Standard 7b: The Central Limit Theorem - Sums

  • Apply and interpret the central limit theorem for sums.

Standard 8: Confidence intervals

  • Calculate and interpret confidence intervals for estimating a population mean and a population proportion.
  • Interpret the Student's t probability distribution as the sample size changes.
  • Discriminate between problems applying the normal and the Student's t distributions.
  • Calculate the sample size required to estimate a population mean and a population proportion given a desired confidence level and margin of error.

Standard 9: Hypothesis testing with One Variable

  • Differentiate between Type I and Type II Errors
  • Describe hypothesis testing in general and in practice
  • Conduct and interpret hypothesis tests for a single population mean, population standard deviation known.
  • Conduct and interpret hypothesis tests for a single population mean, population standard deviation unknown.
  • Conduct and interpret hypothesis tests for a single population proportion.

Standard 10:  Linear Regression and Correlation

  • Discuss basic ideas of linear regression and correlation.
  • Create and interpret a line of best fit.
  • Calculate and interpret the correlation coefficient.
  • Calculate and interpret outliers.
  • Project using Jamovi and Regression Lines

 

General Education:

This course satisfies 3 credits of your quantitative literacy general education or “ShenEd” requirement.  If you entered Shenandoah University in Fall 2019 or later, this class fulfills 3 credits in the “Communicative & Quantitative Literacies Sphere”. For all other students, this class fulfills 3 credits in domain 3. You will be measured on the ability to:

  • Apply mathematical methods to solve problems.
  • analyze information with an appropriate mathematical model and interpret the results.
  • organize mathematical information using multiple representation and understand the applicability of each.

 

Grades will be determined by the following:      

Lecture Notes                                                          10%

Online Homework                                                    10%

Mastery Tests                                                           80%

 

  • A: 93% -100%
  • A-:90%- (just under 93%)
  • B+: 87% - (just under 90%)
  • B: 83% - (just under 87%)
  • B -: 80% - (just under 83%)
  • C+: 77% - (just under 80%)
  • C: 73% - (just under 77%)
  • C-: 70% - (just under 73%)
  • D+: 67% - (just under 70%)
  • D: 60% - (just under 67%)
  • F: Under 60%

Attendance:

Regular class attendance and completion of all homework assignments are essential to your progress.  Students are encouraged to study together and help one another on homework assignments.  If you feel that you are falling behind in this class, please let me know immediately so I will be able to try to give you extra help.  Attendance is taken at the beginning of each class period.  If you are not present at that time, you are considered absent.  Students who are absent 20% or more of scheduled class meetings may receive a failing grade for the course.

 

Projects/Lecture notes:

Lecture notes will be posted on Canvas. The goal is for these to be completed before the class period where they will be discussed. There will also be around 3 projects. I plan for the projects to be primarily completed during class.

 

In-Class Activities/Homeworks:

Homework assignments will be on MyOpenMath. All assignments should be completed on your own unless specifically stated otherwise. Homework grades are given based on your grade at the due date. (You can still work on the homework assignments to get standard 11.) I will also occasionally have in-class assignments.

 

Tests/Mastery Quizzes: 

Tests/quizzes will be given frequently in order to discern student mastery and understanding of class discussion and homework problems.  Make-up tests/quizzes will not be given for students who are absent unless appropriate documentation is provided.  Students with pre-arranged absences must make up the test/quiz prior to absence. Students with appropriate documentation must make up test prior to return of test to class. All tests are to be completed on your own unless specifically stated otherwise.

 

More on Mastery Standards: 

  • 80% of your grade will be determined by how many topics you are able to master during the class.  For your reference, this is the grade breakdown for how many standards and the percentage grade you receive.
  • Standards 2B, 3A, 6, 9, 10 are considered extremely important.  These standards are worth 10 points each.  All other standards mastered are worth 5 points.
  • Standard 11 is from My Open Math assignments. If a student correctly answers at least 80% of the homework questions, then you will satisfy standard 11. It is worth 5 points.
  • Partial credit on standards will only be awarded on the final.

Calculator: 

Students are only allowed to use non-graphing calculators in this course. A calculator will be provided to students during exams.

 

Final Exam:

Tuesday December 10th 2:00-4:30pm. Please double check to make sure this is correct. On the last week of classes, I will send out reminders about this.

 

Religious Observance Policy:

If a student requires an accommodation for a religious observance, please refer to the Academic Catalog to access the Religious Observances Policy, complete the required paperwork and notify the University (coordinator/instructor) before the end of the add/drop period.

 

Disabilities: 

Any student who has a disability and is in need of classroom accommodations, please see me privately, and also contact the Academic Enrichment Center.

 

Honor Code: 

The SU Academic Honor Code prohibits lying, stealing, and cheating.  As a faculty member of SU, I am dedicated to upholding the standards of academic integrity prescribed by the Honor Code and will take action if I suspect a violation has occurred.  If you have questions about the Honor Code, please come talk to me or refer to the SU Student Handbook.

 

Technology:

Technology is an essential part of the learning environment at Shenandoah University. However, when used inappropriately technology can hinder learning. Using laptops in this class to legitimately take notes or work on class projects is allowed, but any other use of laptops in class is prohibited. Please respect your fellow students and the professor and abide by this policy. Anyone using technology for any other purpose will be asked to leave class.

 

 

Virginia State Teaching Licensure Competencies:

This course contains specific requirements and activities to meet and support the following VDOE competencies for teacher licensure:

  1. Probability and statistics: permutations and combinations; experimental and theoretical probability; data collection and graphical representations including box- and-whisker plots; data analysis and interpretation for predictions; measures of center, spread of data, variability, range, and normal distribution;

  2. Understanding of the knowledge and skills necessary to teach the Virginia Mathematics Standards of Learning and how curriculum may be organized to teach these standards to diverse learners;
  3. Understanding of a core knowledge base of concepts and procedures within the discipline of mathematics, including the following strands: number and number sense; computation and estimation; geometry and measurement; statistics and probability; and patterns, functions, and algebra;

  4. Understanding of a core knowledge base of concepts and procedures within the discipline of mathematics, including the following strands: number systems and number theory, geometry and measurement, analytic geometry, statistics and probability, functions and algebra, multivariate calculus, discrete mathematics, and linear and abstract algebra;

  5. The relationship of statistics and probability with biology in an appropriate interdisciplinary context;

  6. Understanding of the sequential and interrelated nature of mathematics, the vertical progression of mathematical standards, and the mathematical structures inherent in the content strands;

  7. Understanding of the connections among mathematical concepts and procedures and their practical applications;

  8. Understanding of and the ability to use the five processes - becoming mathematical problem-solvers, reasoning mathematically, communicating mathematically, making mathematical connections, and using mathematical models and representations - at different levels of complexity;
i. Understanding how to utilize appropriate technologies for teaching and learning mathematics, including graphing utilities, dynamic software, spreadsheets, and virtual manipulatives.

 

Syllabus modifications:

I reserve the right to update the syllabus. This is often done in cases where there is a typo or missed topic. When the syllabus is modified, I will email a summary to everyone.