Course Description s11

STA 2023 Statistical Methods Valencia Community College, West Campus Summer 2009 Course Syllabus

Instructor Professor Smruti Jani e-mail [email protected] (This is the best way to reach me) Office Building 5, Room 125 Phone 407-582-1298 MW 2:30pm-3:30pm, TR 9:40am-11:10am. Visit me in Room 5-125. Office Virtual Hours: MW 4:30-5:30pm, TR 2:00-3:30pm. Contact via email or Yahoo Hours Messenger ID: smrutipatel

Course Description:

Statistical Methods introduces descriptive methods, including measures of central tendency and dispersion, probability, basic patterns of statistical inference, confidence interval estimation, hypothesis testing and simple linear regression.

Course Materials:

 Textbook: Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World, 4th edition by Larson & Farber  Graphing Calculator: I recommend the TI-84 Plus or the TI-83. A calculator with a CAS (such as a TI-89 or TI-92) will not be allowed.  ATLAS email account that you check daily.  Access to instructor website from home or school computer through Atlas or http://frontdoor.valenciacc.edu/?sjani1  Thin paper folder with brads. This will be used to submit homework assignments.  Green scantron forms for individual RATs.

Course Methods:

This course will be taught as a team-based course in the following manner. The instructor will introduce each major instructional unit and homework will be assigned, followed by a Readiness Assessment Test (RAT) that will be taken first individually and then as teams. The RAT will be followed by activities and assignments for the teams to help students further understand the material in the unit and develop critical thinking skills. Finally, each major unit will culminate with an individual exam and a team exam. Peer evaluations will be conducted several times during the semester.

Grading Policy:

Grades weights will be determined in class using the Grade-Weight-Setting Exercise (see separate handout). Scores in three major performance areas will determine the grades in this class: Individual Performance, Final Exam, and Team Performance (including Team Maintenance). Please note, grades will not be disclosed over the telephone or via e-mail, except through your Atlas account. You must meet with the instructor if you wish to discuss your grade.

Missed Exam/RAT Policy:

 There will be no make-ups for missed exams or RATs unless you give notice no later than the day of the test by contacting the instructor and including your contact information (telephone or email). Email is the best means of contact.  Missed individual RATs and individual exams will be excused solely at the discretion of the instructor, who may require that you prove the existence of extenuating circumstances before excusing any absence(s).  Students who miss a team RAT or team exam should communicate with their team about their absence and will receive the team score regardless of their absence.  If you have an excused absence for an individual RAT or test, you must make arrangements with the instructor within two days of the test to make-up the test. You will be given a make-up test in the Testing Center (7-219, bring VCC ID) at a date and time agreed upon between you and your instructor. If you miss the deadline for the make-up test without notifying the instructor, you will forfeit your chance to make up the test.  Unexcused missed individual RATs will be scored as zeros.  The first unexcused missed individual exam will be averaged with the remaining individual exam grades and that average will be the grade received for the unexcused exam. Additional unexcused individual exams will be counted as zeros.  A missed final exam will result in an F in the course.

Attendance /Conduct:

 You are expected to attend every class meeting, unless an illness or emergency makes it impossible for you to do so.  It is always helpful to let the team know when a member is unable to attend class. If you have a problem and can't reach someone in your group, call or email me and I will pass the word on to your group if I receive the message in time.  You are responsible for any information and/or assignments given during class, whether you are present or not.  If you stop attending class and do not withdraw yourself from the course, your grade will be F.  You are expected to be in class on time, and to remain in class for the entire period unless permission to leave early has been granted by the instructor. It is disruptive to arrive or depart while class is in session.  The following actions will not be tolerated: regularly arriving late or leaving early, sleeping, talking disruptively, or allowing beepers or cell phones to sound.

If there are reasons you cannot adhere to this policy, please notify the instructor.

Withdrawal:  The deadline for withdrawing from class with a grade of “W,” if you are eligible to do so, is June 5, 2009. After the deadline, withdrawing from class will result in a grade of either “WP” or “WF,” depending on your average the date of your withdrawal.  If you are eligible to withdraw from this class, however you do not withdraw, and do not take the final exam, then you will receive a grade of “F.”  Florida Statute states that any person attempting a class for a third time may not withdraw from the class. The student must receive a grade of A – F. Please refer to the college handbook for more information.

Resources:

 My office hours are a great resource. Please come by to visit or ask questions!  The West Campus Math Center is in building 7, room 240. The hours are: Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There you will find Valencia math department staff, peer tutors, study rooms and other comfortable work areas for study group meetings, computer-based tools as available for your text, and support materials for check-out with your VCC identification card. Check the website http://www.valenciacc.edu/west/lss/math/ for more information.  If you purchased a new text, you received an access code for MyMathLab software with it. It is also possible to purchase an access code for MyMathLab separately. Use of the access code requires entering STA 2023 online through WebCT. This is not required for the course – it is optional. If you wish to use MyMathLab independently as a tutorial or source of exercises, please visit or call the Division Office (7- 108, phone 407-582-1625 or 407-582-1848) to gain access.

Academic Honesty:

Students are expected to act in compliance with the college policy regarding academic honesty. Failure to comply will result in a zero grade. In some cases, a grade of F may be assigned in the course.

Valencia Core Competencies:

Valencia Community College wants graduates to possess and demonstrate a set of global competencies including the ability to THINK, COMMUNICATE, VALUE AND ACT. In an effort to help you acquire and improve your ability to demonstrate the competencies this course will include activities that require you to: 1. Think clearly, critically and creatively. 2. Communicate with others in written and verbal form. 3. Make reasoned value judgments and responsible commitments. 4. Act purposefully, reflectively and responsibly.

Special Accommodations:

Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The Office for Students with Disabilities determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities (West Campus SSB 102, extension 1523).

Changes in the syllabus, schedule, and/or assignments for this class may be made at the discretion of your instructor.