Math 321 Statistics for Experimentalists Spring 2023: Syllabus

Textbook

Additional resources

Description:

An applied statistics course for those with calculus preparation. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability theory, discrete and continuous random variables, and methods of inferential statistics including interval estimation, hypothesis testing, and regression.

Outcomes:

Students will learn the language and basic techniques of probability and statistics. They will apply these techniques to calculate probabilities and perform statistical tests. They will also clearly communicate and interpret their solutions. Students will also learn to use the basics of the statistical program R.

Grades:

Grades will be based on scores on exams, WeBWorK, and worksheets/R projects. There will be 3 exams during the semester, each worth 13% of the final grade. In addition, a cumulative final exam will count for 25% of the grade. The remaining 36% of the grade will come from scores on WeBWorK assignments (20%) and worksheets/R projects (16%). An approximate schedule for the semester is on the home page for the course. No extra credit will be given. Final grades will be assigned using the following scale (with + or - for the top and bottom scores within appropriate ranges):
Score Grade
90-100 A
80-90 B
70-80 C
60-70 D
0-60 F

Homework:

You will have about one WeBWorK assignment each week. These assignments comprise your homework score for the final grade and should be done outside of class on a computer. Solutions are automatically and instantaneously checked for accuracy. You are allowed (and encouraged) to retry each problem until you get it right.

A list of additional suggested exercises from the textbook is posted on the course web page. These problems will not be collected or graded, however it is nearly impossible to learn without practice. Additional practice problems may be found in many of the additional class resources, but I won't usually post specific recommendations. You are encouraged to bring questions about the homework and practice problems to office hours and class. You are also welcome to use Kahn Academy or other on-line instructional material; I am happy to look at whatever you find and tell you if it seems reasonable.

In general, I try to make the WeBWorK assignments short (in terms of number of problems) but challenging. This means I avoid the routine problems that are important for building skills when you first learn a technique. Instead, those problems are in the suggested exercises. I expect you to do enough of those problems to feel comfortable solving the more difficult problems on the WeBWorK. It is up to you to determine how much practice is enough (I think more is always better, but you're the expert on how you learn, so I'm leaving it up to you to decide).

Worksheets/ R projects:

You will have a worksheet or R project about once a week. These are meant to be worked on in small groups in class (and sometimes finished at home and turned in the following class). Worksheets guide you in building skills, developing techniques, using R, etc. They are meant to encourage you to think about what you know and how to use that knowledge. Usually this leads to some confusion, which is good, but the goal is for everything to eventually make sense (after you've asked questions, done some homework, and thought about it on your own). Worksheets and R projects are graded on completion, so don't be afraid to make guesses or try things you're not totally sure of.

Exams:

Exams encourage you to review, practice, and refine your skills. My goal is to make exams long enough to cover the relevant material, but short enough that everyone has time to finish. Examples of past exams can be found on the old editions of the course web page.

Math Learning Center (MLC):

Help on the homework or any other class material may be available in the Math Learning Center, which is located in Bollier 218. A schedule of tutors and their hours will be posted in the MLC and online. This class is advanced enough that not all tutors may be able to help with all your questions.

Attendance:

Gonzaga University presumes that students have sufficient maturity to recognize their responsibility for regular class engagement, and attendance is a general expectation no matter the teaching modality. My priority is to have students engaged with the class and learning the material, so I will do my best to accommodate students who need to miss class. If you become sick or need to miss class for COVID-related reasons, I will work with you to help you catch up; don't come to class if you are feeling sick. For all other absences, please communicate directly with me to make a plan for making up missed work, if possible before the absence. Gonzaga's standard policy on absences allows instructors to give a grade of "V" to any student who misses 6 or more classes. Students who miss this many classes generally earn a grade of F, even when given the opportunity to make up all their missed work.

A note on recorded meetings:

Our class sessions might be recorded for the benefit of students who are unable to attend in-person. Only the instructor may cause a class meeting to be recorded for those students. You shall not make audio or video recordings of class meetings without the prior written authorization of the instructor. By remaining registered in this course, you agree to your voice and image being recorded, and you agree to use any recordings of our class meetings ONLY for the educational purposes of this class (or other sections of this class taught by the same instructor). You agree to delete recordings of our class meetings no later than the end of this semester. You do not have permission to use or share recordings (video or audio) of our class meetings beyond the reach of our class for any purpose, including, but not limited to, posting to any digital application or platform, such as social media. You may not duplicate or distribute recordings of class sessions. In short, your instructor and your classmates intend to appear in these videos only for the purposes of carrying out our teaching and learning in this class. Your compliance with the terms of this syllabus regarding use of class session recordings is subject to the Student Code of Conduct; violations will be reviewed according to the provisions in the Administration of Student Code of Conduct.

FERPA and Privacy:

Under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), your student records are confidential and protected. Under most circumstances your records will not be released without your written and signed consent; exception includes some directory information. Instructors are not allowed to publicly post grades by student name, social security number, GU student identification number, or any other identifiable means, without written consent from students involved. The FERPA policy does not apply to third party online applications that may be used in courses (i.e. WeBWorK and Gradescope) such that it is the student's responsibility to read the privacy documentation at each website.

Academic integrity:

All members of the Gonzaga community are expected to adhere to principles of honesty and integrity in their academic endeavors, and I will abide strictly by procedures and guidelines of the University's Academic Integrity Policy. Students and faculty are governed by this policy, and I encourage you to familiarize yourself with its scope and procedures. Ignorance of the policy will not serve as a defense against any violations.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Gonzaga University does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, military status, or any characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law, or any other non-merit factor in employment, educational program, or activities that it operates

Harassment, non-discrimination, and sexual misconduct:

Consistent with its mission, Gonzaga seeks to assure that all community members learn and work in a welcoming and inclusive environment (please review the Harassment and Discrimination Policy). Title VII, Title IX, and Gonzaga's policy prohibit gender-based harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct. Gonzaga encourages anyone experiencing gender-based harassment, discrimination or sexual misconduct to talk to someone from Gonzaga's reporting and support resources list found here: Title IX | myGU.

It may be helpful to talk about what happened in order to get the support needed and for Gonzaga to respond appropriately. There are options for support and resolution, namely confidential support resources, and campus reporting and support options available. Gonzaga will respond to all reports of sexual misconduct in order to stop the harassment, discrimination, or misconduct, prevent its recurrence and address its effects. Responses may vary from support service referrals to formal investigations.

As a faculty member, I want get you connected to the resources here on campus specially trained in and experienced in assisting in such complaints, and therefore I will report all incidents of gender-based harassment, discrimination and sexual misconduct to Title IX (in fact, I am required to report such incidents). A representative from that office will reach out to you via phone and/or email to explore options for support, safety measures and reporting. I will provide our Title IX Director with all relevant details, including names and identifying information, of the information reported. For more information about policies and resources or reporting options, please visit the following websites: Equity and Inclusion and Title IX. If you would like to directly make a report of harassment, discrimination or sexual misconduct directly, you may fill out an online Sexual Misconduct Report Form or contact the Title IX Director by phone, email, or in person:
Christina Thomas
Lead Deputy Title IX Coordinator
509-313-4104
thomasc1@gonzaga.edu

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our human differences contribute to the richness of our academic community life. In partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, we expect everyone to cultivate an academic environment that is welcoming and accessible to students, staff, and instructors regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, and sexual orientation or identity. The Bias Incident Assessment and Support (BIAS) Team exists to foster a campus environment where everyone feels safe and respected. Those who experience or witness a bias incident should visit the BIAS Report site.

Students with disabilities and/or medical conditions:

The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides civil rights protection for persons with disabilities and requires that students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides reasonable accommodations. As COVID-related challenges persist, students with qualifying disabilities and/or medical conditions, as per CDC recommendations for higher education, are eligible for and may request reasonable accommodations through established procedures. Students should contact the Disability Access Office to begin the process. In addition, Gonzaga University seeks to provide equal access to electronic content consistent with applicable federal and state laws, such that when possible Accessible Documents will be created with the proper formatting tools to maximize communication of content regardless of what device or adaptive equipment he or she is using; see Electronic Information Technology Accessibility (EITA).

Religious Accommodations for Students

In compliance with Washington State law (RCW 28.10.039), it is the policy of Gonzaga University to reasonably accommodate students who, due to the observance of religious holidays, expect to be absent or endure a significant hardship during certain days of their academic course or program. The Policy on Religious Accommodations for Students describes procedures for students requesting a Religious Accommodation and for faculty responding to such a request.

Course evaluation:

At Gonzaga, we take teaching seriously, and we ask our students to evaluate their courses and instructors so that we can provide the best possible learning experience. In that spirit, we ask students to give us feedback on their classroom experience near the end of the semester. I will ask you to take a few minutes then to carry out course/instructor evaluations in class. Please know that I appreciate your participation in this process. This is a vital part of our efforts at Gonzaga to improve continually our teaching, our academic programs, and our entire educational effort.

Course resources

Links

Office hours

Logan Axon
Department of Mathematics
MSC 2615
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA 99258
Office: Herak 227A
Phone: 509.313.3897
Email: axon@gonzaga.edu

Last updated 1/18/2023