VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE – EAST CAMPUS

SYLLABUS   (Revised: 01/12/2007)

SPRING 2007

STA 2023 – STATISTICAL METHODS  (3 CREDIT HOURS)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Prerequisite: Minimum grade of C in MAC 1102 or MAC 1104 or MAC 1105 or satisfactory score on an approved assessment. This is an introductory statistics course covering collection, description and interpretation of data.  Topics include sampling, summarizing data graphically and numerically, probability distributions, confidence interval estimation, hypothesis testing, correlation and regression.  Gordon rule course.  Minimum grade of C required if STA 2023 is used to satisfy Gordon Rule and general education requirements.

The major topics in this course are probability, random variables, hypothesis testing, confidence interval estimation, correlation and simple linear regression.

REQUIRED TEXTS AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

Textbook:  Introductory Statistics, 7/e (with MyMathLab and online tutoring)

Author:  Weiss, Neil

Package ISBN: 0321415787 (available at Valencia’s bookstore – East Campus only)

All students must have access to MyMathLab.  Please make sure that your textbook has the MyMathLab Access Code.  Note that MyMathLab is paired with CourseCompass.  To register in MyMathLab/CourseCompass you will need an access code (purchased with your textbook above) and a course code.  The course code is posted in the WebCT’s announcement on the first day of the course.  

A graphing calculator is required for this course.  The TI-83 Plus and the TI-84 Plus family are recommended.  To access information on operating a TI graphing calculator, in MyMathLab, go to the Chapter Contents and click on Tools for Success.  You will see links to calculator information sites. 

This class is taught online using the required texts and instructional materials as mentioned above.  You will be required to participate actively in the discussion forums, collaborate on two written project papers, and complete all chapter homework and quizzes online.  In addition, you’re required to take a proctored midterm exam and a proctored comprehensive final exam at the testing center of Valencia College – East Campus or a proctored site. 

ONLINE DELIVERY SYSTEM (COURSE PLATFORM)

You will use the WebCT course system for course information and a web-based math practice and tutorial system called CourseCompass/MyMathLab. 

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1.      Display statistical thinking in your approach to situations you encounter by valuing the use of data in decision making, understanding the importance of how data is produced and dealing with the variability that exists in data.

2.      Know the principles of producing quality data and use them to judge the methods used in data collection.

3.      Organize and display data graphically and numerically with the use of appropriate technology.

4.      Understand, make and interpret statistical inferences.

ONLINE ORIENTATION

1.      Go to http://webct6.valenciacollege.edu/ and Log In with your Atlas Account’s Username and Password.

2.      Under Course List, click on “STA 2023”.

3.      Under Course Tool on the left column, click on “Announcement” to get your course code.

4.      Click on “Assessment” to complete the following:  Statistics Survey 101, Statistics Survey 102 and Statistics Survey 103.

5.      Click on “Course Content” and then click on “StudyMate Activities,” here you will find some fun activities to get you familiar with the key terms of your coursework.  You may start by clicking on the folder of “The Nature of Statistics.”  Just try to go through all of the available activities and have some fun while learning some key terms.

6.      Go to http://www.coursecompass.com and start by clicking “Register.”  To complete the registration, you must have both the access code and the course code.

7.      Download the required plug-ins and activate your course registration at the MyMathLab website.  Instructions are included in your student access kit and online at http://www.coursecompass.com/

8.      Read Chapter 1 from page 4 to page 28.  Then click on “Multimedia Library” and select to view the power point presentation for Chapter 1:  The Nature of Statistics.

9.      Click on “Do Homework” and start working on Chapter 1 Homework.

10.  Click on “Take a Quiz” and take Chapter 1 Quiz.

11.  Click on “Discussion” and respond to the posted questions at the discussion forums.

12.  Send me a message from inside the CourseCompass telling me that you’ve finished your online orientation.  You should complete this by the end of first week of class.   

Note:  You will be dropped from the class if you do not finish your online orientation by the end of first week of class.

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS

Technical problems such as power outages and unavailability of internet connections can happen.  Do not wait until the last minute to complete your assignments, quizzes and tests.  Technical problems are not an acceptable excuse for work that has not been completed by the due date.

If your computer freezes, restarts, or loses its internet connection during a quiz, the quiz will be marked as “Incomplete”.  When you resume the quiz, your answers and remaining time will be loaded from your previous session.

For CourseCompass/MyMathLab technical support:

The telephone number is 1-800-677-6337.  Staff is available to troubleshoot your technical problem almost seven days a week.

Alternatively, you may fill out the Product Support form (log in to CourseCompass and click the link for the Product Support in the Support module) to communicate your issue or request. 

PARTICIPATION/DISCUSSION

Although the course is taught online, the class will still participate together in discussions via the discussion board.  The discussion board is divided by chapters with additional forums for introductions, technical problems, midterm, and final preparations. 

Discussion questions will be posted each week that you must answer.  The discussions will take many forms.  All postings must be in correct sentence and paragraph format and also should be checked for correct spelling and grammar.  You’re required to make at least three contributing posting per chapter, by adding new threads and responding to others’ questions by posting a contributing reply to their threads.  When participating in a discussion forum, please conform to the rules of netiquette.

Please note that you are responsible for all posted announcements in WebCT and CourseCompass/MyMathLab.  Please try to check frequently! 

ASSESSMENTS

The following assessments will make up your grade in this class along with your participation grades in discussions and collaborative projects.  Your chapter assessments and practice work will be in MyMathLab (MML).

Chapter Homework Grade:  The homework can be taken multiple times until you achieve a mastery level of 80% or better.  The last score will count as your grade.   Note that you won’t be able to access the respective chapter quiz until you’ve achieved a mastery level of 80% or better in your chapter homework.  Please plan to start working on your homework as early as possible. 

Chapter Quiz Grade:  The quizzes are timed for 60 minutes. Once started, you must complete the quiz within the allotted time.  Problems not completed within the time limit will be counted as incorrect.  Chapter quizzes can be taken only once.   Do not wait until the last minute because computer problems will not be a valid excuse.

Midterm Exam Grade:  The scheduled midterm exam is timed for two hours and will be taken at the testing center of Valencia College – East Campus or a proctored site.  Problems not worked within the time limit will be counted as incorrect.  No partial credit will be given.     

Final Exam Grade:  The scheduled final exam is timed for two hours and will be taken at the testing center of Valencia College – East Campus or a proctored site.  Problems not worked within the time limit will be counted as incorrect.  No partial credit will be given. 

GRADING POLICY

Your performance will be determined by the discussion participation, assignments (including chapter homework and projects), chapter quizzes, midterm exam and final exam according to the distribution of percents as follow:

EVALUATION POLICY

Your final letter grade will be determined according to the scale as follow:

MAKE UP POLICY

No make-up quiz/exam will be given.  If a scheduled quiz is missed because of a medical emergency or legal situation, your last quiz score will be used in place of the missed quiz score.  Only ONE quiz can be missed with a valid excuse.  Please note there is no make-up midterm exam or final exam.    

WITHDRAWAL POLICY

The withdrawal deadline for a W grade for the Spring Term 2007 is March 23, 2007.  After this date, withdrawing from this course will result in a grade of either WP (withdraw passing) or WF (withdraw failing), depending on your average at the last day of attendance.  Failure to take the scheduled final exam automatically results in a WF.  Please note that W and WP will not be counted in the grade point average, but WF will be calculated as an F in the grade point average. 

Please seek advice and guidance from both of your professor and a counselor before withdrawing from a class.  Be sure to check for any impact on your financial aid.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

All students are expected to be in complete compliance with Valencia College’s policies on academic honesty.  Any form of academic dishonesty will result in an “F” grade for this course.

VALENCIA I.D. CARDS

Valencia ID cards are required in order to use the LRC, Testing Center, and IMC.  ID cards are free and can be obtained from the Student Development office in room 5-212.

VALENCIA STUDENT CORE COMPETENCIES

Think:  think clearly, critically, and creatively, analyze, synthesize, integrate and evaluate in many domains of human inquiry

Value:  make reasoned judgments and responsible commitments

Act:  act purposefully, effectively, and responsibly

Communicate: communicate with different audiences using varied means 

A detailed overview can be found in the College Catalog and on the website http://valenciacollege.edu/competencies/

STUDENT WITH DISABILITIES

Students who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the Office for Students with Disabilities 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.  The East Campus office is located in room 5-216.

TUTORING

Free tutoring is available in the Instructional Media Center (IMC) in downstairs building 4.  The open tutoring area has tutors available on demand.  This is a good place to work on homework and computers.

The tutoring desk offers free scheduled tutoring.  Speak to an attendant at the tutoring desk to set up a weekly appointment with a tutor.  Tutors are assigned quickly, so this should be done at the beginning of the semester.

Live tutoring is also available online as an included part of the course package.  More details will be given through CourseCompass.

STUDENT CONDUCTS

Valencia College is dedicated not only to the advancement of knowledge and learning but is concerned with the development of responsible personal and social conduct.  By enrolling at Valencia College, a student assumes the responsibility for becoming familiar with and abiding by the general rules of conduct.  The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty.  Students who engage in any prohibited or unlawful acts that result in disruption of a class may be directed by the faculty member to leave the class.   Violation of any classroom or Valencia’s rules may lead to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from Valencia.   Disciplinary action could include being withdrawn from class, disciplinary warning, probation, suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate and authorized actions.  You will find the Student Code of Conduct in the current Valencia Student Handbook.

IMPORTANT DATES

·            Monday, January 15 - Martin Luther King Day (College Closed)

·            Tuesday, January 16 - Drop/Refund Deadline

·            Monday, March 12 – Sunday, March 18 - Spring Break (College Closed)

·            Friday, March 23 - Withdrawal Deadline for “W” Grade

·            Sunday, April 22 - Final Withdrawal Deadline

DISCLAIMER

Changes in the syllabus, course calendar, evaluation procedure and any assignments may be made at the discretion of the professor.