Statistics Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

MATH-1342-001 Statistics

Prerequisites

MATH 1314 or MATH 1324-minimum grade of C or Department Chair consent

Course Description

Methods of data analysis; statistical concepts and models; estimation theory; tests of significance; analysis of variance, regression and correlation.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ TEXTBOOK:  Understanding Basic Statistics, 5th Edition, 2010.
\ AUTHOR: Brase, Charles, & Brase, Corinne. Brooks/Cole, Cengage Publishing. 
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\ If you purchase your textbook new in the AC bookstore, it will include a registration code for the online homework and testing site.  If you purchase your textbook used, it will probably not include a code and you will need to purchase one (cost is approximately $65).  If you purchase your book at another site (like ebay or amazon.com) please be sure that you are buying both a textbook and access code.  
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\ You may choose to just buy an access code and not a textbook at all since the access code gives you access to an online e-book.
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\ CALCULATOR: You will need a graphing calculator for this course. The Amarillo College Mathematics Department recommends using a TI-83 or TI-83 Plus; however, if you already own a graphing utility, you are not required to purchase a new one.
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Supplies

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Student Performance

After completing this course, the student will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Explain the use of statistics and sampling as tools to reach reasonable conclusions.
2. Recognize, examine, and interpret the basic principles of describing and presenting data.
3. Explain the role of probability in statistics.
4. Examine, analyze, and compare various sampling distributions (binomial, normal).
5. Describe and compute confidence intervals.
6. Solve linear regression and correlation problems.
7. Perform hypothesis testing using statistical methods.
8. Conduct parametric and non-parametric inferential statistical tests.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

\ ACADEMIC DISHONESTY will not be tolerated in this class and will result in a zero for the exam or assignment involved.  For more information, please see the college's academic dishonesty policy in the student handbook.  Also please see a document in the Orientation giving a more specific description of academic dishonesty in this course.
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\ DISABILITY STATEMENT:  Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact Accessibility Services (SS-125, Phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

\ Expectations and Requirements for this course

\ Every online class is different; it makes sense to outline my policies and expectations so that each student is well informed as they begin the class as to what will be required of them.
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\ 1.    This is a difficult course. Online classes are not necessarily more difficult than in-class courses, but they require additional skills of the student. You will be expected to learn the material by utilizing the online resources at webassign.com and by reading your textbook.  Help is available to you when you need it in a variety of forms. You will also be required to use two different sites to complete your work.  You will need some familiarity with downloading software, e-mail programs, and bulletin board programs.  You will need to be a strong reader and have a very high reading comprehension level.
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\ 2.    You will need internet access. You will need internet access for several hours each week. To use webassign.com, you will need specific software that may not be available on all public computers, so I do not suggest using the computer at a public library for this course. You should plan to use either your personal computer or a computer at  Amarillo   College .  If you plan to use a computer at  Amarillo   College , please keep in mind that the library may have limited hours on weekends or holidays and keeping up with the library's hours is your responsibility. By signing up for an online course, you are communicating that you have access to a computer with a reliable internet connection with the appropriate software.
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\ 3.    This class demands a great deal of time. Online courses often take more time than in-class delivery courses. Please expect to spend at least 1-15 hours each week on this course (this is for fall and spring semester courses; double this time commitment for summer courses). If your other life commitments do not allow you this amount of time to spend on the course, you may want to choose another course or delivery method.
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\ 4.    Deadlines are your responsibility. Due dates are given to you in the syllabus. Online classes give you the freedom to complete your assignments at your own pace and in your own time. With this freedom comes responsibility--you are responsible for completing your assignments by the posted due dates regardless of other commitments you may have in your life beyond this class.  Completing assignments a few days ahead of the due date is the best way to ensure that all your assignments are turned in on time.
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\ 5.    Technical difficulties happen. Yes, technical difficulties happen, and usually at the worst possible times.  Plan on it.  If ever your internet connection is going to go out, it will happen the night you left the online test until the last minute. If you have technical difficulties while completing a test, I can help you; however, I will not be online at 11:3 p.m. on the due date.  If technical difficulties prevent you from completing an online test on time, your grade will be submitted as it stands when the technical difficulties occurred. Completing assignments a few days ahead of time ensures that if you have any technical difficulties, we can take care of them before the due date and your assignments will be completed on time.
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\ 6.    You are responsible for getting help when you need it. There are many ways to get help in this class, but you are the only one that will know when you need help.  I can't see you, and I don't really know if a low test score means you need help or you just had a bad week. There are lots of resources available to help you succeed in this course, just ask and we can work together to find help for you.
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\ 7.    This course requires organization and a good study plan.  Online courses take a lot of self-motivation and discipline. This will usually be easier if you develop a system for keeping up with your assignments in the course.
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\ 8.    Don't ask for extra credit. If extra credit is offered, I will notify you by e-mail or by placing an announcement on the homepage for the course on ACOnline.  Don't expect extra credit to be offered, and please don't e-mail me asking for extra credit.
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\ 9.    The same rules for a traditional classroom apply. You are expected to conduct yourself in this course according to the standards outlined in Student Rights and Responsibilities.  Pay specific attention to the sections on plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Please also note that disrespect in any form toward your classmates or instructor will not be tolerated and may result in you being denied access to the course.
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\ Course Policies continue in the Orientation section of the course assignments.  Please refer to this material as part of the syllabus, policies and general information about the course.

\ Last semester, we experienced a week of class where ACOnline was unavailable.  This brought to my attention that this is a possibility (although very unlikely) that we will need 

\ to prepare for.  Please print out this information for your reference if ACOnline is unaccessible:
\ 1.  You can contact me through the myAC e-mail.  Please DO NOT use this address to contact me unless ACOnline is down--I don't check it very often unless ACOnline is out.  
\ 2.  I will contact the class using your myAC e-mail address.  If ACOnline is unavailable, please be sure to check your e-mail at this site.
\ 3.  If ACOnline is unavailable and it is at least one week into the semester, all due dates on coursecompass.com and for your written exams will be as stated in the syllabus.  ACOnline will not prevent you from completing those assignments.

\ 4.  If you have questions about assignments, I'll be glad to answer those over e-mail.  I  have backups of the files in ACOnline, and I can access information for you and send it to you.   

Grading Criteria

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD / EXAMINATIONS / ASSIGNMENTS and GRADING:
Online homework (15 % of your total grade):  Online homework will be completed at www.cengage.com by the due date indicated above.  Online homework may be completed as many times as you need to, up until the due date.  The last grade (as of the due date) will be recorded.  There will be 14 homework assignments, and I will use your 12 best scores to compute your homework average.  Late homework will not be accepted for any reason (see policy entitled “Late Work” below).  Online homework must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CST on the due date.

Online Exams (15 % of your total grade):  Online exams will be completed at  www.cengage.com by the due date(s) indicated below.  Online tests may only be accessed once and have a time limit of 90 minutes.  If you begin an online test but do not submit it by the due date, I will record your grade as it stands.  Be aware that technical difficulties of any kind do not warrant an extension on an online exam.  There will be 14 online exams -- I will drop the 2 lowest test grades and use your 12 best scores to compute your online exam average.  There will be no makeup exams (see policy entitled “Late Work” below). Online exams must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. CST on the due date. 

LATE WORK:  I will drop 2 (of 14) online homework grades and 2 (of 14) online exam grades at the end of the semester.  I do this because I do not allow any makeup work or late submitted work.  These dropped grades are to be used in all situations involving missed assignments including (but not limited to): illness, family emergency, hospitalization, family illness, death of family member, technical difficulties, forgetting assignment, etc.  Therefore, please do not e-mail asking for an extension on any assignment.

Paper Exams (EACH worth 20% of your final grade for a total of 60 %):  The First Written Exam, the Second Written Exam and the Final Exam will be completed by hand.  These three tests must be taken at the  Washington Street   Campus Testing   Center (SSC-14, (86) 371-5445) or at an approved testing site. If you will be taking a test at a site other than  Washington Street, you must make arrangements with the instructor by September 12 and notify your instructor when you want the exam sent to the alternate testing site.  You may use a TI-83 calculator to complete these exams.  Each exam must be completed by 7:30 p.m. on the due date.  The testing center requires that you provide a photo ID to take a test and will not hand out a test within an hour of closing.  Paper exams may not be taken late for any reason.  This is non-negotiable. 

The testing center requires me to set up a testing schedule for you so that not all the students are taking the test at the same time. You will need to sign up for a day to take each of your tests.  I will send an e-mail to you approximately 2 weeks before each test to allow you to sign up for a time.  Times will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Final Paper (10 % of your final grade):  The final paper is an opportunity to demonstrate your learning throughout the course in a concise way.  It is also a way to demonstrate the use of Microsoft Excel to do statistical applications.  Details on the final paper will be given within the course. (see bulletin board and information in Lessons pages)  The final paper will be due (submitted electronically in ACOnline) by midnight on December 4, 2011.   Papers submitted late will not be accepted.

There will be 2 chat sessions scheduled to discuss the final paper.  I will e-mail you to schedule these.

LATE WORK:  I will drop 2 (of 14) online homework grades and 2 (of 14) online exam grades at the end of the semester.  I do this because I do not allow any makeup work or late submitted work.  These dropped grades are to be used in all situations involving missed assignments including (but not limited to): illness, family emergency, hospitalization, family illness, death of family member, technical difficulties, forgetting assignment, etc.  Therefore, please do not e-mail asking for an extension on any assignment.

Attendance

\ ATTENDANCE POLICY:  Please remember the deadline for dropping a class at AC is published in the official Amarillo College Schedule of Classes. If you stop attending class and your average drops below a 60 due to missed assignments and you do not officially drop the course by this deadline, you will receive an F for the course.
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\ You are responsible for logging into the online course to get your assignments and checking messages several times a week.   You can reach the online course by going to www.actx.edu and clicking on ACOnline.  If you need technical assistance, please call 371-5000.

\ The best way to contact me is to use the e-mail tool within ACOnline.

Calendar

Additional Information

\ AC Online:  Students will be required to login to AC Online on a regular basis to check e-mail, grades, and retrieve lab assignments. To get into AC Online, first go to the college website:  http://www.actx.edu . Click on AC Online (at the top of the page), and login. If you need help logging into the site, contact Ask AC at (806) 371-5000.