PROFESSOR: Dr. Sally
Sievers.
Email: sievers@wells.edu Website: aurora.wells.edu/~srs
Office:
Macmillan 102. Phone: 364-3210 (office), 607-257-7641 (home).
I'm on campus MWF, about 10:00 to 4:00. Find me,
I'm yours, usually. This is my only class this term.
If not in my office, I'm usually in one of the computer labs or math
prof’s
offices, or will leave a note on my door. Lunch time often works well
for me. Best is to plan ahead (i.e. make an appointment, by phone,
email, or at class time).
GRADING:
Assignments, Quizzes, Class participation 20% (You can't participate if you aren't here!)Class participation presupposes attendance and preparedness. Attendance is taken on a sign-up sheet each day! NOT SIGNED IN? NOT HERE!
Exams (4) 60% (15% each)
Final Exam (cumulative) 20%
EXAMS: Probably all In-class, closed book; but bring a sheet of notes and formulas. Exams require only a simple calculator. Announced Quizzes at random.
Exam 1 ...........Sept.15 (F, class day 10)OBJECTIVE: To learn many of the ways in which data can inform us about the world, focusing on
Exam 2............October 6 (F, class day 19--Friday before October break!)
Exam 3............October 27 (F, class day 27)
Exam 4............November 17 (F, class day 36)
Final Exam ......December 12, 7-10 p.m. (Tuesday)
If there is some compelling reason why you can't take an exam at the scheduled time (e.g. away sports), tell me well beforehand. If some emergency (e.g. blizzard the morning of the exam and you're in Auburn) arises at the time of the exam, get in touch as soon as possible. Otherwise, a missed exam is a zero.
HOMEWORK: Assigned every class
day
and collected the following class. Please label it with the class day assigned.
(Day 1, Day 2, etc.)
The daily webpage will have the day's
assignments, and an outline of each day's class work (as well as
corrections
and updates). && marks Material not in the text or that I give more
importance to than D&V do.
Get a "stats buddy" or buddies to work with: you are each
other’s
best teachers and supporters--the best way to learn is by
teaching!
Do not be afraid to ask other students for help. I can't
count
the number of times an excellent student has told me, "The way I've
learned
the most in this course is by helping X (or Y). It really helped me to
understand it myself." (& don't forget the Math Clinic,
Mac120).
With the "answers" mostly available (back of
book for odd #s, all "Check your skills" problems, Solutions Manual in Math
Clinic for all) , what you need
to
focus on in homework is how you get the answer.
Mathematics
is a language--often just a shorthand for English--so write so another
person can read and understand it. Most of the
problems
want discussion, not just computation. These parts are at
least as
important
as the "math." If you don’t "get" a problem, don’t
fake it--set
down, as clearly as you can, how and where you went wrong. It's better
to
know that (and what) you don’t know than to not know that you don’t
know.
Bring remaining questions to class. Homework and class participation
are marked more on conscientiousness, effort and engagement
than on "correctness."
HW Marking:
"check"=ok to perfect, "check --"=needs work, something really not
understood, " -- "=much missing or wrong, "L" =one
class
day late, "LL"= later than that. Check, check--, L will
count almost the same. Even LL and -- are much better than a
nothing.
(Late hw won't be read in detail--go in for feedback if
needed.)
Studying: Expect to work hard and long. The
classic rule of thumb for college courses is two-three hours of study
for
every hour of class time, but for some courses this is more than enough
and for some it's not nearly enough. (A survey of an elementary
statistics
class at another college found the average time was 11 hours
per
week.) Learn how you work most efficiently--ask for help and
suggestions!