Math 125	Elementary Statistics
Fall 2005
Instructor:	Dr. Bobbye Hoffman Bartels
Office:	G-108 (Dean's Office)
Phone:	594.7579 or Dean's Office: 594.7052
Email:	bbartels@cnu.edu
Office Hours:	Monday, Wednesday, & Friday  10:00 - 11:00 am and by appointment (just call and see if I'm available)
Final Exam:	Wednesday, 07 December 2005  8:00 - 10:30 am in G.205
Web Page:	http://www.pcs.cnu.edu/~bbartels

IDEA Objectives:

1. Gaining factual knowledge (terminology, classifications, methods, trends)
2. Learning fundamental principles, generalizations, or theories
3. Learning to apply course material (to improve thinking, problem solving, and decisions)

Course Objectives*: Students who successfully complete this course will have developed:

• the ability to read statistical information from every day life and understand what is being stated
• the critical evaluation skills to analyze statistical information
• skills that will be helpful in research methods courses in other disciplines and knowledge about where statistics is used
• knowledge about practical applications of statistical measures

*Most of the objectives are based on what you said you wanted to know about statistics. 

Textbook: Triola, M. F. (2001). Elementary Statistics (8th ed.). Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.  Textbook Sections Covered: 1.1,1.3,1.4, 2.1 - 2.6, 9.1 - 9.3, 3.1 - 3.5, 4.1 - 4.4, 5.1 - 5.5, 6.1 - 6.5, 7.1 - 7.6 (If time, sections 8.1,8.2,13.1,13.2)

This textbook gives many interesting statistical situations and most of the problems in the textbook are based on real data and not made-up situations.  The author is very wordy in his explanations, but the class lecture should clarify anything that is not clear in the textbook.  Assignments are based on problems in the textbook and most of the problems are word problems.  The use of word problems is helpful because the words provide a context for the problem and help determine what to use to solve the problem.  Class discussion will develop ways to "unpack" word problems that will help in their solutions.  Bring the textbook to every class because practice problems will come from it.

Calculator:  Students must have a calculator that can perform statistical calculations.  Course instruction will support use of the CASIO fx-300 MS (available in the Bookstore for less than $20.00) and the TI-83 or TI-83 plus.  The calculator is used on homework and on all examinations.

Grading:	4 Exams	100 points each
	Final Exam	210 points
	Homework	100 points (maximum)
	Attendance Points	100 points (maximum)
	Total possible points	810 points
Grade Scale:	Number of Points	Grade
	723 or above	A
	700-722	A-
	676-699	B+
	645-675	B
	622-644	B-
	599-621	C+
	567-598	C
	544-566	C-
	529-543	D+
	490-528	D
	466-489	D-
	466 or below	F

Course Requirements:  Keep track of your points as the semester progresses and you will always know how close you are to the grade you want to earn.  Remember that students seldom earn every point possible on an assignment or examination, and you must prepare for that.  The following rules apply:
1.  At least 50 percent of all possible points for homework assignments must be earned or the grade for the assignment is a zero.
2.  Once the due date for an assignment or activity has passed, that assignment or activity cannot be completed.
3.  Students are encouraged to complete homework assignments with other students.
4.  At every class, I will take attendance and students in class for the entire time will receive 3 attendance points.  A maximum of 100 attendance points will count toward the course grade.

Homework: Homework is assigned at the end of class and then posted on my web page.  Some problems for each assignment are for practice and some can be submitted for a grade, and the assignment will let you know which problems to submit for a grade.   I encourage students to work together on homework and when studying for examinations. Student success depends on doing homework, so homework will be collected at the beginning of the class that immediately follows the class when it was assigned.  To determine the homework average at the end of the semester, 90% of the total possible homework points will be used as the denominator. 

 Make-up Policy: See Course Requirements

Students with disabilities: If you believe you have a disability, you should make an appointment to see me to discuss your needs. In order to receive an accommodation, your disability must be on record in the Academic Advising Center, 594.8763, Administration building, Room 125

Mathematics Learning Lab: In G-114 you can find the Department of Mathematics Learning Lab. Students and department faculty are available there to help students having difficulty in their mathematics classes, especially Math 125. The hours of the lab are posted on hallway bulletin boards and on the door of G-114.  The lab should be running the second week of classes.

Students will:

• Attend every class, listen to the instructor, take notes, and do practice problems when given during class
  
• Do all assigned homework regularly, shortly after the class when it was assigned
• Get immediate help from the instructor or tutor when encountering problems
• Participate in class discussion when questions are asked by the the instructor and ask appropriate questions in a timely manner
• Re-read (re-copy) notes shortly after each class
• Study for examinations; especially doing the review assignments
• Do additional problems from the textbook
• Get to class on time and bring all necessary materials

Dr. Bartels will:

• start class and end class on time.
• provide explanations that are clear using several examples (Note:  problems that look easy in class may not look so easy when you start working on homework)
• answer in-class questions from students, in particular for those students who have not missed the class where the information was discussed
  
• find time to meet with students outside class
• provide help for students who bring specific problems with them
• provide a review prior to every examination
• give opportunities for students to do practice problems in class
• let students individually determine when their project is due (within some parameters)
  
• connect the course to real life
• provide a formula sheet for all examinations
• give partial credit when it makes sense to do so
• help students see how one concept relates to or is different from another concept
• expect students to be prepared for class
• encourage students to work on homework in groups
• try to be patient with students
• listen to students who offer suggestions about the course
• explain formulas so they do not seem so intimidating
• explain how to use the calculator (the Casio in particular)
  

Homework: