Math 15 - Statistics

Syllabus

Instructor: David Arnold

Prerequisite Classes

Students entering the Statistics course are required to show proof of a C or better in a Intermediate Algebra course taken at a college. In lieu of this prerequisite, students can take an assessment test in the Academic Support Center (the ASC is in the library) to insure proper placement in the course. Students are advised to see a counselor as they can be quite helpful in placing students in a course commensurate with their ability and background in mathematics.

Office Hours

You can find a copy of my schedule, including office hours, here. Note: These are "official" office hours. However, I will make myself available whenever I can. Please do not be afraid to ask for help at any time as I am always eager to help.

Office Location and Phone

Physical Science building PS114A
Office phone: (707) 476-4222

Cancelled Classes

Those driving long distances to attend classes are advised to call 476-4210 before driving to the CR campus. Choose #5 from a menu of choices. You will then be advised of any cancelled classes for the day in the Physical Sciences complex (math/science). Thus, you can avoid the frustration of driving to campus, only to find that your class has been cancelled.

Email

My email address is: David-Arnold@redwoods.edu

Blackboard

Click the Blackboard icon that follows. This will initiate contact with BlackbBoard. Read the Student Introduction, User Name and Password, and Getting Help sections. Read the Updating Student Information section and adjust your personal information. Be sure to write down your login name and password for future reference. It is extremely important that your email address is current!

Once you login to Blackboard, locate your math class and take some time to find out what is provided. Then read the "welcome message" in the Discussion Board and reply to this thread. In the future, use the Discussion Board to discuss issues and problems you are having with your class.

Getting Help

Help is available in many forms.

Your instructor is always available for help in PS114A when he isn't teaching class or attending a meeting. Take advantage.
There are two great study rooms in the Physical Sciences building where the "math geeks" hang out, PS119 and PS116. If you study in these rooms during your break, it is highly likely that there will be people in there who might kindly answer a question or two. Just remember that they have their own studies as well and don't overly monopolize their time.
The Academic Support Center (ASC) in the library provides individual and group tutoring. You need to check in at the ASC desk and make an appointment to meet with a tutor.
The "Mathlab" resides along the windows in the ASC. You must register for Math 152 to make use of the mathlab. Go to registration and register for 1/2 unit or a full unit.
1. If you register for 1/2 unit, you must complete 22.5 hours in the mathlab. This amounts on average to 1.5 hours per week.
2. If you register for 1 unit, you must complete 45 hours in the mathlab. This amounts on average to 3 hours per week.
After you register for Math 152, go to the Mathlab. There will be an instructor there who will give you an information page, a contract to sign, and will show you how to reserve time in the mathlab for the upcoming semester. In a nutshell, the hours you sign up for a guaranteed. However, if the mathlab is not busy, you may drop in any time you wish to receive help. If the mathlab is overcrowded, only those students who are there at their reserved day and time will be allowed to stay.
The mathlab is not a great place to get personal, extensive, one-on-one tutoring (you should make an appointment with an ASC tutor for that), but it is a great place to work on your homework and get quick help when you are stuck. People work on their homework, then raise their hand when stuck, and tutors come by as soon as they are available. Tutors are trained to jump around from student to student, hopefully not taking too much time with each question, so its likely that you can get quick attention as you need it.

Classroom Environment

It is expected that everyone involved in this class, teacher and students alike, will act in a manner conducive to providing a comfortable environment for learning, a classroom where students feel free to ask and answer questions without fear of embarrassment or ridicule.

It is important to stay on task when class is in session. Hence, conversation not pertaining to the subject at hand should be taken outside the classroom.

I understand that students will have to get up and leave the room for various reasons and I also understand that students will arrive late from time to time. However, courtesy requires that you enter and leave as quietly as possible, without disturbing discussion or lecture.

It is essential for student success to maintain a good environment in the classroom. If you have any personal difficulties with the learning envrionment in the classroom, please visit me in my office to discuss them.

Texts

We will be using Interactive Statistics, 3nd Edition, Aliaga and Gunderson, Prentice Hall Publishers

Calculators

The TI83/TI84 graphing calculator is an integral part of the statistics course. It is expected that all students have their own graphing calculator, either the TI83 or TI84.

The Mathematics Department has a limited number of calculators that it rents to students each semester. There is a one-time, non-refundable fee of $20. To rent a calculator, please follow these steps:

Contact Eloise Cottrell in the Physical Science Office, 476-4211. Ask if she has calculators available to rent for Mathematics.
If there still are calculators available, go to the Cashier in Enrollment Services and ask to pay a $20 fee for a calculator.
Bring your receipt from the Cashier's office to Eloise Cottrell at the Physical Science Office. Eloise will handle the remaining details of the contract.

Examinations and Quizzes

We will have 3-4 midterm examinations and a comprehensive final examination. Students should sit for both examinations on the day that they are administered. If you miss an examination, there is no guarantee that you will be allowed to make up the examination. Indeed, makeup examinations are given only at the instructor's discretion.

Students who need special arrangements for examinations are expected to meet with the instructor before each examination to insure that all examination materials are on file in the Academic Support Center (the ASC is in the library).

If you know ahead of time that you have a conflict that will prevent you from sitting for an examination, please meet with me to discuss alternatives.

Every student will be required to sit for a final, cumulative examination. The time and day of this examination is posted in the Schedule of Classes and students are expected to sit for the exam at the time and on the day posted. No exceptions. Any student failing to sit for the final examination will receive an F in the class. Please keep this in mind when making travel plans for December. Plan ahead!

Homework

Homework will be assigned daily and will be due the next class meeting. Each homework will be assigned a grade ranging from 0-10 points, bases on completeness, the following of directions, and the quality of work.

It is essential that students keep up with the homework on a daily basis. Each time you come to class without your homework, you are not prepared to take part in the class at a level geared to your success. Therefore, students are encouraged to hand in homework on time. However, I am acutely aware of the responsibilities that many students have to deal with outside the classroom. Consequently, I do allow a "grace period" of one class period for late work. That is, if you hand your homework in by the next class period, I will still accept the assignment. However, there is an automatic 2-point deduction for late work. Homework later than one class period will not be accepted.

If you are experiencing difficulty getting your homework in on time, or if you know an upcoming event will interfere with getting your homework in on time, please discuss this with your instructor. We can possibly make some arrangment to help facilitate the completion of your work.

In order to facilitate the recording of homework scores, students are required to place their name in the upper right-hand corner of their homework assignment and staple the pages together with a single staple in the upper left-hand corner. On the first line of the of the first page of your homework, please write down the assignement number, the pages that encompass the assignement, and list each exercise number assigned. For example, the first line of your homework might read:

Assignment #12, Page 150, #1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 23, 45

Grades

Your homework, quizzes, midterm, and final examination will be weighted and averaged to determine your final grade in the class. A running account of your work can always be viewed in your gradebook on Blackboard.

The Syllabus is Subject to Change

As instructor, I reserve the right to make adjustments to the syllabus should things not proceed as smoothly as expected. However, in general, I do not anticipate making changes.