March 14, 2009 - Syllabus

SYLLABUS
Instructor: ________________________________________
Office hours: ________________________________________
Class hours: ________________________________________

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed to offer students the skills necessary to interpret and critically
evaluate statistics commonly used to describe, predict and evaluate data in an
information-driven environment. The focus is on the conceptual understanding of how
statistics can be used and on how to evaluate statistical data.

MAJOR INSTRUCTIONAL AREAS
1. Experimental Design and Collecting Data
2. Describing Data
3. Determining Probabilities
4. Probability Distributions
5. Confidence Testing
6. Hypothesis Testing
7. Correlation and Regression

COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Explain the fundamentals of a statistical study.
2. Describe data sets and their measures in different forms.
3. Use statistics to conduct and summarize an observation that has both qualitative and
quantitative components.
4. Calculate probabilities by using counting principles.
5. Identify various discrete probability distributions and calculate corresponding
probabilities.
6. Interpret a normal distribution and make calculations using standard scores.
7. Construct confidence intervals and use them to interpret population means.
8. Formulate null and alternative hypotheses for claims made about population means.
9. Use an appropriate statistical technique to test a hypothesis.
10. Describe the linear association for a set of paired data.
11. Utilize the ITT Tech Virtual Library to enhance understanding of statistics.

Related SCANS Objectives
1. Comprehend and use efficient learning techniques to acquire and apply knowledge.
2. Create documents including graphs and flowcharts to illustrate point.
3. Communicate ideas to justify positions; persuade and convince others.
4. Retrieve and organize data from a variety of sources, including computerized
databases, reference books, books, and periodicals.
5. Demonstrate the ability to utilize both traditional and electronic library sources.
6. Acquire and evaluate relevant information, and organize, maintain, analyze, interpret,
communicate, and use applicable information.
7. Develop and reinforce critical thinking processes.
8. Participate cooperatively as a team member, teaching, learning from, and negotiating
with diverse members making a contribution to team success.
9. Identify need for data; select, retrieve, and analyze information; and communicate
results to others in written, graphic, and pictorial format.

TEACHING STRATEGIES
This section details a strategy to help you run this course.
In-class time will be utilized as follows:
1. Review of concepts covered in previous unit: is included in all units in
order that there are periodic check points for all work to be completed and
instructors can track progress and follow up immediately with students who
are not getting assignments completed on-time. Review involves:
a. A discussion of homework assignments that students have completed
b. Graded quiz including a set of objective type questions (true/false and
MCQs)
2. Explanation and application of new concepts: EG381 has a dual focus—
building basic concepts/vocabulary and developing statistical skills. To
address these focal points, each unit involves:
a. Concept explanation: so that key concepts are covered in-class and
students are aware of the important formulas. To reinforce the
important concepts, concept explanation is followed by a review quiz
consisting of a set of 5–10 true/false statements.
b. Concept application: is done using the following tools:
i. A case study in most of the units. Each case study consists of
3–4 objective type questions, all based on a data set/scenario,
aimed at improving students’ calculation and interpretation
skills.

ii. Statlets from Course compass: provides about seven statlets
(java Applets) for this course. These JAVA applets consist of
a graphic display and corresponding input values that can be
changed in real time. Observing and commenting on the
changes enables development of students’ statistical analysis
skills. In most units, a statlet is included and students are
encouraged to their interpretation/analysis of the statlet. For
two units where statlets are not present, the discussion will be
based on a static graphic.

iii. Excel hands-On Sessions (when applicable): The purpose of
this component is to help students gain familiarity in the use
of MS Excel for solving certain statistical problems. These
sessions will utilize the student technology manual to
demonstrate application of built-in functionalities and
graphing utilities of MS Excel. Students will be provided with
a data set so that they can practice along with the excel
session.

Homework assignments in this course take the form of:
1. Writing Assignments: primarily consisting of 3–4 problems from the
textbook with an objective to provide more objective and mathematically
based assignments to students.

2. Preparing for the graded quiz

The following graphic illustrates instructional strategy for this course.
Note: Most units have been designed and developed consistently using a combination of
the components depicted above. A consistent organization is intended to help students
gain familiarity with content organization sooner and have clear expectations. Please feel
free to deviate from this strategy by using different examples or assignments based on
your teaching experiences and interactions with your class.
Discuss the homework assignment from the previous unit and
address students’ problems and concerns (15 minutes)

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Conduct a graded quiz to assess students’ understanding of the
concepts covered in the previous unit (30 minutes)
Concept explanation with a focus on key concepts (1 hour)
Concept reinforcement using the review quiz (15-20 minutes)
Concept application and data interpretation using case study (1–
1.25 hours)
Excel hands-on session* (0.75 hours)

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Writing assignment (2 hours)
Preparation for the graded quiz (0.5-0.75 hours)
Review

COURSE RESOURCES
Student Textbook Package
􀂄 Textbook: Larson, Ron, and Betsy Farber. Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World.
Indianapolis: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2006.
􀂄 Solutions and Technology Manual: Larson, Ron, and Betsy Farber. Student’s Solutions
& Technology Manual for Elementary Statistics: Picturing the World. Indianapolis:
Pearson Custom Publishing, 2006.
􀂄 CD-ROMs:
o Chapter quiz prep, videos, and data files to accompany Elementary Statistics:
Picturing the World
o Data files for use with Student’s Solutions & Technology Manual for Elementary
Statistics: Picturing the World
References and Resources
ITT Tech Virtual Library
Log on to the ITT Tech Virtual Library at http://www.library.itt-tech.edu/ to access
online books, journals, and other reference resources selected to support ITT Tech
curricula.
􀂄 General References
• Reference Resources > Statistics
• Program Links > General Education/Technical Basics > Link Library > EG381
Statistics
All links to web references outside of the ITT Tech Virtual Library are always subject to change
without prior notice.

EVALUATION & GRADING
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Attendance and Participation
Regular attendance and participation are essential for satisfactory progress in this course.
2. Completed Assignments
Each student is responsible for completing all assignments on time.
3. Team Participation (if applicable)
Each student is responsible for participating in team assignments and for completing the
delegated task. Each team member must honestly evaluate the contributions by all
members of their respective teams.

Evaluation Criteria Table

The final grade will be based on the following weighted categories:
CATEGORY WEIGHT
Participation 10%
Writing Assignments 45%
Quizzes 30%
Final Exam 15%
Total 100%
Grade Conversion Table
Final grades will be calculated from the percentages earned in class as follows:
Grade Percentage Credit
A 90–100% 4.0
B+ 85–89% 3.5
B 80–84% 3.0
C+ 75–79% 2.5
C 70–74% 2.0
D+ 65–69% 1.5
D 60–64% 1.0
F <60% 0.0