Math 140 - Introductory Statistics - Collette Gibson
| Course: | Introductory Statistics |
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| Professor: | Collette Gibson |
| Email: | collette.gibson@canyons.edu |
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| Course Length: |
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Introduction
Hello! I’ve been teaching at COC for twenty-three years, and taught at the Canyon Country Campus for the first ten years after it's opening. I began college at COC before transferring to UCLA, and remained at UCLA for my master's degree. Please visit my webpage. I've been teaching Math 140 on and off over the past six years.
Please note that we have five beginning level entry points (for Math Level 1) in our department: Math 100, Math 130, Math 140X, Math 103X, and Math 102X depending upon your major and transfer college. Here is a link to the Math Department webpage. I recommend that you reach out to our counseling department if you have questions about which math course is best for you.
Course Description
Examines statistical methods including exploratory data analysis (histograms, dotplots, boxplots), sampling, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation, regression, probability, and computer-based statistical software. (One, two, and 3+ population proportions. One, two, and 3+ population means.)
Noncredit Math (math skills refresh): For level 2 math placements, students should consider the noncredit math classes that are available for free online. It would be great if you completed these in the winter/summer before the class begins or when our semester begins. Each pass/no pass course is about 6 to 10 hours only. See the schedule of classes under the category "Noncredit Mathematics." See the math department website for more information. Consider: NC.MATH 003 Decimals, NC.MATH 004 Percentages, and NC.MATH 008 Graphs and Lines.
What to Expect in this Course
Time: Math 140 is expected to take 15+ hours per week during a 16-week class. (15 hours = 5 hours in class + 10 hours outside of class each week)
Project: Math 140 requires a project, and I have my students complete a PowerPoint with a dataset that I provide.
Exams: You will have at most five exams: four unit exams and one cumulative final exam. I plan to give the exams on paper, and you will write your work on the exam.
Technology: You should have a laptop/desktop with a speaker and access to the internet for outside of class time.
Statcrunch Software: This costs about $15-18 for a six-month subscription through the bookstore (access code) or online. I will help you with obtaining your Statcrunch access. Bring credit card information if you do not have an access code for the first and/or second day of class.
Phone Technology: I would like you to learn how to use AdobeScan, Notes, or CamScanner on your phone to upload one pdf document of work into Canvas. This won't be required since this is an in-person class. I may be encouraging you to upload some of the work into Canvas to assist me with the various papers that I collect and return.
Calculator: I would like you to have a scientific calculator, and I will provide the TI-30XIIS calculator in class, especially for exams, if you need one. You cannot use cell phones during exams. If you are going to use one of my calculators for exams, then please use these during class time for practice. While away from the classroom, you may use your cell phone, the GoodGrapher on your phone, or the "scientific calculator online free" in a Google Web browser.
Any phone apps that I mention here should be free; do not pay for them.
Types of Assessments
Online Canvas Quizzes, Exams (5 at most), Project, Worksheets/Labs/Online Discussion Boards
There will be a lot of sentence writing in our course.
Textbook Information
Book: Concepts in Statistics. This is free and imbedded directly into our Canvas class. The book is broken down into units and each unit has modules (See Table of Contents; 27 modules) Mark each page as “read” to open the next page. Pages, modules, and units have quizzes.
Statcrunch Software: This costs about $15-18 for a six-month subscription through the bookstore (access code) or online. I will help you with obtaining your Statcrunch access. Bring credit card information if you do not have an access code for the first and/or second day of class.
Additional Book Information: There is interactive reading in this book. As you read through the pages, you will complete Did I Get This quizzes at the end of most pages. I suggest that you have lined paper or a spiral notebook to jot down notes and write out your work/answers for your quizzes. If you score low on these quizzes, go back to read through the page.
Then at the end of a module is a module checkpoint quiz. Usually, several modules make up a unit, and at the end of the unit is a unit checkpoint quiz. The unit checkpoints are good practice for exams. They are 100 points each. Set aside 50 minutes for a unit checkpoint quiz.
You have three attempts on each quiz, and the highest score of the three attempts is recorded. Revise your answers based upon the feedback provided within Canvas.
Expect to have different questions on the 2nd and 3rd attempts for the module and checkpoint quizzes. If you score very low on your first attempt (20% for example), check-in with me or a TLC tutor or a classmate for further guidance before completing the 2nd and 3rd attempts.
Other Relevant Course Information
Make a weekly plan to space out ten hours of work throughout the week for your Math 140 class outside of our class meetings. Schedule some of this time in the TLC to compete Canvas work or to receive help on worksheets that you did not understand in class. The TLC has rows of computers near the math tutoring section. Raise your hand when you have a question. Be willing to adjust your schedule each week as needed to find what works for you.
Waitlists: Add codes will not work until the first day of class. I will go in waitlist order as space is available. Please email me at collette.gibson@canyons.edu on the Friday before the first day of classes if you are on the waitlist and are still interested in enrolling in the course.
Additional Resources
Canvas
This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:
- CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
- CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password
Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.
Online Education
Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.
The Learning Center (TLC)
The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!
Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)
College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.
Online Counseling
The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.
Management of Stress and Mental Health
Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.
Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.
You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.
Veterans Resource Center
The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.
Library
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Last updated: 11/13/2022 Sub#: 1505