San Francisco State University  Spring ‘17                       Paulette Callahan    callahan@sfsu.edu

ISED 160   Data Analysis in Education

                                                                                                

This is a basic general education statistics course covering graphical representation of statistical data, descriptive/inferential statistics including measures of central tendency, variability, standard scores, correlation/regression, probabilistic reasoning, random sampling, and selected tests of significance. Various statistics courses in other departments meet the specific needs of certain majors and transfer requirements, e.g., Math 124 transfers to some schools differently. Check with counselors to make sure that this is the appropriate course for you!

Prerequisites: Successful completion of the ELM requirement (students w/o prerequisites will be dropped).

 

Contact: Email: callahan@sfsu.edu, Notes: at my office BH 269 or at ELSIT office BH 239. Office hrs by appointment at BH 269 T/TH 9:00-9:30am and 2:00-2:30pm.

Tutorial Services: HSS 348 http://www.sfsu.edu/~lac and HSS 344  http://www.sfsu.edu/~carp1 (but note that the best tutors are your classmates!)

 

Text/MyMathLab: Fundamentals of Statistics, 4rd edition, by Michael Sullivan with MyMathLab (MML).

Completing hmk at http://www.mymathlab.com is mandatory. Sign up online ASAP with your access code (with new book bundle, or purchased at mymathlab.com which includes ebook, or using the 14 day free trial) and course ID: callahan96511. Approx. text coverage (see calendar): Test 1 Ch 1/2/3/4, Test 2 Ch 5/6/7, Test 3 Ch 8/9/10/11

MyMathLab support: Contact support.pearson.com or call 1-844-292-7015

Classroom Materials: You must bring a scientific calculator (statistical/graphing keys optional) to each session to adequately participate in activities. Phones and other transmission-capable/info-storage devices are absolutely not permitted for any use during quizzes or tests, and should not be used during lecture.

 

Attendance: Attendance and participation in class exercises is a part of your grade. Factors which diminish this grade are absence, coming late and leaving early, and not fully participating (texting/websurfing, no calculator, etc.). I supplement book material often with in-class exercises. Missing even one class may adversely affect your grades and your ability to understand subsequent material. Attendance will be taken by seating chart (changed as needed by me). Late arrivals, early exits, and behavioral dismissals will count as 1/2 a missed session or more. No matter how compelling the reasons, absence still results in missed hours of instruction, examples, and classwork that cannot be adequately recreated and, in excess, prevents me from certifying that you have seen enough of the material. Therefore, students who miss the first meeting or more than 1 of the next 5 thru 2/9 will be dropped. Students who miss more than 5 of the 22 non-test meetings thru 04/20 or more than 6 of the 26 non-test meetings thru 05/04 will be ineligible for a course grade of C- or higher.

 

Homework/Quizzes: Homework will be assigned on MML following each lecture, and will be due on the morning of the 2nd subsequent session. Start assignments immediately and follow due dates closely (which can land on test days and holidays). Each week-long turn-in period allows you time to seek help, ask questions, or resolve access issues with the MML company, and will not be individually extended. Completing less than 50% of the total assigned points available on MML will make you ineligible for a course grade of C- or better. Short quizzes based on the hmk due that session will be given at the beginning of most sessions. Late students are not allowed to take the quiz and must wait outside until the quiz is over and has been collected.

 

Tests: See schedule at http://accounts.smccd.edu/callahanp. No use of books, notes, or scratch paper. No use of or close proximity to transmission devices. Most formulas provided. Missed tests count as 0 score. If two of Tests 1/2/3 are 58% or higher, you may use the Final Exam to replace one of Tests 1/2/3, or skip the Final and have Tests 1/2/3 averaged as is. If two or more of Tests 1/2/3 are below 58%, you will not be allowed to replace any of them with the final and you will be ineligible for a course C- or better.

 

Opportunities are lost with absence, missing work, and low test scores:

Makeup/alternate hmks/quizzes/tests/finals not given for any reason. At the end of the semester, I will drop at least 3 each of the hmks and quizzes, and one test can be replaced by the final with qualifying grades. These accommodations cover absences for any reason, including (but not limited to) illness, accident, family emergency, doctor visit, job conflict, jury summons, military training, school event, religious observance, etc. No additional accommodations/work will be available. A satisfactory grade will not be awarded to those who excessively skip hours of class and homework, or wish to rely too heavily on homework to make up for a poor test average, or fail a majority of the regular tests (hoping to use a final which is limited in scope to replace more detailed knowledge required on regular tests).

 

Final Grade: 0.70(Test %) + 0.30(Hmk/Quiz/participaton%), with one Test replaced by the Final if two of Tests 1/2/3 are 58% or higher, and subject to the conditions:

Not eligible for a C- or better course grade if you miss more than 5 non-test meetings thru 04/20 or more than 6 non-test meetings thru 05/04.

Not eligible for a C- or better if final MML hmk average (before drops) is below 50%.

Not eligible for a C- or better course grade if 2 or more of 3 tests before the final are below 58%.

 

A      93.00-100.00

B      83.00-  87.99

C       73.00-77.99

D       63.00-67.99

A-     90.00-  92.99

B-     80.00-  82.99

C-      70.00-72.99

D-      60.00-62.99

B+   88.00-  89.99

C+   78.00-  79.99

D+     68.00-69.99

F        00.00-59.99

 

 

 

 

Final grades are calculated strictly from the grades you earn, according to the above structure, scale, and policies. I do not invent grades or new opportunities based on personality or need.

 

Student responsibilities:

-You must initiate drops/withdrawals. I can only drop students thru 02/09. Later “walk-aways” will be awarded a final grade of WU. I will not approve withdrawals after 12pm on 04/20. I will not approve retroactive withdrawals or incompletes.

-Special needs students must give me official notice from the DPRC within the 1st week of class and must schedule and take all tests with the DPRC according to official policies.

-Please maintain a pleasant classroom experience for all: do not bring visitors, eat, sleep, or using distracting devices (phones, music, computers, etc.) during class. Those who insist on these behaviors will be asked to leave.

-Use of transmission-capable/info-storage devices (or maintaining close proximity to them, such as in laps or on desk) during quizzes and tests for any reason will be considered cheating and will result in disciplinary action.

-If I ask you to change seats for any reason, you must comply without argument.

-If I receive no email from you by the end of the 1st week about issues you feel I must consider (clearly detailing exactly what you want) I will assume that you accept the terms in this syllabus and will not form any new contract with you later.

 

Now relax and enjoy learning statistics with your new friends!