"There's no textbook for this course?"

Nope! Well, that's not exactly true...I have e-books available for you, free of charge, from your class's "Materials" page. But you do not need to purchase a textbook for this class!

"Cool....that'll save me some money. How about a calculator? Do I need a TI?"

Nope! We're in a computer lab for a reason - because we'll be using these PCs as often as we can in your stat class. You already have access to Microsoft Excel as COCC/OSU students - why pay an additional $100(+) for a superfluous piece of antiquated technology? Don't worry if you've never used Excel! You'll learn in here.

"Wait - quizzes, projects and exams are all done OUTSIDE of class? Why?"

Yep! The answer as to "why" for me is at *least threefold: Assessing you as a student out of class allows you to relax and work at your own pace, using all resources at your disposal (including online resources, your fellow students, me, tutors, etc.); I find that students turn in much better work when they can collaborate; and Working collaboratively prepares you well for your future once you leave COCC!

"How do I turn things in?"

For any out-of-class assessments, you'll always submit in BlackBoard (BB). You'll need to create a document to submit; please check this page to see which file types are "BB approved". You *must create a new document to submit - please don't print off my document, squish answers in, rescan and submit. Before the assignment's due date and time, you need to upload your document to BB. Follow the link called "Submit Stuff Here!", then click on the link for the assignment you're submitting. *Important Note: I use BB's clock to set due times. Its clock might not synch with yours, so do yourself a favor and don't wait until the last minute to submit documents. When BB takes the folder away, the submission time is closed...period. "I just missed the deadline" isn't a valid excuse, friends.

"Your due dates seem really confusing...what's up with that?"

I'll agree that they're unique, but they're actually pretty straightforward. Everything due on a certain week is due at 10 AM Friday of that week. Optional Homeworks, Quizzes, Projects, Exams...if it's due that week, it's due at 10 AM Friday of that week. Simple!

"So, if we collaborate, can just one person in our group submit a document for each assessment if we all work on it?"

Nope - and here are a few reasons why: Many of my assignments require graphs, charts, or images to be created or found. Almost as important as the graph/chart/image being *in your submission is the demonstration of the skill set you utilized to GET it; If I ask you find examples online, or search for data sets, *you actually need to DO that - not just send one person scurrying off to do so; Talking about a problem is a great way to begin it - but actively working *on the problem (especially simultaneously with others) is the only way to truly *learn how to do it. Please also familiarize yourself with the section near Assessment Page link about submitting unique work.

"What's this (w) thing I see on certain problems?

You must show all work on problems marked with a (w). If you simply provide an answer, you will receive no points for that question, even if your answer is correct. Also, if your work does not support your answer, you will receive no points for the question. If you used technology to help you solve a problem (as you will sometimes have to do), explain exactly what you did. If you "did the work in your head", then explain what your head did.

"Crap! I forgot to submit an assignment! What do I do?!?!?!"

Take a deep breath - let's talk. :) If you missed a homework - don't worry! There's no minumum number of HWs you have to do, and missing one doesn't count against you; If you missed a quiz - no big deal. All quizzes are optional, so not turning one in doesn't count against you (so long as you get ten quizzes in by the end of the term); If you missed a project or an exam: you can use a Rainy Day Coupon so long as too much time hasn't passed!

"Why can't I just email you something if I missed its deadline?"

We have deadlines for a reason; just like in outside-of-school life, things are due at a certain time. The Rainy Day Coupons help you to make up lost points, but they also assume that you have gotten assessments submitted on time. If you email me an assessment after it's due, the email will most likely be deleted without reply. Please - stay on top of due dates and times!

"But what if I've got a legitimate emergency and can't get things submitted?"

Again - let's talk! In the event of illness, please call or email as soon as is possible, preferably before any due date. If this happens, you must make up the assessment in a timely fashion (historically, within one week of its due date...this, of course, can be adjusted if necessary). In the event of expected (planned) absences, please notify me before you will be absent, and please submit any assessments (that will be due while you are gone) before you leave.

"If I do more than 10 quizzes, do they count as extra credit?"

They don't; they just become one more part of your grade. So long as you get 10 quizzes in, you've covered the bare minimum. If you do the bare minimum, quizzes make up 25% of your grade. However, for good, mathematical reasons, you *might consider doing more. If you do, they then make up more than 25% of your grade (while other assessments make up a lesser percentage then they did originally).

"Wait! What do you mean 'as long as I get 10 quizzes in by the end of the term'?!?! I didn't get enough done!!!"

Let's say you did q quizzes. If q < 10, then you're short (10 - q) quizzes. For those that you're short, I'll assign you a grade of "0" (you'll still receive credit for those that you did on time).

"What's this 'Rainy Day Coupon'?"

We'll discuss it in class when you need to know about them, but if you're interested right now, here's the link.

"Why won't you answer questions on an assessment on the day that it's due?"

At this point, no learning can take place, and all you're showing me is that you want to get the correct answer without bettering your grasp of the material being assessed. You have sufficient time to work on each assessment; I give you that much time so that you don't feel rushed. Please don't procrastinate!

"How will I know how I'm doing in the class?"

I will email you a weekly progress report that will tell you exactly which assessments were cumulatively available, your scores on those you have turned in, and your current grade.

"Why email? There HAS to be a better way to communicate!"

Not yet, there isn't. Email is a GREAT way to discuss ideas in this class. Since most of our study of statistics isn't symbolic - or algebra - based, we can actually communicate really effectively in this format. It allows us to easily attach documents for discussion, which is always a plus. Everyone in this class has a COCC email account. If I need to communicate with you, I will send email to that COCC account, so make sure you check it regularly. If you don’t like to use your COCC account, you can get your COCC account to forward to another account. You can expect me to check emails regularly during my office hours (so long as I'm not actively working with students). You can also expect me to reply during these times.

"Why won't you just give me the answer?"

Because I adore seeing students' faces light up when they solve a problem on their own.

"Why won't you look my work over before I submit it?"

Because then you're asking me to "grade your work before I grade your work". I'll grade it once - after it's due. If you have a question, by all means - ask! Just make sure that question isn't some variant of "Is this right?"

"Why do you insist on my emailing you something that I need to tell you? It's important!"

Trust me - I get it! I get told many, many things during the day. My ADD mind has a hard time filing them all away, so, as a result, I will most likely forget anything said to me before or after class. For your own good, please don't tell me things like, "I won't be here in two weeks", "I need to reschedule", or "Don't you remember? We talked about this!" before, after, or during class. I won't remember; I need to enter those things in my calendar which I usually don't do with verbal prompts. Please send me an email!

"Why do you *always seem to want us to ask questions? Why are you always asking *us questions? Just lecture!"

Sorry if you feel that way! I adore student questions. It's been my experience that if one person in a class has a question, chances are, so do others...so help yourself and others out by asking. Also - feel safe to ask questions in here. I spent my life in schools where the classroom setting ws one where I was afraid to ask questions out of fear of "sounding stupid". I keep that memory handy as a way to NOT teach. I try very hard to create a very open learning environment...there are no "dumb questions" in here.

"I'm stuck on this problem. What do I do?"

Here are some ideas! Ask me for help! Email's great, and I'll get back to you ASAP; Ask someone else for help; Ask Google for help; Take a break. Go for a walk. Build LEGOs with your little'un. Ride a bike. Play music. Drink coffee. Watch a movie. Then try again.