Spring 2016 BUSA 3110 Syllabus Q & A

Course Setup Related

  • What is the course ID for MyStatLab?

melton96918 Also, the following link provides some good basic information:

  • What is MyStatLab crashes?
    1) Always try the assignments near the time they become available in case you run into problems.

2) Make sure that the issue is MyStatLab. See:
3) If the issue is MyStatLab, please email me so I can determine how/if to make adjustments.

4) If the problem is your computer, try using the virtual lab.

  • Why don’t you provide dates for homework and quizzes on the class calendar?
    I will roll the detailed calendar out as we progress through the semester. Typically, you will have specific dates for graded assignments and for Study Guide problems at least one week in advance. You can expect to have one or two MyStatLab assignments due most weekends—and you can complete them any time during that week.
    In addition, for assignments that are to be completed outside of class, you will be provided a window of 3 to 7 days between when the assignment is released and the deadline for submission (usually closer to the 7-day window). With more than two dozen smaller assignments, the likelihood of selecting the dates to match the pace that the class will follow is low. Multiple revisions would be more confusing than helpful.
  • What email do you check? [ goes the same place] I do NOT use the D2L email.

Course Policy Related

  • Do you enforce the attendance policy?
    Yes. Note that the policy say that I may drop you with a grade of WF. If you are missing classes and earning lots of low grades on assignments, this is more likely to turn into “I will drop you with a grade of WF” than a case where you are missing classes but staying in contact with me about special issues, and being successful in mastering the material.
  • If we miss a class day and have a note for being excused will that day count as an absence?
    Any time that you are not in class, you are absent. The difference in an excused absence and an unexcused absence is whether you can “make-up” any graded work.
  • Is 6 hours really needed outside of class?
    The guideline for any college class is 2 hours outside of class for each hour in class. If you think about what it means to be a full-time student, this may help. Most people

say someone taking 12 to 15 hours is a full-time student. Using the 2 hours out of class with the 1 hour in class, you see that someone with 12 credit hours would be expected to spend 12 + 24 = 26 hours a week on school related work. Likewise, 15 credit hours would relate to 15 + 30 =45 hours a week on school related work.

Of course there is variation from person-to-person and course-to-course (sounds like statistics)! Some people are more quantitatively oriented; some people retain information from one semester to the next better; and some people are more interested in a subject than others. Try to associate what we are doing with something that is of interest to you—could be your job, your hobby, sports, … When you see an application, you will have more interest, need less time, and time will fly by (or at least feel like it moves quicker).

Classroom Related

  • What days will we be in the lab?
    Most Wednesdays we will meet in NOC 109. The Course Blog will indicate the room for the class meeting under the date.
  • What will be do in the computer lab?
    Lab days will be for hands-on experience and guided instructions for using software to perform the statistical analysis.
  • Are we allowed to use computers for note taking?
    You may use your computer for note taking if you would like. Please limit your computer use during class to what is being covered in class that day. (no Facebook; no email; no completing out-of-class assignments during class; no studying for other classes)
  • Do we need to bring our computer to class?
    No
  • What is the difference in attendance and participation?
    Attendance relates to the body being in class; participation relates to the mind being engaged in the work going on in class. Attendance is necessary, but not sufficient, for participation.

Getting Help Related

  • Are you flexible with your office hours? Do we need to email you to meet with you during office hours?
    As a general rule, my view is that office hours are times that you get priority for help. Unless there is something very unusual, I should be in my office during office hours, and you can just stop by.
  • Other than office hours, if we struggle in class what is the best resource to utilize in order to succeed?
    I am in my office much more than the office hours listed. If my office hours conflict with your schedule, you can contact me to set up a different time to come by, or you can just drop by and see if I’m available. If you are coming to class and attempting the work, we will find a time that works to help you succeed.
    In addition, there will be some tutorials posted in D2L (both written with screenshots of output and short videos capturing the mechanics of obtaining some output). If you have ideas for where there need to be more tutorials, please let me know.
  • Will there be review of the intro statistics?
    There will be some review, but this is not a total repeat of MATH 2400. If you need more help than is included in class, stop by during office hours; or look at the material in your textbook (since this book is considered one that could be used for a first course in statistics).

Learning Related

  • Will we have study sessions prior to exams?
    The graded assignments are set up so that you are assessed often and in small “chunks.” The desired effect is that this will allow you to master the material better (and know that you have mastered the material) prior to proceeding. With this approach, the problems from the Study Guide provide you a way to prepare for these assignments. Some of these have (fairly detailed) answers in the back of the book; and you can seek help on any of these problems.
  • What is the best way to study so we really absorb all of the info in the class?
    Work as many problems as possible—with the aim to understand to process for working the problems (not just to make sure you can get the answer.

  • What does a sample assignment look like?
    There will be considerable variation from assignment to assignment. The one thing that will remain constant—they will not be multiple choice! Most assignments will involve working with data and software to obtain output and using the output to address specific questions in the context of the problem supplied. Typically, I will give you step-by-step instructions for what you need to do—and I will check to see if you complete each of these steps.
  • Is the Study Guide available the whole semester or separated by section?
    The Study Guide will be broken down by chapter and questions will be visible close to the time we cover the chapter. The Study Guide will provide problems to work that align with the material we are covering. Some of these have detailed answers in the back of the book. Once the material for a chapter, that part of the Study Guide will remain visible the rest of the semester.

Grade Related

  • Is the final cumulative?
    There will be between 5 and 10 problems available for the final. These will be from material spread across the entire semester. You get to select two of these problems. There-fore, the exam will be comprehensive, but you will be able to be more focused in terms of which problems you work.
  • Will we receive mid-term grades?
    The last page of your syllabus gives you a sheet for estimating your course grade—so you can do this throughout the semester. Generally, I do provide you with feedback near midterm for where my gradebook shows you stand at that point.
  • Is an 89.9 and A?
    Yes, I do round .5 to .99 up [but not .49]!
  • How strict are you on deadlines?
    Yes.