MTH 245: Statistics I (Online)

About Online Classes. Are Online Classes for You?

It depends.
Online classes are convenient.
Most of them are asynchronous, so you work at your own time/pace.
However, they demand a lot of time especially if you are struggling with the subject/course.
I am not trying to scare you. I am just being honest with you.
There are several factors that probably made you choose an online class: family demands, extended family demands, and work demands among others.
I understand all these demands.
Hence, the course is set up for you to acquire the knowledge while maintaining a family – work – school balance.
Be it as it may, I am more concerned with your successfully passing the course.
This includes: acquiring the knowledge of the topics in Statistics (eBook; Notes; Videos; Learning Aids: Help Me Solve This, View an Example; Multimedia Resources among others), discussing the knowledge (Discussion Board), applying the knowledge (Project-based Learning), and mastering the knowledge (successfully completing the MyLab Statistics assignments).

Notable Notes about this Course

(1.) You will do a lot of work on your own in this course.
(Did I just scare you? I hope not. I am just being honest with you. The good thing is that I am here to help you. But, you will do most of the work on your own.)
Online course require very active independent student learners.
I provide the resources. You review those resources. We meet weekly during the Office Hours/Live Sessions. I answer any questions you may have regarding the resources I provided.
This is the flipped-classroom approach.
You will spend a lot of time to read, view videos, view the multimedia resources (according to your learning style) and solve problems. For those problems you cannot solve on your own, that is when I come in and help you.
But do not think I am not doing any work. Trust me I will do a lot of work also to guide your learning. I will maintain weekly Office Hours/Live Sessions to answer any questions. I will answer any question you cannot solve anytime anyday, provided you send it to me on time and as my schedule demands, but I'll respond to you. I do not ignore my students. I will monitor and guide the discussions to ensure a safe, conducive, and inclusive learning environment. I will provide comments to the DB posts and responses (some of them) accordingly. I will grade discussions and provide feedback. I will review your project draft submissions and provide feedback. I will grade your projects and provide feedback. That is also a lot of work. So, we are doing a lot of work together.
If you are not prepared to do a lot of work/learning on your own, I advise you to please take this course in-person.
The weekly Office Hours/Live Sessions are not required. But they are highly recommeded. The link to the Zoom session is provided for you in the Canvas course.
If the days/times do not suit your schedule and you need to have a live session with me, please send an email to me with your available days and times. I shall check my schedule and respond.

How did I set up this course to help you succeed?
Please note that I set it up this way to help you succeed while ensuring that I provide RSI–QM (Regular and Substantive Interaction – Quality Matters) with my students according to the United States Department of Education (USDOE) regulations.
(2.) Assessments: There are three types of assessments for this course:

(a.) MyLab Statistics (MLS) also known as MyStatistics Lab assignments: This is 70% of your final grade.
(i.) Every assignment is open for you from the first day of class. There are many assignments for you to do. But you get the credit for it. If you complete all the MLS assignments with a 100%, you have already made 70% in the course. I do not pick and choose questions when assigning the sections because I want you to be exposed to the various types/forms of questions for each section. It is a lot of work. But you get the credit for it if you complete it successfully. It will be good if you make a 100% on all of them, but you must not. It depends on the grade you want for the course. Please review the Grading example in your course syllabus.
(ii.) Each section has two due dates: initial due date and final due date. It is not timed. However, it has due dates.
(iii.) If there is any section you were unable to complete by the first due date, you may continue to work on it, and try to complete it by the final due date without any penalty.
(iv.) If there is any section you did not attempt by the first due date, you will earn a zero score in the Canvas gradebook when grades are updated. When you attempt that section and earn a grade, that grade will be updated the next time grades are updated.
(v.) Grades for MLS assignments are updated in the Canvas gradebook weekly (every week).
(vi.) Many questions on an MLS assignment have learning aids. The learning aids include: Help Me Solve This and View an Example among others. You are encouraged to use these learning aids. The learning aids typically uses one approach/method to solve the question. If you do not understand that approach/method, that is where I come in. Please contact me with the question/question ID and I'll use another approach to explain the question so you may understand. Further, the solved examples on my websites (as listed in the Pacing Guides) contain some of the questions on your MLS assignments.
(vi.) There are unlimited attempts for your MLS assignments. If you do a question about three times and get it incorrect, please click on Similar Question usually at the bottom right corner. If you get a similar question correct, you will get the credit for that question. Please use only a computer (laptop or desktop, no tablets, no smartphones) with internet access.
(viii.) The final due date for all MLS assignments is the last day of class, or sometimes the day following the last day of class. Please review the course syllabus for the exact date.
(ix.) After the final due date, please do not ask for an extension.
(ix.) All MLS assignments are done in the Pearson learning management system via Canvas learning management system.

(b.) Project-based assessment: Piecewise Function Project: This is 10% of your final grade.
(i.) Please review the three types of projects in the course navigation link. You shall do only one type of project: Power Bill or Water Bill or Federal Income Tax.
(ii.) Review the requirements, instructions, directions, and the projects from my previous students. Do some research and find a company that you intend to work on. Send the direct website of that company to me do I can verify that the application on that website meets the project requirements. You need to email this information to me as soon as possible. If you need help finding an application, please let me know and I'll help you.
(iii.) If your application meets the project requirements, you should begin to work on your draft. It is highly recommeded that you submit your draft to me as soon as possible. Review your course syllabus for the due date to submit drafts.
(iv.) The project has two due dates as noted in the Tentative Class Schedule on your course syllabus. After the first due date, a zero grade will be entered in the Canvas gradebook for any student who has not satisfactorily completed the project, regardless of whether I am reviewing your draft or not.
(v.) You may continue to work on your project after the first due date and submit it by the final due date. After the final due date, please do not request for an extension.
(vi.) All projects (not drafts) are submitted in the appropriate area in the Canvas learning management system.

(c.) Discussion Board (DB) assessment: This is 20% of your grade.
(i.) Please review the Discussion Board in the course navigation link.
(ii.) The course is 5 weeks. Each week has a DB assessment.
(iii.) Each DB assessment requires a DB Post and a DB Response. At least one response to the initial post of your fellow student is required.
(iv.) Each DB assessment is 2% of your grade. The grading rubric is provided for you accordingly.
(v.) There is only one due date for the DB Post and only one due date for the DB Response. Any work past any of those due dates attracts a penalty according to the grading rubric. Let me explain. It is important that you submit your initial posts on time (by Thursday) so your colleagues will have some time to respond to your post. Some students are very busy during the weekends. They might not be able to log in during weekends. Hence, they would like to complete the DB assessments on time. I am considering those students too.
(vi.) Let me explain the reason for having only one due date for each of DB Post and DB Response. Most students, typically do not continue the discussion past the week that it is due. They move on to the next discussion. Hence, if a student posts or responds past the due date, that post or response may not be read by another student. What is the purpose of discussing with your colleagues if they will not read what you wrote? Do you understand what I mean?

(3.) I believe in giving my students a lot of opportunities to succeed: unlimited attempts for the MLS assignments; two due dates for MLS assignments; and two due dates for the project among others including my availability and willingness to answer your questions.
In that regard, I do not believe in bonus points. I do not believe in extra credit. Only the three types of assessments are the graded assessments.
Please do not ask for bonus points.
Please do not ask for extra credit.
Please do not ask for the grading to be curved. (normal distribution curve).
Please do not ask for re-dos after the project is graded. Those re-dos should be drafts. But once you submit your project, that is it.
Please do not ask for re-dos after the DB assessment is graded. Attend Office Hours/Live Sessions and ask questions.
Please ask me questions instead.

What should you do?
What are some tips for succeeding in the class?

(4.) You control 70% of your final grade.
I control 30% of your final grade.
(a.) You are the one to decide the grade you want in the class. Just make 100% on what you control: the MLS assignments; you have earned a 70%...a C
Then, work with me by submitting your draft for the project on time. Work with me and address any issues till I give you the green light to submit your project...that should give you a 100% (in most cases)...which is 20% of your final grade. You now have: 70% + 20% = 90%...an A
Follow all the DB Requirements. Submit your initial post on time and address any comments I make as applicable. Even if I do not make any comments to your post, review the comments I make to the posts and/or responses of your colleagues. You can even address the comments I make to the post of your colleague as a substantive response, if applicable. Contact me via email and/or Live Sessions/Office Hours for any comment you do not understand. You can make enough points on the DB assessment to earn an A. in the course.
Making a grade of C is basically your entire/complete decision to make. You can also make a grade of A or B by reviewing my comments to your colleagues (based on the DB), and also based on the project samples and requirements provided to you. I understand some of you have busy schedules, hence your choosing to take an online class. But, please know that you can email me your available days and times. I will check my schedule and respond. We can work out something even if the day and time of the Live Sessions/Office Hours is not convenient for you.

(b.) Let us discuss how you can make a 100% on the MLS assignments:
The MLS assignments consists of 31 sections (31 assignments): 829 questions.
You have 35 days (5 weeks) to complete 829 questions. Please note that some questions have children (sub-questions). So, if we count each question and sub-question, the number is higher. But you have 35 days to complete all the questions.

$\dfrac{829}{35} = 23.68571429 \approx 24$ (rounded up) questions per day.

If you complete 25 questions (including any sub-questions) per day, you would complete all MLS assignments in about 34 days.
If you complete 30 questions (including any sub-questions) per day, you would complete all MLS assignments in about 28 days.
It is doable. It just requires a lot of your time and effort.

(c.) Please make sure you do all these assignments yourself.
(i.) Use the Learning Aids provided for you by Pearson MLS.
(ii.) Use my websites (especially the Solved Examples ... as noted in the Pacing Guides). I have solved, and I am still solving your MLS questions on my websites. My explanations of the solutions are clear, as testified by some of my students. Please let me know otherwise.
(iii.) Use the R and/or the RStudio software for applicable statistical computations.
(iv.) Do not use the mobile Mathematics apps that will solve the questions for you. You know these mobile apps including the one where you take the picture of the question with your smartphone and it gives the answer. I do not think you learn the topics/concepts if you use such mobile apps.

MyLab Statistics (MLS) Registration and Resources (eText and Multimedia Resources)

This course is a direct integration of the Pearson eText including resources and assignments among others.
You have access to the MyLab Statistics (MLS) assignments.
You have access to the eText. This includes an accessible eText (for students who require accommodation).
So, you have an electronic textbook. Hence, a physical/hard copy textbook is not required.



Access the eText/accessible eText
Step 1:


Step 2:


Step 3:




Access the Multimedia Resources
Step 4:


Step 5:


Step 6:

Grade Calculator

First:
MyLab Statistics (MLS) Grades
May I explain to you how your MLS grades are calculated?
Because we have 57 MLS sections, it is much better to explain it in a different page.
So, let us go to MyLab Statistics (MLS) Grade Example and Calculator to get the current and/or cumulative MLS grades.

Second:
Final Grade
May I explain to you how your final grade is calculated?
So, we have our MLS grade. We shall now use it here to get our current grade and/or final course grade.
Let us do an example. Then, we can verify with the calculator.

Please NOTE:
(1.) This is the grade you will see in the Canvas gradebook.
(2.) You must not complete all fields. You can calculate your current grade at any time during the course based on the assessments you have done. Then, you can verify your calculations with the calculator.
(3.) The final grade is rounded to the nearest integer only one time.
A grade of 79.5000111% is rounded to an 80% which is a B while a grade of 79.499999 is rounded to a 79% which is a C.
(4.) At least a final grade of 70% (C) is required to pass the course.
(5.) There is no extra credit or bonus point or curving grades for the course.
Please review the Frequently Asked Questions for explanations.
(6.) Please send an email to me and/or attend the Office Hours/Live Sessions if you have any questions.

Course Grade Calculator

Student Evaluation of Faculty

Dear Students,
Greetings to you.
As you evaluate me and my teaching style on the Canvas course, I ask that you consider these questions in addition to the survey questions.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to teach the course.
It was nice working with you.
I wish you the best in your academic profession.
Thank you!

Samuel Dominic Chukwuemeka (SamDom For Peace) B.Eng., A.A.T, M.Ed., M.S
Working together for success

Grading Method: Grading Method
Classroom/Learning Environment: Canvas course management system.
Course Assessments: MyLab Statistics (MLS) assignments, Discussion Board (DB) assessments, and Project-based Learning assessment (Piecewise Function Project)
Direct forms of communication: Office Hours/Live Sessions, Comments to your DB Posts and/or Responses, individualized Zoom sessions, Emails, and Google Voice text messages and calls.
Indirect forms of communication: Course announcements, Websites (Notes, Videos, and Resources among others).

Course Contents
Please review the VCCS Course Description and
the VCCS Detailed Outline
Those are the basic topics that VCCS/BRCC require that I teach.

(1.) Did I cover those topics: teach the topics and/or provide resources for the topics?
Resources include your textbooks (eText and resources), my websites (including notes/videos/resources)

(2.) Did I cover other necessary topics that is relevant for you to succeed in your profession?

(3.) Did the assessments demonstrate the application of the topics?

(4.) Did the contents and assessments demonstrate important skills such as critical thinking, use of technology, creativity, and organization among others?

Teaching and Learning
(5.) Did you acquire any knowledge from me?

(6.) Did you acquire sufficient knowledge, or more than sufficient knowledge from me?

(7.) Did you acquire any knowledge from any of your colleagues because of how the course was set up?

(8.) Did you acquire sufficient knowledge, or more than sufficient knowledge from any of your colleagues because of the way the course was set up?

(9.) Did I provide effective feedback on the draft submissions and the main submissions of your project?
Did you acquire any knowledge based on my feedback?

(10.) Did I provide comments/effective feedback for your DB Post and/or Response?
Did you acquire any knowledge based on the feedback?

(11.) Did you get any feedback for any of the questions on your MLS assignments?
Did you acquire any knowledge based on that feedback?

(12.) Did any of the feedback help you improve in any way?
In other words, was the feedback useful to you in any way?

(13.) Did you have enough support to ensure the successful completion of the course?
Were your questions answered?
Did you have enough resources/learning aids?

(14.) Did I provide a safe and conducive environment for learning?

(15.) Was the Grading Method fair?

Pacing Guide
(16.) Were you given enough time to learn the contents?

(17.) Were you given enough time to complete the assessments?
Consider the fact that you were given two due dates for the MLS assignments and the Project; and that there was no penalty for late work after the first due date.

Professionalism
(18.) In all our communication (both direct and indirect), did I act professionally?

(19.) In all our communication (both direct and indirect), did I use a respectful tone?

(20.) What do you like or dislike about our communication?

Personality
(21.) Based on your experience with me (taking the course with me and communicating with me among others), how would you describe my person?
Do I give a lot of work?
Do I give a lot of explanations?
Do I have a lot of expectations for my students?
Do I really want you to learn?
Do I really want you to succeed?
Do I ask a lot of questions?
Do I answer questions with questions sometimes?

During those times, please note that it is a teaching technique.
It is never meant to disrespect you. I do not disrespect my students. I respect them.
It is a technique to guide you to review directions/concepts, and explain what you do not understand.

Would you take another course with me? Why or why not?
Did your views/perception about me affect you in completing this course successfully or unsuccessfully?