Course Syllabus
Contact Information
My interest has from an early age been in things mathematical - Physics and Math. In later life, I turned to Ancient Greek and statistics and earned a Ph.D. in Bayesian statistics at the University of Auckland New Zealand. These days I teach and develop classical and Bayesian statistics courses as well as innovate using the R workspace.
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Prerequisites
- MATH 4733 - Mathematical Theory of Probability
- It would also be helpful to have a basic understanding of statistics, though it is not required.
Course Materials
- Statistics for Engineering and the Sciences 6th Edition by Mendenhall and Sincich (will be referred to as "MS" throughout the course)
- We will use Chapters 1-7 for this course, but you will also need this textbook for future courses.
- We will use Chapters 1-7 for this course, but you will also need this textbook for future courses.
- Installing R and Rstudio (free resource)
- You will need to install these programs for this course, and the installation program takes a little time. The sooner you start, the better!
- You will need to install these programs for this course, and the installation program takes a little time. The sooner you start, the better!
- Supplemental (not required purchase, but an excellent resource): An Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and Its Applications 6th edition, Larsen and Marx
- Data for the course: K25936_Downloads.zip
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Mini Projects | These will require you to apply the knowledge gained in the module to a multi-step real-world problem. | 20 |
| Quizzes | This will require computations based on what you learned in the readings and lecture videos. There will be a mixture of true/false, multiple choice, and numeric answer problems. | 20 |
| Homework Assignments | There will be 4 total homework assignments which will happen about every 4 weeks. | 20 |
| Midterm | You will have one hour to complete 5 comprehensive questions, which will be a mix of short answer and long answer. | 20 |
| Final | You will have two hours to complete 10 comprehensive questions, which will be a mix of short answer and long answer. | 20 |
| Total | 100 |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Module Overviews
For each module, you will have an introduction page that will provide an overview of the topic and prime you for what you are about to learn. It will also offer specific learning objectives and a to-do list to help you plan your week.
Quizzes
The quizzes will help to ensure that you have the foundational knowledge and/or component skills required for the course and will help inform you for the mini-projects, where you will be asked to apply or extend your learning. This auto-graded quiz holds you accountable for the resources and will help to check your understanding of key concepts. The Live session, if occurring on the week a quiz and mini-project is due, should be attended or watched before any work is uploaded or submitted.
Mini Projects
The questions are intended to give you practice in applying what you are learning in the week to a real problem. These will be formative, allowing you to get feedback along the way to help you succeed in the homework assignments and exams. You will have 3 tries to get the correct (numeric) answer, and you will have to upload evidence of your work (your "scratch paper").
Homework Assignments
About every 4 weeks (4 times throughout the semester), you will have homework encompassing what you have learned since the last homework assignment. This will allow the instructor to assess whether you have mastered the material and also give you any necessary feedback that might help you to improve your performance before the next exam.
Resources
Each week, you will be given resources (textbook readings, pre-recorded videos, etc.) to help you in solving the problem outlined at the beginning of the module. These resources will help you gain the foundational knowledge needed to do well on the weekly assessments and successfully participate in the Live Sessions.
Live Sessions
Every other week, you will attend or watch a recorded Live Session. The instructor will introduce the week’s project and offer good and bad examples of approaches to similar problems. Students will discuss the problem as a group and do group activities to scaffold each other’s knowledge of the topic at hand.
Midterm & Final
Twice during the semester, you will have comprehensive exams that will allow the instructor to assess your mastery over the course content. You will have one hour to complete each exam.
Course Policies
Communication
You may contact me through the help board on Canvas or by email if you have urgent and/or personal needs. My email address is wayne.s.stewart@ou.edu
The course help boards will be checked each day and you should get a response in less than 24 hours, Monday-Friday.
Feedback
Grading should be accomplished in less than a week and you should get feedback and an explanation for the grade you obtained.
Late Policy
Late work will not be accepted except for exceptional circumstances - family bereavement, sickness etc. All work will be given a zero if not submitted on time.
Cheating
I expect students to help one another, especially in the early stages of an assignment. However, the mass and bulk of the work submitted should be the student's own work.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, the privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important in this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they can enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Institutional Equity Office (M-F, from 8-5, at 405-325-3546) or OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013).
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth-Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in the innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional information about severe weather preparedness is available through the Department of Campus Safety's Emergency Management Division.
OU-Norman Campus: Tornado Refuge Protocol
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits.
- Assist those who may need help.
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area.
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone who may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
OU Fire Safety on Campus Video
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|