ClassInfo

LSP 121 Quantitative Reasoning and Technological Literacy II

Eric Schwabe

Office: CDM 739
Spring 2015-2016
Class number: 32545
Section number: 314
TuTh 9:40AM - 11:10AM
STDCT 00363 Lincoln Park Campus
Course homepage: http://d2l.depaul.edu/

Summary

This course provides more advanced mathematical and computational methods in the analysis and interpretation of quantitative information. Topics include databases, descriptive statistics, measures of association and their interpretation, elementary probability theory, and an introduction to algorithms and computer programming. The course is taught in a hands-on laboratory environment where students are introduced to advanced computer tools for data analysis, including databases and a professional statistical software package.



Texts

None


Grading

Course grades will be computed as follows:

20% homework assignments
30% in-class activities
25% midterm exam (given in class on Tuesday, May 3rd)
25% final exam (given 8:30am-10:45am on Thursday, June 9th)

Homework assignments will be posted on the course web site and announced in class. Assignments must be submitted electronically through the course web site; it is your responsibility to verify that your submitted files are readable and submitted in the correct locations. No credit will be given for submissions that cannot be downloaded or read. Grades and comments will be returned through the course web site. No late or emailed assignments will be accepted, but I will drop your lowest homework score in the computation of your course grade.

We will have numerous in-class activities that will contribute to your course grade, so class attendance is expected -- I will record attendance at each class meeting. I may also ask you to submit the results of in-class activities through the course web site. If you miss a class meeting or do not complete an in-class activity during class time, you have until the end of the following class meeting to complete it.

Make-up exams will not be given -- everyone must take both exams at the scheduled times. In case of emergency, you must contact me by phone or email before the exam with documentation of the emergency.


Prerequisites

LSP 120 or a passing score on the LSP 120 Proficiency Exam. As an alternative to taking LSP 121, this requirement can be met by passing a separate LSP 121 Proficiency Exam (see qrc.depaul.edu). A student whose major requires calculus is exempt from this requirement.


Other

Regarding Email Communication: Please begin the subject line of any email to me with "LSP 121", so that I can easily identify your messages. I will reply to email messages within one business day after the day I receive them; therefore questions that are only received by me on an assignment's due date (or late the night before) are not guaranteed replies before the assignment is due (though I will do my best to reply quickly). Please do not use the comment field of the assignment submission system to send me questions.

Policy on Electronic Devices in the Classroom: In order to not distract your fellow students, please turn off and put away all electronic devices not used for class work during class. Laptops, tablets, lab computers, et cetera, that are used for course-related activities are allowed, of course; however, please refrain from emailing, texting, game playing, web browsing, and other activities not related to class work during class.

Regarding Academic Integrity: You are expected to be familiar with and to adhere to DePaul's Academic Integrity Policy, which is available on-line at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/AcademicIntegrityPolicy.pdf. Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy will be dealt with decisively; penalties may range up to an automatic F in the course and possible expulsion.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to: Turning in another person's work as your own (including hiring someone else to complete an assignment for you); Starting with another person's work and modifying it to turn in as your own; Cutting and pasting, or otherwise copying, sections of another person's work into your assignment; Allowing another person (such as a tutor) to write any part of your assignment; and so on. (Obviously, any examples that I post qualify as "another person's work".) Supplying such assistance to another student or working closely enough with another student that identical solutions are reached and submitted are also considered violations of the policy.

In general, you may feel free to discuss the assignments with other students at a general level. However, when it comes to actually completing your assignment, you must work independently. Your assignments must be entirely your own individual work. If you have any questions or doubts about what plagiarism entails, you should consult me.


Addendum to Syllabus

Objectives of the Course:
This Quantitative Reasoning and Technological Literacy course is designed to help you to become a more confident, critical, and capable user of quantitative information of all kinds. In particular, it will help you to

* continue to critique quantitative arguments, whether given numerically, graphically, or in written form
* manipulate data via the creation and use of relational databases
* become acquainted with basic descriptive statistics and probability
* understand the basic concepts of algorithm creation
* continue the manipulation of discrete data via compression, error detection, and encryption

Learning Outcomes for LSP 121 (QRTL):

1. Statistics: Students will be able to make and interpret frequency distributions; summarize data with measures of center and dispersion; measure and interpret the association between variables; recognize the difference between correlation and causation; solve applied problems involving the normal distribution and z-scores.

2. Probability and Chance: Students will be able to recognize that seemingly improbably coincidences are not uncommon; evaluate risk from available evidence; and calculate basic, common probabilities.

3. Algorithms and reasoning: Students will be able to use sequential, logical thinking; develop algorithms to solve problems; use Boolean conditionals and repetition structures to create simple computer programs.

4. Database tools: Students will be able to enter data into a pre-existing database; import data from a text file or spreadsheet file into a database; filter records based on a single parameter and on multiple parameters; sort records with multiple sort keys; formulate and conduct queries; generate a report from a database; recognize the difference between a flat file and a relational database; create a relational database using two or more tables; construct a query for a relational database using joins; design and implement forms for data entry.

5. Professional Statistical Package: Students will be able to import data from a spreadsheet or database into a statistics package; use graphical tools in a statistical package to make specialized statistics plots such as box plots and normal probability plots; calculate descriptive summary statistics using a statistical package.

6. Programming tools: Students will be able to construct the concept of algorithm through experimentation and reflection on everyday activities; articulate an accurate definition of an algorithm; recognize algorithms fitting the definition; construct the notion of a control structure and a repetition structure; acquire the ability to trace simple program listings using control and repetition structures; use control and repetition structures to write simple computer programs to effect a task.

How These Learning Outcomes Will Be Met:

1. Statistics: Activities will be devoted to basic descriptive statistics, normal distributions, and correlation. Homework assignments will reinforce these concepts.

2. Probability: Activity will cover an introduction to probability and risk. One homework assignment reinforce these concepts.

3. Algorithms and reasoning: Activities will introduce the concepts of sequential statements, if statements, loop statements, and function call statements and require the students to use these to solve a variety of problems. Homework assignments will reinforce these concepts.

4. Database tools: Activities will introduce Acess databases, table/query/form/report creation, and normalization. Homework assignments will reinforce these concepts.

5. Professional statistical package: Activities will introduce the statistical package SPSS and have students use it to solve multiple tasks. One homework assignment will reinforce these concepts.

6. Programming tools: Activities will introduce the concepts of sequential statements, if statements, loop statements, and function call statements and require the students to use these to solve a variety of problems. Activities will also introduce some common application areas of computer algorithms: e.g., data compression, encryption/decryption (security), and data error detection and correction. Homework assignments will reinforce these concepts.

Writing Expectations for LSP 121: (these assignments overlap with those given in LSP 120)

Five computer activities each of which has a final product in the form of a Word document with five to ten short paragraph responses.

Five class assignments with approximately 10 short paragraph responses.

How These Writing Expectations Will Be Met:

Several homework assignments and activities will require students to answer questions using short paragraph answers.




School policies:

Changes to Syllabus

This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.

Online Course Evaluations

Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation. Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.

All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.

Academic Policies

All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.

Students with Disabilities

Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296