ClassInfo

LSP 121 Quantitative Reasoning and Technological Literacy II

Spring 2016-2017
Class number: 33271
Section number: 311
MW 11:20AM - 12:50PM
STDCT 00363 Lincoln Park Campus

Summary


Nzingha Nommo
Office Hours
SC 332 M,W 9:00-9:30, W 2:40-3:10
nnommo@depaul.edu

Course Description
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.

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: Activity 7 is devoted entirely to basic descriptive statistics; Activity Correlation discusses correlation; Activity Normal Distributions introduces normal distributions. Homework assignments 7 and Correlation reinforce these concepts.

2. Probability: Activity Probability covers an introduction to probability with a short section on risk. Homework assignment Probability reinforces these concepts.

3. Algorithms and reasoning: Activities ALICE 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 7-9 reinforce these concepts.

4. Database tools: Acitivies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 introduce Access databases, table/query/form/report creation, and normalization. Homework assignments 1-3 reinforce these concepts.

5. Professional statistical package: Activity 7 introduces the statistical package SPSS and requires the student to use it to solve multiple tasks; Activity 10 continues the use of SPSS

6. Programming tools: Activities ALICE 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 Computers and Error Detection introduce three common application areas of computer algorithms: data compression, encryption/decryption (security), and data error detection and correction.

Writing Expectations: (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:

All five homework assignments and all thirteen activities require the students to answer many questions using short paragraph answers.

Required Materials
Please bring a flash disk (thumb drive) to every class. Label with your name and e-mail address in case it becomes misplaced.

Textbook: none

Prerequisites: LSP 120

If you feel you already know the materials presented in this course, there is a placement exam you may take. You must take this exam within the first week of classes to waive the course this quarter. If you pass this exam, you will be waived from taking this course. Consult the qrc.depaul.edu website for more details.

Grading Scale:
92 - 100 A
90 - 91 A-
88 - 89 B+
82 - 87 B
80 - 81 B-
78 - 79 C+
72 - 77 C
70 - 71 C-
68 - 69 D+
60 - 67 D
0 - 59 F

REQUIREMENT: Midterm and Final + Extra Credit (select) must average at least 70 to pass the class with C or above. If average of Midterm + Final + Extra Credit (select) is between 60-69, highest grade is capped at a C even if ACTs & HW's average it higher.

Objectives of 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
Course Breakdown:

In-class activities 25%
Homework assignments 25%
Midterm exam 25%
Final exam 25%
Extra Credit 27%

Note: Midterm and Final + Extra Credit (select) must average 70 to pass the class

An expanded description of each follows:
Final Exam ? An in-class final exam must be taken in order to receive a grade in the course. If you cannot take the exam due to illness or family emergency, you must inform me in advance by phone or email. In such situations, you will typically receive an incomplete grade in the course, and we will make arrangements for you take the final exam as soon as possible the next term.
Midterm Exam ? An in-class midterm examination will be given during class. There are no makeup exams in this course. If you cannot take an exam due to illness or family emergency, you must inform me in advance by phone or email.
Homework Assignments - Many weeks there will be an assignment to be done outside of class. Their purpose is to give you individual out of class practice on the skills we are learning and to explore some ideas more thoughtfully and deeply. The assignments are posted on the course web page and will be handed out in class. Homework assignments must be done individually and are due by the due date posted on the assignment. They will not be accepted after the instructor goes over the answers in class.

In-class Activities - Class attendance and participation are important. Most of the class time will be spent working on exploratory activities that embody a "learn by doing" approach. If you don?t complete an activity for a given day (and a new activity is scheduled to be introduced next class period), you have until the end of the next class period from which the activity was handed out to submit the activity for credit.

Extra Credit ? Exam Points

Quizzes ? There will be a minimum of 2 pop quizzes which will go toward extra credit points. These points will be utilized should there be a need particularly if student ?s grade is on the border. Quizzes are also give a good idea of sample questions that may be on the upcoming Midterm/Final exam. Grading style: concentrate on accuracy.

Tech Tip ? Each student will have an opportunity to receive 2 extra credit points when they present a current event involving technology to the class. The Tech Tip is worth 2 points and must be uploaded to the D2L website under ?Discussion? tab so all students can view it.

Project ? 1 project will be assigned based on the 1st half of the course. It will be assigned after the Midterm.

Extra Credit ? HW/ACT Replacements for lowest score received
Activities are given throughout the quarter that go into more detail about some concepts learned in class and can be used to replace the lowest score received.

Extra Credit - Treasure Chest (Borderline Grades)

Attendance ? A total of 10 class sessions will count toward cases of borderline grades.

In-class Participation-Class participation is important in that it helps the professor become more familiar with the pace the class is comfortable with and the individual comprehension with the course material.


Office Hour participation?? I strongly encourage students to stop by office hours so that specific questions no matter how small can be worked out. Because of the complexity of some of the material, it is best not to hold on to a question as other material may build upon the concept. All questions are good questions. The worst question is the one left unasked. Also, feel free to visit the tutors, see www.qrc.depaul.edu

Incomplete and FX Grades
Grades of Incomplete are given only in cases of medical emergency or other highly unusual emergency situations. Please note that University guidelines require that you must be earning a passing grade at the time you request an incomplete grade. You should have completed most of the course, with at most one or two major forms of evaluation missing. Incompletes revert to an F if they are not resolved within one quarter. If such a situation should occur, please inform the instructor as soon as possible. A grade of FX is assigned if the student quits coming to class but never officially drops the course.
Class Attendance
While attendance will not be a percentage of your final grade, your attendance will be monitored for at least 10 class periods.
Drop Dates
Last day to drop a class with refund: see DePaulcentral.depaul.edu
Last day to drop a class with no refund: see DePaulcentral.depaul.edu
Academic Integrity
Violations of academic integrity, particularly plagiarism, are not tolerated. Plagiarism is defined by the university as:
?..a major form of academic dishonesty involving the presentation of the work of another as one's own. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to the following:
a. The direct copying of any source, such as written and verbal material, computer files, audio disks, video programs or musical scores, whether published or unpublished, in whole or part, without proper acknowledgement that it is someone else's.
b. Copying of any source in whole or part with only minor changes in wording or syntax, even with acknowledgement.
c. Submitting as one's own work a report, examination paper, computer file, lab report or other assignment that has been prepared by someone else. This includes research papers purchased from any other person or agency.
d. The paraphrasing of another's work or ideas without proper acknowledgement.
Plagiarism, like other forms of academic dishonesty, is always a serious matter. If an instructor finds that a student has plagiarized, the appropriate penalty is at the instructor's discretion. Actions taken by the instructor do not preclude the college or the university from taking further punitive action including dismissal from the university? (DePaul Student Handbook).
University policies on academic integrity will be strictly adhered to. Consult the DePaul University Student website for further details.

Tentative Weekly Schedule

Week 1: Intro to course; introduction to databases; importing a spreadsheet into a database

Week 2: Relational databases and normalization; database queries

Week 3: Database forms; database reports; ACT with live data using all Access Objects
Week 4: Introduction to descriptive statistics using SPSS;
Week 5: SPSS Pivot Tables/Midterm Review
Week 6: Midterm exam; Introduction to algorithms; Alice
Week 7: VBA coin toss; Probability and Statistics
Week 8: Normal Distributions
Week 9: compression and security / Error Detection
Week 10: Error detection and correction, correlation, Final Exam Review
Week 11: Final exam
Final exam










As a courtesy to the other students and the instructor: If you must keep your cell phone on, please turn the ringer off and set the phone in front of you, or place cell phone on vibrate mode. Please limit your entering and leaving while a lecture is in progress.

College Policies

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.
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: cdm.depaul.edu/enrollment.
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: csd@depaul.edu.
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296



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