ClassInfo

LSP 121 Quantitative Reasoning and Technological Literacy II

Spring 2013-2014
Class number: 30003
Section number: 303
MW 1:00PM - 2:30PM
LEVAN 00306 Lincoln Park Campus

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Summary

LSP 121
Quantitative Reasoning and Technological Literacy II
Spring 2014


Instructor: Nzingha Nommo
LPC office: SC 332
Email: nnommo@cdm.depaul.edu
Office hours: Wednesdays 3-4:30pm , Tue/Thu by appointment 1:00-2

Course Description
In this course, students will continue the study of issues in the sciences, social sciences, and management in which quantitative data plays a significant role. This second course in QRTL, however, will emphasize more the role of computer technology. Extensive use will be made of computer tools such as Access, SPSS, programming environments, Word, and Excel.

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. Students will be able to create and analyze pivot tables.

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.

7. Practical Applications: Through an extra credit project, students get to explore how they can utilize the skills learned as they directly apply to their own interests in social responsibility/Major or other area of interest. This project was created out of the consistent questions from students about how this would be used in their every day lives. By challenging them to integrate the two through the project, they become exposed to how to handle some of the inconsistencies present in ?live? data. Students? reasoning skills must be exercised to bridge the gaps in real-world situations.

How These Learning Outcomes Will Be Met:

1. Statistics: Activity ?Probability? is devoted entirely to basic descriptive statistics; Activity ?Correlation? discusses correlation; Activity ?Normal Distributions? introduces normal distributions. Homework assignments of the same name reinforce these concepts.

2. Probability: Activity ?Probability? covers an introduction to probability with a short section on risk. Homework assignment 6 reinforces these concepts.

3. Algorithms and reasoning: Activities ALICE, and the Lecture on Algorithms 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.

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

5. Professional statistical package: Activity 7 and 7B introduces the statistical package SPSS and requires the student to use it to solve multiple tasks including how to design and analyze pivot tables; Activity Correlation continues the use of SPSS for correlation

6. Programming tools: Activities ALICE and Algorithms 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. Activity ?Computers? introduce three common application areas of computer algorithms: data compression, encryption/decryption (security).

7. Practical Applications: Via Activity 7B Access Databases where the website for the Bureau of Labor Statistics? Employment files are utilized, and an extra credit Project, students will be exposed to the challenges of using data managed by government and other private agencies.

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.

An extra credit Project that is 3-5 pages in length on the students Major or area of interest.

How These Writing Expectations Will Be Met:

All six homework assignments and eleven activities require the students to answer many questions using short paragraph answers. The extra credit project gives expanded opportunity to express their understanding and application of the skills learned.

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, supplementary handouts for Database Intro and Probability are included on D2L

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

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 (group) 25%
Homework assignments 25%
Midterm exam 25%
Final exam 25%
Extra Credit 20%
(Quizzes, Project, Tech Tip)

Note: Midterm + Final Exam must average to a C grade in order to pass the course.
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. No activities will be accepted two weeks after they are assigned.
Extra Credit ? There will be a number of additional items that are for the specific purpose of providing training/practice particularly to those uncomfortable with test taking. There are three items: 1. Quizzes, 2. Tech Tip, 3. Project. The Quizzes are pop quizzes that are sanity checks for what information the students are absorbing at that time. It is timed so that students will get used to the test taking environment with Math as some students have a long standing fear of Math. The Tech tip requires each student to stand up and share a current technological news item. Presentation skills are demonstrated. Finally, one class project which is 3-5 pages in length describing how the tools in the course can be applied to their Major. The student must select a cause, Major or outside area of interest and give a suggested solution with supporting Access/SPSS/Excel tables/queries/forms/Reports using live data (not from QRC website).
Miscellaneous ? Attendance and class participation are only used in cases where a student is on the border between grades i.e. A or A- . This is only used to round up, not round down.
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 recorded for random times up to 10 times during the quarter.
Drop Dates
Last day to drop a class with refund: April 11
Last day to drop a class with no refund: May 16
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/ Correlation; 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
Week 10: Error detection and correction, Final Exam Review
Week 11: 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.

Final Exam Schedule

Section Meets Final Exam Date
LSP121-301 M, W, 9:40-11:10 June 09, 2014, from 8:45 AM to 11:00 AM
LSP121-302 M, W, 11:20-12:50 June 11, 2014, from 11:45 AM to 2:00 PM
LSP121-303 M, W, 1:00-2:30 June 09, 2014, from 11:45 AM to 2:00 PM
SLP121-313 T, Th, 11:20-12:50 June 10, 2014, from 11:45 AM to 2:00 PM



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