Course Syllabus

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.

Course Objectives

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
• become acquainted with data analysis software as used to prepare and analyze basic descriptive statistics
• apply probability concepts appropriately
• manipulate data via the creation and use of relational databases
• understand the basic concepts of algorithm creation and computer programming

Prerequisites

Required Materials

Students will need the following electronic resources:

• A place to store your work (Flash drive, cloud account). If you bring a flash drive to class, please
  make sure that it is labeled with your name and email address, inside and outside.
  
• Access to the software (personal or from DePaul Lab) we will be using at the desktop
  
  • MS-Access (2013 or higher),
    
  • MS-Word (2013 or higher),
    
  • MS-Excel (2013 or higher),
    
  • SPSS (available at DePaul labs and via remote access),
    
  • file-compression software(e.g. WinZip)
    
  • pdf reader software (e.g. Adobe Reader)

Course Format

The course emphasize active, hands-on learning: it is a mixture of discussion, cooperative group activities, and work on the computer in the. We will be using Office 2014 as the primary software in the course. If you are a Mac user, Office 2011 has similar functionality.

The course material will be presented in three segments: Statistics/Probability, Databases, and Algorithms/Computer Programming.

Mastering the skills developed in this course will require practice during class time and afterwords. The Quantitative Reasoning Center is open in the evening and on the weekend. Free tutoring is available; please consult the Hours link on the homepage for days and times. Other general purpose computer labs include SAC 235 (located right around the corner from the Quantitative Reasoning Center) and the Richardson Library, both of which have extended hours into evenings and the weekend.

OUTLINE OF COURSE

Liberal Studies Learning Outcomes Associated with LSP 121

LSP 121 is part of the Liberal Studies Program at DePaul and is intended to achieve the following learning outcomes.

1. Statistics: Students will be able to make and interpret frequency distributions; summarize data with measures of central tendency 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. 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.
3. 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.
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. 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.
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.

Evaluation:

An expanded description of each follows:

• Exams (55%) There will be three exams. The first two will be given during class time. The third will be given during the final exam time scheduled for this class by DePaul University, specifically Wednesday March 15 from 8:30 am to 10:45 am. You must complete the third exam during that time.
  
  • Each of the three exams will cover a different class segment Statistics/Probability, Databases, or Algorithms/Computer Programming.
  • There are no makeup exams in this course. If you cannot take an exam due to illness or family emergency, you must inform me before the exam by email.
  • Students must complete all three exams. Exams are not cumulative.
• Individual Homework Assignments (20%) During many weeks there will be an assignment to be completed by each student outside of class. The purpose of these assignments is to give individual outside-of-class practice on the skills we are learning and to explore some ideas more thoughtfully and deeply. These assignments also provide the opportunity to complete work similar to exam problems. The assignments will be available on D2L.
  
  • Assignment due dates are stated on D2L as part of the information about the Dropbox. Any student who submits an assignment after the due date will be assessed a penalty. Late submissions of individual assignments will be accepted for two days after the due date and will lose 20% of the points for that assignment per day (or any portion of a day).
  • NOTE: Homework Assignments must all be submitted via the D2L. I do not accept hard copies of homework assignments. Upon submitting your file, you will receive a confirmation email indicating the file has been uploaded properly. If you do not receive this email, your assignment has not been submitted. Please verify that you do receive an email after each submission as not to incur late submission penalties.
    
  • Each student submits his/her homework individually. Students who submit work not completed by themselves alone will be subject to plagiarism penalties.
  • Assignment grades along with detailed comments will be posted to D2L.
• Team Assignments (15%) Each student in this class will be a member of a team assigned on the first day of class. Team assignments will be part of the work completed by all students. These team assignments will be available on D2L in the Dropbox section.
  
  • Each team assignment submission must include a list of the names of the team members who contributed to the assignment. All team members who contribute to the submitted team assignment, as reported on the contributor list submitted as part of the assignment, will receive the same number of points for that team assignment. Team members not included in the contributor list will receive 0 points for the assignment.
  • All class members will be expected to contribute to team assignments. At the end of the quarter, team members will be asked to evaluate the contributions of their teammates as a part of the grading process.
  • It is up to the team to agree upon how to complete team assignments and it is each persons responsibility to complete work as agreed upon by the team.
  • It may be tempting to divide the work of the team assignment so that each team member completes only a portion of the assignment and the resulting portions are assembled for submission. That is not a good strategy. Each team member should complete the entire team assignment. There are several options for working together on team assignments. Team members may wish to work jointly on a single submission during class "team time". They may also decide that each person will complete the entire assignment independently and collaborate/review each others work to determine the answers that should be submitted for evaluation.
• Attendance/Participation (10%) Class attendance and participation are important. Your participation grade consists of three elements: your attendance, your contribution to the class discussion and dynamic, and your group work. Participation is an essential element to successful completion of this class.

Incomplete 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 me as soon as possible.

Collaboration on Out of Class Assignments Policy

I encourage you to work together when you are doing team assignments. However, the point of the out of class assignments is for you to get enough practice with the material and to engage with the ideas of the course in such a way that you will be able to do well on the exams. Therefore, the write ups you submit to me should be entirely your own work and in your own words. Sharing electronic files and cutting and pasting the work of another person and submitting it as your own work is a form of dishonesty (see below, under academic integrity).

In short: it's ok to work together, but the work you submit should be your own work in your own words. Work that appears to violate this policy will be given a zero and violators will be written up - no questions asked.

Disabled Student Resources

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 contact the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:

Academic Integrity