LSP
121 - Syllabus
Quantitative Reasoning and Technological Literacy II (MTL II)
Spring 2014
LSP 121-309 Tu/Th 2:40 - 4:10 pm, StuCntr 363
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Loop phone: (312) 362-6079 |
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Email: psisul@cdm.depaul.edu |
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Webpage: http://www.depaul.edu/psisul |
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Office hours: |
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. A variety of analytical approaches will be explored, including numerical,
graphical, verbal/logical, and algebraic. Extensive use will be made of
computer tools such as MS Access, SPSS, programming environments, MS Word,
Excel, PowerPoint and the Internet.
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 improbable 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 scatter plots, histograms
and normal probability plots; calculate descriptive summary statistics using a
statistical package and analyze correlations.
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 Learning Outcomes Will Be Met
1.
Statistics: Activity 4b is devoted entirely to basic
descriptive statistics and normal distribution; Activity 5 discusses
correlation. Homework assignment 4
reinforces these concepts.
2.
Probability: Activity 6 covers an introduction to probability with a short
section on risk. Homework assignment 5 reinforces these concepts.
3.
Algorithms and reasoning: Activities 8a and 8b 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 assignment 7
reinforces these concepts.
4.
Database tools: Activities 1, 2 and 3 introduce Acess databases,
table/query/form/report creation, and normalization. Homework assignments 1-3 reinforce these
concepts.
5.
Professional statistical package: Activity 5a 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 9a and 9b 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 9c and 10 introduce three common
application areas of computer algorithms: data compression,
encryption/decryption (security), and data error detection and correction. Homework assignment 7 reinforces these
concepts.
Writing Expectations (these assignments overlap with
those given is 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 Writing Expectations Will Be Met
All team and individual assignments
require the students to answer questions using appropriate communication
techniques, including short paragraph answers. Most activities involving word
problems with numerical answers must be answered in a full sentence describing
answer and method of arriving at answer.
Required Materials
Students should have a storage device such as a flash disk (thumb drive) for
class. Label each with your name and email address in case they become
misplaced.
Textbook: none
Prerequisites: LSP 120
If you feel you already are familiar
with the materials presented in this course, there is an option to take a
placement exam. You must take this exam within the first week of classes. The
course requirement will be waived if you pass the exam. Consult the qrc.depaul.edu website for more details.
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:
Student
Center, LPC, Suite #370
Phone number: (773)325.1677
Fax: (773)325.3720
TTY: (773)325.7296
Use of this webpage and D2L: link to
D2L
This page provides an overview of the syllabus and
course content. The D2L tool is to be used for a fuller view of course content,
assignments, and announcements. It is the main tool to use for this course. It
also contains a DropBox for assignments and grade information.
Grading Scale:
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92 – 100 |
A |
72 – 77 |
C |
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90 – 91 |
A - |
70 – 71 |
C - |
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88 – 89 |
B + |
68 – 69 |
D + |
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82 – 87 |
B |
60 – 67 |
D |
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80 – 81 |
B - |
0 – 59 |
F |
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78 – 79 |
C + |
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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
Course Breakdown
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In-class activities |
25% |
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Homework assignments |
25% |
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Midterm exam |
25% |
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Final exam |
25% |
An expanded description of each
follows:
Final Exam: An in-class final exam must be taken in order to receive a
grade in this course. Final exam content is based on material outlined for the
exam (mostly material covered since the Midterm). If you cannot take the exam
due to illness or family emergency, you must inform the instructor in advance
by phone or email. In such situations, you will typically receive an incomplete
grade in the course and arrangements must be made for you to take the final
exam as soon as possible.
Midterm Exam: An in-class midterm examination will be given during
class. There are no makeup exams for this midterm exam. If you cannot take an
exam due to illness or family emergency, you must inform instructor in advance
by phone or email.
The combined average of the midterm and final exams must be a passing grade in
order to pass this course - this is to ensure that you are capable of doing
some work on your own.
Homework Assignments: There will be about 7 homework assignments to be
done outside of class. The purpose of these assignments is to give you
individual, out-of-class practice on the required skills and to explore some
ideas more thoughtfully. The assignments are posted on the course web page or
will be handed out in class. These assignments are called individual because
they must be done individually, not in groups. These assignments are to
be submitted by due date for credit.
In-class Activities: Since these activities are only done in class,
attendance and participation are important. Much of the class time will be
spent working in groups doing exploratory activities that utilize a
collaborative "learn by doing" approach. These will be completed in
class and each person in the group will receive the same grade for the
activity. Each activity must include the name of each group member that
participated in the assignment. In-class activities are to be submitted using
D2L. If you do not complete an activity for a given day and a new activity is
scheduled to be introduced next class period, you should finish your activity
on your own time. This way you will be able to keep up with the class lectures.
Note on late work: Activities are due by the Friday evening of
the week of the activity. Homework assignments are due one week after the day
on which the assignment is posted. This amounts to having one week in which to
do the homework assignment. If for any reason you can't complete the work by
the due date, you can email work directly to instructor with reason for
lateness. Assignments that have to be submitted late will not be accepted more
then 1 (one) week from the due date. Work (in-class activities or homework
assignments) will not be accepted more than 1 week from the due date. Work
emailed later than the 1 week extension will receive a grade of zero.
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 by the end of the
second successive quarter. If such a situation should occur, please inform the
instructor as soon as possible in the quarter. A grade of FX is assigned if the
student quits attending 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 every class
period. Perfect or near-perfect attendance can be advantageous to your final
grade if you are just short of achieving the next higher grade. For example, a
B+ can potentially become an A-.
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:
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 reference.
Weekly Schedule (subject to change,
check weekly)
Week 1: Introduction to course;
introduction to databases, importing spreadsheets into a database
Week 2: Relational databases and
normalization; database queries
Week 3: Database forms; database
reports; switchboard for Access
Week 4: Introduction to descriptive
statics, using SPSS
Week 5: Introduction to probability
and risk
Week 6: Midterm exam, date: Tuesday,
May 6; correlation in statistics
Week 7: Number systems and
logarithms
Week 8: Introduction to algorithms;
Alice 3D
Week 9: VBA code for Excel, coin
toss; compression and security
Week 10: Error detection, correction;
review for Final Exam
Week 11: Final exam: Tuesday, June 10m 2914 from 2:45 - 5:00 pm
As a courtesy to other students and
the instructor - If you must keep your cell phone on, please turn the ringer
off and/or set the phone to vibrate mode. Please limit your entering and
leaving while a lecture is in progress
All of the lectures are available as
D2L documents (PowerPoints). If you wish to print any lecture it is best to
print three slides to a page, saving paper.