Stat 5810 - Web-Based Statistics (Summer 2000) - Draft Syllabus

Instructor:

Text:

Classes:

Room:

Credits:

Course Objectives:

• We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of Web-only statistical journals, e.g.,
  JSS: http://www.stat.ucla.edu/journals/jss/
  and
  JSE: http://www.amstat.org/publications/jse/.
  
  
• We compare Web-based statistical software, e.g.,
  XploRe: http://www.xplore-stat.de/
  and
  Statlets: http://www.statlets.com/
  with standard statistical software packages.
  
  
• We explore Web-based tools for the classroom such as
  the GASP initiative: http://www.stat.sc.edu/rsrch/gasp/.
  
  
• We look at electronic textbooks such as
  HyperStat http://davidmlane.com/hyperstat/index.html
  that are freely available on the Web.
  
  
• We discuss papers that describe experiences of using the Web in the classroom (up to the extreme situation where students were not even allowed to bring a pen into the classroom and everything from homeworks to exams to notetaking had to be done electronically), see how major Government agencies such as Census or BLS use the Web to distribute and collect data, and see how the Web changes our everyday life (recall that USU grades must be turned in using a Web browser starting with the Spring 2000 semester and that research proposals for the NSF must be submitted through their Web page).
  
  
• This course should be of equal interest to undergraduate students, graduate students, teachers outside the university, and university professors - from majors such as Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Education, Administrative Sciences, Natural Resources, and related fields. Everybody else who is interested in the Web is also invited to attend.
  
  

Course Requirements:

• Prerequirements: Participants should be able to use a computer and be somewhat familiar with the Web and have some background at the undergraduate level in Statistics (e.g., Stat 2000 or Stat 3000). There is no knowledge required on Web-page construction (nor will this be taught in this class).
  
  
• Class Attendance: You are responsible for all material that has been assigned as required reading or to be explored on the Web, presented in the lecture, or explored on the Web during class time.
  
  
• Grading: There will be no "regular" homeworks and exams in this class. Instead, students have to surf the Web (and get credit for this :-), find new statistical sources on the Web, and present their results in class. Grades will be given based on these presentations and underlying written reports.
  
  
• 3 Credit Option: In addition to the presentations and written reports, you have to work on an extended project that hopefully will lead to a (conference proceedings) paper. Possible topics for this project/paper are the numerical performance of statistical packages on the Web or the comparative evaluation of Web-based teaching tools. We will decide which topic(s) to pursue once it is clear how many people will select the 3 credit option. Due to the extra amount of work required for the 3 credit option, I assume that the work for this project may slightly stretch beyond the end of the first summer session into early June.
  
  
• Other Requirements: Due to the condensed format of this course (we meet 4 times per week over a 4 week period), you should be able to spend another 1 to 3 hours per day on this class (e.g., working on the Web, writing reports) in addition to each of the 16 lectures. Several projects will be group projects of 4 or 5 students that will be due within 5 to 7 days after they have been assigned. You should be prepared to meet as a group during the evenings or on weekends if individual work schedules do not allow to meet as a group during daytime.
  
  
• Disabilities: If a student has a disability that will likely require some accommodation by the instructor, the student must contact the instructor and document the disability through the Disability Resource Center, preferably during the first week of the course. Any requests for special considerations relating to attendance, pedagogy, taking of examinations, etc. must be discussed with and approved by the instructor. In cooperation with the Disability Resource Center, course materials may be provided in alternative formats - large print, audio, diskette or Braille.