Math 37 Realities How I respond to the Myths:

• Reality 1 : This is a General Course. The focus will be on learning how to read numerical discussions, write technical arguments, reason statistically, and interpret computer output. The mathematics is more of a tool to accomplish the above goals. A GE course like this is important since your major will help you get a job but can't help you keep it.
• Reality 2: Anyone is capable of getting a good grade in the course, even if they have struggled with Math courses in the past. One reason is that I grade with lots of partial credit and points for effort. Further, many topics will be covered in a cyclic patter so that you will have several opportunities to work through and practice with each concept. We will also be developing your problem solving skills throughout the course. I am most interested in what you can pull together at the end of the semester.
• Reality 3: The course does require lots of work. To receive partial credit you need to attempt the assignment and I can't this effort heavily towards your final grade. What I find makes Statistics difficult to learn is not the math as much as the language. I advise that you approach the course like you would a foreign language - immerse yourself in the use of the terms. The language and way of thinking in Statistics can make some topics difficult, even if you have done well in math courses in the past
• Reality 4: This course requires continual review and integration of ideas, and understanding of the underlying concepts. You must practice with the language an the ideas independent of the context. This will not be a course of memorizing and following recipes, but comprehending and applying statistical thinking.
• Reality 5: Not in this course. The computer can do the calculations for us, but we need to learn how to tell the computer which method to use and then how to interpret the results from the computer
• Reality 6: a) There are no stupid questions. b) If you have the question, I guarantee that at lest 8 other people have the same question and they will be very grateful that you asked. I have several ways of explaining each concept, so if the first way doesn't work, let's try another.
• Reality 7: Different people will see things differently - I am more interested in your justification of your answers.
• Reality 8: I hope to convince you that it can be quite interesting and that you can't help but use Statistics, whether you are reading journal articles, newspaper articles, or evaluating information. When polled recently, industry executives claimed that the 3 skills they found most lacking in recent college graduates were Statistics, Communication, and Team Work. Ech of these skills will be a focus of this course.