• You are expected to struggle through some complicated ideas with classmates and on your own to make more meaningful connections and synthesize ideas.  
• You are expected to work with real-world scenarios and data, which means the numbers get messy.  
• You are expected to talk with other students about your ideas and listen carefully to their ideas so you can learn to think through all kinds of different math problems.  
• You are expected to spend a lot of time thinking more deeply about mathematical ideas, and to write about your thought process.  
• You are expected to think through a problem and apply your knowledge to problems that you have never seen before.

Grade Components

Grading Scale

A: 90 - 100

B: 80 – 89

C: 70 – 79

D: 60 – 69

F: < 60

Where can I find my grades?

Grades will be posted in Blackboard.

What will we do in this class?

Exams: There will be four exams given in a proctored setting during class time or in the Testing Center. 

Quizzes: You will be expected to complete take-home quizzes that will include questions over several sections we covered in class.  The purpose of these assignments is to assess your understanding of the material and to provide you feedback on your use of mathematical language and notation BEFORE you take an Exam.  The questions on the quizzes are the same format as the exams.

Homework: You will be expected to complete homework problems for each section in the course. 

You will be expected to complete online homework in this course.  Your experience with MyLab Stat will depend on the effort you put into it.  Because how you are thinking about the mathematics is just as important as getting the “right answer,” there are several questions in MyLab Stat that model the language we expect to see on your written work.  Rather than focusing on getting the "right answer", you will get the most benefit from your MyLab Stat HW if you pay careful attention to the language used in the fill-in-the-blanks and multiple-choice items so you know how to explain processes and justify answers on your take-home quizzes and exams.

Group work/Participation: You are going to interact with each other quite a bit and talk to each other about math. There will be group activities every day in class.  You are expected to be an active participant and contribute to the discussion of the problems on the group activities.  Though you will be working with other students, everyone will record the work on their own paper.  These will be your notes you will use to complete homework assignments, so you need to ask questions and make sure you understand the ideas in the activity.  

I know that some of you do not like to talk in class and others of you like to talk a lot. So, we will follow a couple of easy rules. We give everyone a chance to talk. We respond to whatever anyone says with respect. We are concerned here about concepts that will help you succeed in your college-level math courses and ultimately achieve your academic goals. You are all in the same boat; I expect that students in this class will support each other and be respectful when working together.

What happens if I miss something?

Dropped Grade Policy:  Even if you are absent, you are expected to turn in all assignments on time.  You should email the assignment to me. However, it won’t be graded until I receive the hard copy of it. One quiz grade and three homework grades  will be dropped from your average to account for the occasional week when other “life” things come up. 

Late Work Policy:  Late assignments are not acceptable. If you are missing school due to any circumstances, you should email me your assignment on time to avoid the penalty. However, your assignment will not be graded until I receive the hard copy of it.   

Missed Exam Policy: If you have to miss an exam, you must inform me via email and take the test within the provided window in the testing center. Failure to notifying me results a zero on the test and no make- up opportunity.

Attendance: Attendance is required in this course.  Being more than 10 minutes late will count as an absence.  Cutting out early without prior notification will count as an absence.  Leaving more than 10 minutes early, even with prior notification, will count as an absence. Students who miss 3 or more classes may be withdrawn without warning. TSI-mandated students who have excessive absences will be withdrawn.

In the event the college or campus closes due to unforeseen circumstances (for example, severe weather or other emergency), the student is responsible for communicating with their professor during the closure and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their professor as a result of class sessions being missed.

Class Participation Expectations:

1. You are expected to come to class on time and participate in class activities and discussions.
2. No headphone/computer while you are in class.
3. Cell phones should not be visible while you are in class.
4. Respect each other.
5. To avoid distractions, 1- 2 Short breaks will be provided during class time. These break(s) can be used for taking care of your personal needs. (Restroom, …)
6. All written assignments must be turned in during the first 10 minutes of class.

What AI Resources are allowed?

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) Policy: Generative AI (GAI) is a useful tool for exploration and learning. Use of GAI on unproctored work such as homework and independent learning is permitted, but caution is advised as not to become dependent on it. The purpose of assessments is to demonstrate what students are able to do independently. In this course, GAI includes Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) and any electronic tools that solve problems for students. Violations to GAI use policies are considered scholastic dishonesty and will be handled according to established departmental and college procedures. GAI may not be used on major assessments other than in cases where permissions are explicitly stated. However, if the approach to the problem is not what is discussed in class, student MUST be able to explain the method and why they chose it.

This is a First Day™ class. The cost of the required statistics textbook, including an online version of the textbook and software access, has been added to your tuition and fees bill.   

Statistics Textbook: Introductory Statistics: Exploring the World Through Data, 4th Edition, by Gould, Ryan, & Wong. Pearson Publishing (with MyLab software) 

Additional Textbook:  Developing Mathematical Thinking.  This is a free textbook compiled by the math faculty at Austin Community College using various Open Educational Resources (OER).

Supplemental Materials:  Scientific Calculator, Graphing Paper

Course Calendar

Note: Schedule changes may occur during the semester. Any changes will be announced in class and posted as a Blackboard Announcement. 

Upon successful completion of the course, a student should be able to:

1. Use formulas and/or order of operations to solve problems for a variety of models, such as temperature, regression, exponential, or finance models.
2. Explain and justify answers based on an understanding of mathematical properties and rules.
3. Estimate answers and evaluate the reasonableness of answers to application problems. 
4. Solve problems involving fractions, decimals, and percents, including percents based in two-way tables.
5. Apply fundamental probability/counting techniques to solve problems.
6. Convert between various units of measurement. 
7. Use patterns and diagrams to count objects in a set.
8. Analyze statistical studies.
9. Describe, graph, organize, and analyze quantitative and categorical data.  
10. Calculate and interpret measures of center and variation for statistical data.
11. Analyze relationships and make predictions with statistical data.
12. Identify and interpret linear and exponential patterns of change for multiple representations.

These course objectives illustrate that this course is not an algebra course as are most developmental mathematics courses. It is a course about thinking and using mathematics. There is some algebra in the course, but algebra is not the predominant topic or the focus of the course.