Start to learn statistics

This page describes how to start learning statistics if you are enrolled in Mary Parker's ACC Distance Learning MATH 1342 class.

The course materials include LaunchPad/text and separate statistical software. Free trial periods of both are available, as described here.

You'll need to get into the LaunchPad course to start reading the book/viewing videos. That course is available approximately three weeks before classes begin. Follow this link to see how to sign up for LaunchPad.

If you're looking at this before the class begins, you would probably enjoy reading Chapters 0 and 10 first. These are both "overview" chapters about statistics and most students find them quite interesting. You can read them without trying to memorize things, etc. Read them as you would an essay online or a newspaper article. While there are exercises, these chapters are not emphasized on tests because the material is not material that is easily "testable."

When you're ready to start thinking about the course, work on the chapters in this order:

Chapter 0

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 1

etc.

Find the numbered exercises at the ends of each section of the book (approximately the first fifteen per chapter) and at the end of the chapter. Look at the homework assignments. Read the problems and use those as a guide for what you are expected to learn. Find the solutions to the odd-numbered exercises right after the exercise in the online book and at the end of the book in the printed copy. You know by now that you aren't turning in homework for a grade, but keep track of your work on it because that will help you with the weekly quizzes.

When you have questions, ask and answer questions about these on the Blackboard Discussion Board forums (after the course begins or maybe a few days before. This discussion is an important part of the course.

Statistical software:

You will not need to purchase anything extra nor install anything on your computer. We will use some softer that is freely available on the web and some software that is available in LaunchPad.

This website describes how we will use statistical software: https://sites.google.com/a/austincc.edu/mp-stat-sw/

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How do you keep from getting "stuck?" Read about our "five-minute rule." View Download

Since you can't really start discussion much before the course begins, just keep track of your questions and read / view the material "lightly" - to get the overall idea. Start using the Disc Board no earlier than a week before classes begin.

Fill out the Orientation form from within Blackboard sometime in the week before class begins.