AP  Statistics 

On-Line for 2010-2011 School Year

Teacher: Carole Matheny

Email: carolemath@atlanticbb.net

Course Fee: $450 for course (includes 2 full semesters); course materials are additional. 

The Application: Click HERE to download the registration form as an MS Word document. If you are unable to open MS Word documents or if you have trouble with the application, please e-mail me.

Materials Required:

1.      The Practice of Statistics, Yates, Daniel S., Moore, David S., and Starnes, Daren S. (2003) Second Edition. New York: W.H. Freeman and Co. ISBN 0716747731.

 

2.      The Student Guide to Minitab Release 14 and Minitab Student Version Release 14 Statistical Software (Book and CD), McKenzie, John D., and Goldman, Robert. ISBN 0-201-77469-0 or 0-201-39715-3. 

 

3.      2007 & 2002 AP Stat College Board Released exam. (These books are purchased in bulk by Mrs. Matheny and then repurchased by the students in March 2011, $10)

 

Technical Requirements:

  • Computer, internet access, e-mail capability
  • Scanner to send handwritten material via e-mail attachments as a PDF files
  • Graphing calculator – TI 83, TI-84, TI-89 or TI-nspire suggested

Who can apply:

This class is open to homeschooled students who will be in 9th - 12th grades during the 2010-2011 school year and have successfully completed Algebra 2

Who Should Apply: 

Statistics is a great option for many students. Arthur Benjamin, a Mathematician at Harvey Mudd College, recently spoke on how we need to change math education to include statistics for every high school student. You can hear his talk at ted.com:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/arthur_benjamin_s_formula_for_changing_math_education.html  Statistics is the most widely applicable branch of mathematics and is used by more people than any other kind of math. 

For students not headed into a math- or science-related major, statistics is a useful and practical topic in today's society and some argue that these students are better served by taking statistics than calculus. The course does not depend heavily on advanced mathematical computation but rather you are asked to explore and explain concepts and interpret results with the help of hands-on investigations and technology to lower the drudgery of computation.

AP Statistics is also a great option for students headed to a math- or science-related major, and are looking for another math course before graduation. 

AP Statistics allows students who would otherwise not take a mathematics course in their senior year to continue to develop their quantitative and critical thinking skills. 

The class is meant for those who fully intend to take the AP Statistics Exam.

Class description:

AP Statistics is colleges level introductory course in statistics in which students will learn how to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data.  Students are exposed to four broad conceptual themes:

  1. Exploring Data
    Students collect and examine data and display the patterns that emerge. Data from students in class as well as real world data sets are gathered and used to illustrate concepts.

 

  1. Producing Models Using Probability and Simulation
    Students learn to anticipate patterns and produce models for prediction. Students use simulations to model situations that are not practical to replicate using other methods.

 

  1. Experimental Design
    Students design appropriate experiments in order to draw conclusions that can be generalized to the population of interest. Students will also interpret studies and experiments to determine whether the conclusions from the studies warrant consideration.

 

  1. Statistical Inference
    Students learn what can be generalized about the population. Students also consider how to investigate research questions, design a study, and interpret the results.

The class day begins with a Daily Message posting, which expounds on statistical concepts along with the day’s focus. On a daily basis we read a few pages from our text, apply the new concepts to some problems and test our knowledge through multiple choice questions. Throughout the course we have hands-on data collection assignments where we learn to apply what we are learning to real data. These assignments never require the student to survey their neighbors or strangers and can always be done from within the home. At the end of every chapter the student has a multiple choice exam and a Free-Response component that develops our ability to “pull it all together.”

Students are encouraged to ask questions of their peers and of me on our communication board.  The students utilize the online discussion boards to interact with classmates, to post any questions they have from the reading material and homework assignments, to answer classmates questions and most importantly to discuss the interpretation of our  results. In addition I am available for IM chats via AIM, Facebook and Windows Live.

Students should expect to spend one to two hours per day on the course. Some will spend less time than that while other students spend closer to the 2 hours a day estimate.  

Computers and calculators are an essential part of statistics and allow students to focus deeply on the concepts involved in statistics.  As such we will utilize them throughout the course.

Hours of study each week:

Approximately 5-12 hours per week. The wide range takes into account the wide range in student skills. Some concepts are difficult for some students to grasp requiring additional study time. The class meets asynchronously allowing students to do their studying within their schedule. On most school days the Daily message is posted before midnight EST for the following school day’s work.  I do accommodate student travel plans and special events. The class schedule is posted permitting students to work ahead.

The class will begin on August 30, 2010.

Instructor Qualifications:

I earned a BS and MS in Ceramic Engineering from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Clark University in Worcester, MA. Prior to homeschooling , I worked full-time for twenty years as a Research Engineer in Research & Development and as a Manager of Engineering in manufacturing. In addition, I hold five US Patents. During those years I found statistical methods to be a very valuable tool and an intricate part of my work life. While in Worcester, MA, I was an adjunct professor for several years teaching both Statistics, and Production & Operations Management at both Assumption College and Anna Maria College. For the past thirteen years I have been a home schooling mom to my two sons, ages 18 and 14.  This will be my third year teaching AP Statistics on-line through PA Homeschoolers. I’m looking forward to this coming year!

 

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