From the first class we're going to zoom along! So you should get a head start before the semester begins. Two main things:
· Figure out the basics of how to use R
This class is meant for students who have a decent
background in basic statistics. In my
experience teaching it, many students don't know if they have a decent
background in basic stats – that's the whole problem.
So I'm going to be giving a diagnostic test about 2 weeks
into the semester that you can take online.
It will only count for 10% of your grade but if you do poorly then I
would encourage you to drop the class.
You can prepare for the test in a very simple way: use the
online Hawkes Learning System, which gives straightforward explanations of each
topic and then allows you to do lots and lots of practice problems, which is
the best way to ensure that you learn those topics. The Hawkes System isn't free (it's $55) but it
seems a reasonable expenditure: if it saves you at least 5 hours of work then,
given recent proposals for a $10/hr minimum wage,
it's worthwhile (your own shadow wage might be higher). Since the review material is available online
you can start going through it from wherever you are, to get a jump before the
semester begins.
I have set up the Hawkes System with recommended practice
sections, although you can explore the other topics – there are lots of stats
concepts that are good to know in general even if they're not absolutely
necessary for this semester.
Then there's a test on the Hawkes System that you can take,
so if you want to get it out of the way early you can do so, or you can wait
until term begins. If you don't want to
use the Hawkes system (and there is a 'try before you buy' option so that you
can make a well-informed decision) you will take a variant of the test once the
term begins. Either way you have to take
the test by midnight (local time) on Sunday September 14, 2014.
To download the software, go to http://www.hawkeslearning.com/– all of the
directions are there. You will be asked
for a "Hawkes Course ID," use CCNYSTAT.
The other way to get started on class work is to download
and install the statistical analysis program R from http://www.r-project.org/.
If you haven't got a computer of your own, the Hawkes
software is available in the CCNY computer lab in NAC 6-150. The R program is also available there.
You might find these useful:
Basics of R software and
video version