From the first class we're going to zoom along! So you should get a head start before the semester begins. Two main things:
- Review basic stats with Hawkes (on their webpage)
- Figure out the basics of how to use R ("R Basics for Lecture 1" from class page)
Find these at "Preliminaries" from the course page,
http://kfoster.ccny.cuny.edu/classes/fall2017/
Why? Because soon after term begins, there is a diagnostic test on Hawkes that reviews your stats background, so you should do #1 to get working on that. And first class begins using R so you should begin learning your way around that program. Look at HW#1 to get an idea of what you have to do right at the beginning.
Recommended to do before class begins:
- Review lecture notes up to p. 50 (Lecture 1 slides/video covers pp 30-50)
- Read R Basics for Lecture 1, since this is what we'll do in the first class
Might do before class, particularly if you are considering data analytics as career:
- Learn basic programming in R – if you look at the first homework assignment, you'll see that it requires some basic work with R. Get a head start. Maybe read Hadley Wickham, R for Data Science.
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 a few weeks into the semester that you can take online. The online material also lets you review since I know many students haven't done stats in a while and have to do some mental archeology. The diagnostic test will only count for 10% of your grade but if you do poorly then I would encourage you to drop the class and take some review classes.
Students are required to purchase access to the online Hawkes Learning System in order to take the test. This system 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. For that, go here, https://learn.hawkeslearning.com. Enter your school (listed as "CUNY - The City College of New York") and find "Beginning Statistics".
You should begin reviewing early. A past student noted, "That was my biggest mistake: I got your summer email but put it off and got behind at the beginning of the term!" Learn from other people's mistakes and do the practice problems before the semester begins.
I have set up the Hawkes System with recommended practice sections (Chapters 3-11 are the essentials), 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.
You will take the diagnostic test on the Hawkes System any time after July 31, so if you want to get it out of the way early you can do so, or you can wait until term. Either way you have to take the test by midnight (local time) on Monday September 18, 2017.
There are 2 additional practice exams – these are timed but you can take them an unlimited number of times. Your score will be recorded but won't count toward the grade so this is where you can make your mistakes. Practice #1 is a bit easier; Practice #2 is tougher than the actual diagnostic test.
You have only one chance to take the diagnostic test before the deadline so find a time when you have 120 minutes clear to complete it.
If you want more practice, note that each chapter has an option to do practice problems and certifications – take advantage of these! There is a strong positive correlation between time spent practicing and final score.
To begin go to https://learn.hawkeslearning.com – all of the directions are there. If you don't have your own computer you can use one in the computer labs on campus.
Once you're learning basic stats, the other way to get started on class work is to download and install (free!) the statistical analysis program R from http://www.r-project.org/ along with R-Studio http://www.rstudio.com/. If you haven't got a computer of your own, the CCNY computer labs have those programs installed.
My directions about using R are available from the class web page, “R Basics for Lecture 1”