Carol Lanfear
Temporary Instructor
Mathematics Department
Central Michigan University

                   Office:  PE 324A
                   Phone:  774-3920
                   Email:  Carol.Lanfear@cmich.edu

 

teach is
touch lives
______ 

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MTH 554 Probability and Statistics for Elementary and Middle School Teachers 3(3-0) D
Examines experimental probability and statistics suitable for elementary and middle school.  Data gathering, organizing and presenting.  Credit will not apply toward Master's degree in mathematics.  Prerequisites:  MTH 107, 152


 
 

Grading Policies:
 
 
90 - 100 % A-, A 15 % Homework (No late Homework, please)
80 - 89 % B-, B, B+ 85 % Tests
70 - 79 % C-, C, C+ Quizzes
60 - 69 % D-, D, D+ Projects
0 - 59 % E Comprehensive Final exam

 
 


 
 
 

Tentative Test Schedule for Spring, 2002     (No calculators with C.A.S. allowed on tests--eg. TI 92 or 89)
 
 
 
Short Test Long Test Short Test Long Test Short Test Final Exam
Jan. 30, 31 Feb. 20, 21 Mar. 20, 21 April 10, 11 April 24, 25 Monday, April 29: 10 - 12 am

 
 

Testing Policies:

Reviewing is YOUR responsibility.
NO make-up tests without an excused absence.  This is YOUR responsibility.
Make-up tests will be oral (and to be avoided at all costs).
The Final Exam will be given in the regular classroom.
 
 
 


 
 
 
Tentative Assignments for Spring, 2002
 

MTH 554 M&M Project

MTH 554 Rainfall Project

MTH 554 Unit:  Data

MTH 554 Unit:  Simulations

MTH 554 Unit:  Probability

MTH 554 Unit:  Sampling

MTH 554 Unit:  Distributions

MTH 554 Final Exam Review
 

Articles to Read for Spring, 2002
 

Reading Statistics

Applications of Statistics and Probability to Genetics

God Created the First Teacher

Lying  Statistics
 


 


 
 

Projects for Spring, 2002
 

1.   Learning Styles Analysis:   (OMIT this project for spring, 2002--the class is just too large)

 You will read The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias  and write an analysis of yourself and one other person in terms of the learning styles presented in the book.    Be sure to include all the learning style categories (there are three categories presented in the book--1.  CR/ CS/ AR/ AS    2.  visual/auditory/kenesthetic   3.  global/analytic) in your analysis.  The book is on reserve at  the library or available at Cook’s  611 N. Mission or Mountain Town Distributors 2150 Enterprise Dr.  This will be due around Midterm.
 

2.  Statistics Journal:

 You will keep a statistics journal with 15 entries which shows the uses of statistics and probability in the media.  Include xeroxed copies if taken from a printed source like a book which you don't wish to cut up.  Explain and critique each journal entry as to whether the statistics were used appropriately or not.   Your critique should reflect what was discussed in the book How to Lie with Statistics, but need not be limited to those ideas.  A short paragraph is usually sufficient.  Use no more than 3 from each type of media and  don't use the same statistic presented in more than one  media. (e.g.. If the big news for the day is that 35 % of senators cheated on their income tax, don't use the lead article, the comic spoof, the radio commentary and the TV commentary as 4 journal entries.)  Note:  A listing of sports scores or stock prices doesn't work well, so avoid them.  No articles from Glamour or similar magazines.  Please type your critiques and place them next to the statistic you are discussing.  There should be no loose articles.  If you choose to use the internet as a source, you can only use three, regardless of whether the article is a book, newspaper or journal online.  Examples of types of media are:  books, professional journals, magazines, newspapers, comics, pamphlets, fliers, TV, radio, internet.  This will be due near the end of the semester.
 

3.  Survey:

 You will also do a group project where your group designs a questionnaire, collects data, organizes the data, and gives an oral report of its findings to the class.  The topics must be of such a nature that you would feel comfortable asking your grandmother the survey questions.  The oral reports will be during the last few class periods and take 10 minutes each.  Click here to view survey rules.
 

4.  M&M project:

 This is an ongoing project whose parts will be assigned in class.  Be sure to do each assigned part right after it is assigned or you may get behind.  Updates will be posted on the M&M project web site above.  Be sure to show all calculations.
 

5.  Rainfall project:

 This is an ongoing project whose parts will be assigned in class.  Be sure to do each assigned part right after it is assigned or you may get behind.  Updates will be posted on the Rainfall project web site above.  Be sure to show all calculations.