Syllabus and Course Details

APMA 1650 - Spring 2021

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This page constitutes the official syllabus and course policy.


Course Information

Instructor: Sam Punshon-Smith
Email: punshs@brown.edu (please contact through Campuswire if possible)
Synchronous Meeting Time: MWF 11-11:50am via Zoom (through Canvas)
Course Webpage: https://www.dam.brown.edu/people/spsmith/APMA1650-spring21


Description

APMA 1650 begins an integrated first course in mathematical statistics. The first half of APMA 1650 covers probability and the last half is statistics, integrated with its probabilistic foundation. Specific topics include probability, discrete and continuous random variables, methods for parameter estimation, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing.

For a detailed outline of the course topics by week, see the course schedule page.


Learning Objectives

  • Learn the fundamentals of probability theory
  • Learn basic mathematical techniques of classical statistical inference and parameter estimation
  • Develop basic data literacy, and learn what can and can't be inferred from certain statistics
  • Develop probabilistic and statistical intuition to aid in conducting research
  • Develop a foundation in statistics to more easily understand more complicated statistical methods
  • Learn how to monitor and evaluate your own understanding of mathematical and statistical concepts

Prerequisites

Students are expected to be fluent in single variable calculus and are required to have taken one of the following courses or their equivalents:

Some exposure to multivariable calculus, while note required, is very helpful. It is strongly recommended you read Pauls Online notes on multiple integrals in the resources section of the webpage.

A minimum score of 4 in 'AP Calculus BC' or minimum score of WAIVE in 'Graduate Student PreReq' is also sufficient.


Required Material

We will be using the following source material for assigned reading:


Required Technology

There will be number of "technologies" that will be using

Zoom

We will be using Zoom for course video/audio communication during synchronous meetings and office hours. This requires a stable internet connection and computer/mobile device with a microphone and camera. If you haven't already (highly unlikely at this point) you must download Zoom on a device with a webcam and microphone. Please see this for more information on getting set up on Zoom.

Gradescope

Homeworks and Exams will all be assigned administered, collected and graded through Gradscope. You will be automatically registered for Gradscope via Canvas (please access Gradescope for the first time through the Gradescope tab in Canvas). Grades will be synced with Canvas.

Campuswire

We will be using Campuswire, a free browser based communication forum, for all course communication. You will be expected to sign-up via a registration link sent through Canvas. Please see the Communication and Help section below for more details.

Course Webpage

The course webpage will be the central information point in the class. It will contain the most up-to-date versions of the syllabus, weekly course schedule, office hours schedule, homework assignments and solutions, notes and supplementary resources. You will need a modern, up-to-date browser with javascript enabled to take full advantage of the material on the webpage.

Canvas

Canvas will be used to keep track of grades, assignments, and view recorded lectures. Important time-sensitive announcements may also be made through Canvas in addition to Campuswire.

Google Jamboard

We will often use Google Jamboard for writing and sharing mathematics during office hours and review sessions. For those students who have a tablet (not required), it is a particularly useful way to collaborate and have a two way mathematical conversation


Course Logistics

Synchronous Lectures

Synchronous lectures will be a major component of the class. There will be three synchronous lectures a week on MWF 11am-11:50am via Zoom. The Zoom link to the meetings can be found in the Zoom tab of Canvas. Meetings will be automatically recorded and will be available via Canvas. Meetings will typically be in a standard lecture format, but may incorporate interactive components, including live polls, breakout rooms and silent discussions. While not required, lecture attendance it strongly encouraged. From past experience, skipping synchronous lectures and cramming the recorded lectures (while tempting) will lead to superficial understanding poor retention and overall sub-par course performance.

Conference Sections

Students will be expected to self-sign-up for conference sections for weekly group discussion/problem sessions on Thursday's for 1 hr. The discussions will be randomly assigned to groups of 3/4 each and students are expected to meet during that allotted time to complete the assigned task.

Time expectations

Students are expected to spend 3 hours a week on synchronous lectures, in addition to 3 hours a week on assigned course readings, 1 hour on group discussions, and 5-6 hours a week on homework assignments and reading quizzes.


Communication and help

Campuswire

We will be using Campuswire for all course communication and discussion. You can use it to ask questions about course content, assignments or general logistics. You can post publicly (anonymously to other students if you wish) to the entire class, or privately to the course staff. Please refrain from posting publicly about specific assignment problems. Public posts can be answered by anyone, including students. If you feel like a question might be of interest to students in the class we encourage you to post it publicly (kind of like asking a question in class). Students are also encouraged to answer each other's posts and to upvote solutions that are useful. To save effort on the part of the staff, please check if your question (or a similar one) has been asked already before posting.

Office hours

Zoom will be used to hold office hours with myself and TAs

The office hours will be posted to the Google calendar for office hours. You can either use the embedded calendar on the office hours section of the course homepage, or add the calendar to your own Google calendar (if you use it). The Zoom links to the office hours will be accessible through Canvas.

If you require a private audience to discuss personal matters or concerns about your performance in the course, you may request a personal 30min meeting with the instructor by request (this is for special circumstances only).


Homework

There will be weekly homework assignments assigned on Gradescope and on the assignments page. Due dates will also appear on the course schedule page and Canvas.

How to submit your homework

The assignments must be submitted through Gradescope by scanning, photographing or typing assignments (see this page for more details on how to submit to Gradescope). The assignments are due by 11:59PM (EST) on the due date given unless noted otherwise. Please do not submit at the last minute in case you run into technical troubles.

Late Homework

A late homework extension window will be available on Gradescope for 24 hours after the homework deadline to account for technical problems. Students who submit the assignment during the extension window will automatically receive a 10pt deduction without proper explanation. If you experience technical problems, you must communicate this as soon as possible via Campuswire. If you don't communicate the problem, the assignment will receive a penalty or not be accepted depending on the extent of the tardiness. Myself or TA can also submit assignments on your behalf if Gradescope is misbehaving.

If you are unable to complete a homework assignment before the due date and don't have a valid excuse, it is recommended that you turn is as much as you can or take the 10pt penalty by turning it in late. Your lowest homework score will be dropped at the end of the semester.

If you have another serious excuse for turning in an assignment late, you must contact me directly. In the event of internet failure, assignment extensions will be considered depending on severity of the problem. If you have poor internet and expect there to be problems you must communicate this in advance.

Students are encouraged to work together but must independently write up their own solutions. Students who are suspected of copying part of an assignment will receive a zero on the assignment and may be referred to the Case Administrator of the Academic Code. See the Academic Code section below for more information on the Brown's academic integrity policy.


Quizzes

Weekly quizzes will be given on Canvas to test for reading comprehension. They will be based on required reading material for the week.

The quizzes will be assigned at the beginning of the week and will be available to complete until Friday 11:59pm (unless otherwise specified).


Group Assignments

Throughout the semester, there will be 3 or 4 group/discussion assignments to reflect and review material. You will be expected to meet with an assigned group of 3-4 students during your agreed upon conference section time on a Thursday (a poll will be given to determine available times). You will be expected to provide written explanations and summaries for the questions asked as a group. The responses will be graded based on participation and depth of discussion.


Midterms and Final

The course has two midterm exams and one comprehensive final exam given through Gradescope on the dates listed in the course schedule.

The midterms and final exams will be open-notes/textbook and administered in Gradescope. More information will be made available before the exam.

The use of online resources (other than course notes and the textbook) or communicating with other students during an exam will be considered a gross violation of Brown's Academic code. Such violations seriously undermine the integrity of the remote learning process, and will be treated severely.

Make-up exams will be given only in the event of a legitimate excused absence. In the case of a planned excused absence you must notify me a minimum of three days before the exam. Any personal or health circumstances must be accompanied by a Dean's Support note. Note that missing an exam in order to gain an advantage is considered a violation of Brown's Academic Code and will be treated as such.

Per faculty rules, the Office of the Dean of the College is solely responsible for determining whether a student's absence from a final examination is excused.


Grading and Regrades

Grading of both exams and homeworks will take place through Gradescope by the TAs. Graded assignments will be available to view on Gradescope after grading in completed.

Assignments will have a regrade period where you can submit your assignment through Gradescope for a regrade. Mistakes will be corrected promptly. Students who disagree with the grading may be denied a regrade request. Regrades will not be considered if you miss the regrade window.



Final grade determination

The breakdown and percentages for all graded materials are described in the following table:

Category Percentage
Homeworks 35%
Reading Quizzes 10%
Group Assignments 10%
Midterms 25%
Final Exam 20%
Total 100%

In accordance with Brown's grading system, ABC/NC or S/NC grades will be tentatively assigned based on the following cutoffs.

Percentage Grade
90%-100% A S
75%-89% B
60%-74% C
< 60% NC NC

Academic Code

Students are expected to adhere to Brown's Academic code.

Students who submit academic work that uses others’ ideas, words, research, or images without proper attribution and documentation are in violation of the academic code. Infringement of the academic code entails penalties ranging from reprimand to suspension, dismissal, or expulsion from the University.

If any of the work is done jointly or if any part of the analysis is made by anyone other than the writer, acknowledgment of this fact must be made in the assignment submitted.

In writing examinations and quizzes, the student is required to respond entirely on the basis of his or her own memory and capacity, without any assistance whatsoever except such as is specifically authorized by the instructor. Cheating on examinations and quizzes can take the forms listed below. The list is not exhaustive.

  • Engaging in other actions that undermine equity and reduce the objectivity of evaluation of student work
  • Using Chegg or communicating with other students during an examination
  • Having another person take an examination in one’s own name
  • Using unauthorized materials from which one gains unfair assistance during an exam
  • Appropriating an exam or exam materials without authorization
  • Missing an exam in order to gain an advantage
  • Copying other students’ work during an examination
  • Engaging in collaboration or unauthorized assistance on take-home examinations or assignments

Students who are suspected of violating the Academic Code will may be reported to the Case Administrator of the Academic Code.

Student Accommodations

We are committed to assisting anyone who requires special accommodations. Extra time can be requested for those students who require it, after the appropriate documentation. Reduced distraction spaces are, naturally, the responsibility of those who are taking the exam.

For more information contact Student and Employee Accessibility Services at 401-863-9588 or SEAS@brown.edu.

Creative Commons License - 2021