Stress-Free Statistics: IBDP/AP and College Students Part 1

Statistics for IBDP and AP Students: Stress-Free Statistics Learning - Mini-Course 1

There are five Mini-Courses in this series. You can take all 5 mini-courses or you can pick and choose the ones that best suit your needs. You are currently in Mini-Course 1. The topics are: The Purpose of Statistics and Descriptive Methods

This course is for college students and IBDP/AP students. Also parents of secondary students in AP and IBDP programs will love this course. As you know, AP and IBDP statistics credentials will give your student leverage in the college admissions horse race. This course will give them a leg up on the competition. The course has a proven track record for opening the gate to great success.

It will also improve your student’s chances for earning a scholarship. I know that you are devoted to your student and that you give them the very best resources to launch them on a trajectory for success. Some students have math-anxiety; they may not feel confident about passing the statistics exams. This course will calm their fears and it will calm your fears. It is a powerful tool that will help you supervise their learning to obtain honors that will make the whole family proud. Those under 18 may use the services only if a parent or guardian opens their account, handles any enrollments, and manages their account usage. This course is intended for purchase by adults only.

Description of Mini-Course 1

This 18-lesson course includes video and text explanations of the purpose of statistics, using the Right Angle Research Alignment (RARA) Table to organize your research project, using the Right Angle a la Carte (RALA) Table to help you pick just the right statistical tool for your needs, and descriptive statistical methods. It includes practice problems, quizzes and exam questions (with solutions) to help students monitor their understanding at each step along the way. Lessons are short and tight and easy to digest. You can use this curriculum as a stand-alone course or as a supplement to any statistics courses you are currently taking. This course will help you master statistics. It was designed specifically for humanities majors in college or in secondary school AP and IBDP classes.

Created by Dr. Laura Roberts, Ph.D.

What you will learn in Mini-Course 1:

1. You will be able to explain why statistics are useful in scientific inquiry and the basics for setting up their study.

2. You will be able to craft different types of research questions for variables of different types.

3. You will know which statistical test is right for their particular set of variables

4. You will know how to align research questions with data sources (i.e. the variables in the study).

Myth-Busting! Demystifying Statistics

In each of the five Mini-Courses, I will present some of the myths that cause students to hate statistics. I will then demystify the myths and help you see statistics in a new and different light.

Mini-Course 1 - This Stress-Free Statistics course presents statistics in a new and different way.

Myth 1. Statistics are mechanical, rigid, and inflexible. In the past you may have learned statistics this way, leaving you feeling overwhelmed and anxious. You may feel you’re slogging through the assignments, just going through the motions. You may be wondering why you took the course to begin with. But the truth is that statistics are flexible and you can use your creativity to find ways to answer your research questions. There are many different ways to analyze a set of numbers. In this course, you will be able to peek behind the curtain to see how they work. By understanding how the tests work, you will be able to see that there are lots of different ways to analyze a set of numbers and you are not locked into just one way.

Myth 2. Statistics are more complex than they need to be. In truth, statistics are often presented in overly complicated ways. For example, students often struggle to pick the correct statistical test for their research problem. In this course, I will boil it down to some simple choices and you can easily find a match between your data and a particular test.

English

Syllabus: Mini-Course 1 is in bold font.

Mini-Course 1 - The Purpose of Statistics and Descriptive Methods (4.5 hours of video lectures)

Chapter 1 – The Purpose of Statistics

Chapter 2 – Cases, Variables, and Questions

Chapter 3 – Frequency Distributions and Visual Displays of Data

Chapter 4 – Measures of Central Tendency

Chapter 5 – Measures of Variability

Mini-Course 2 - Normal Distribution, Standard Scores, and the Bivariate Normal Distribution (3 hours of video lectures)

Chapter 6 – The Normal Distribution and Standard Scores

Chapter 7 – The Bivariate Normal Distribution

Mini-Course 3 - Regression, Prediction, Probability, Sampling, and Interval Estimation (4.5 hours of video lectures)

Chapter 8 – Regression and Prediction

Chapter 9 – Probability

Chapter 10 – Statistical Inference

Mini-Course 4 - Introduction to Hypothesis Testing (3.3 hours of video lectures)

Chapter 11 – Introduction to Hypothesis Testing

Mini-Course 5 - Estimation issues, the t-distribution, Degrees of Freedom, t-tables, Statistics for Categorical Dependent Variables, and Inferences about Correlation Coefficients (3.25 hours of video lectures)

Chapter 12 – Estimation Issues and the t Distribution

Chapter 13 – Statistics for Categorical Dependent Variables

Chapter 14 – Inferences about Correlations and Fisher’s Z Transformation

The chapters are aligned with those in the following text:

Glass, G. V. & Hopkins, K. D. (1996). Statistical Methods in Education and Psychology. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon

You may enroll for the entire course or pick and choose among the 5 Mini-Courses, depending on your needs.

The entire course includes

· 17+ hours of on-demand video

· 68+ powerpoint presentations including notes/transcripts

· Over 100 quiz and exam questions plus answer keys and explanations!

· 100+ downloadable resources

· Access on mobile and TV

Designed for non-math majors and non-STEM majors, arts, humanities, liberal arts, EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP STUDENTS, education majors, and nursing students seeking an effective and accessible online Statistics Courses

For courses that are offered fully online, these materials can be used as a stand-alone statistics curriculum.

Alternatively, the materials can be used to supplement any text or coursework students are currently taking.

Often, educators want to describe a set of characteristics of a group of people. For example, teachers may want to describe how much time their students spend on homework, or how resilient and empathic their students are, or any number of other characteristics. In this course, educators will learn how to describe characteristics of people in the following ways:

· suppose an educator could boil down set of numbers to a single number (e.g. how many minutes a typical student spends on homework each night); what would be the best number to represent the typical values? These statistics could be used: mean, median, or mode.

· Of course, not all students study the same amount each night. So, one may want to know how much students' scores tend to vary around the typical value. These statistics could be used: range, variance, and standard deviation.

· Suppose an educator wants to show time spent on homework to a parent group. Instead of presenting a long list of numbers and watching the parents’ eyes glaze over, the educator may want to create visual or graphic "pictures" of the numbers (data). These statistical methods could be used: bar graphs, histograms, and scatterplots.

· With these foundational ideas (typical value, variation around the typical value, visual “pictures” of the data, educators can then understand and effectively use the following higher level statistics:

· using a sample mean and standard deviation to estimate a population mean and standard deviation. In other words, using a typical value (such as a mean) and typical variation (such as a standard deviation) of a small group of students to estimate a typical value and typical variation of a large group of students. Think of how much time (and money) an educator can save by gathering data on a small group and using that information to make estimates for a larger group (with a precise degree of confidence). For example, an educator could assess the time spent on homework from a small number of students and derive an estimate of time spent on homework for the whole school.

· Suppose an educator wanted to know if time spent on homework was correlated with the extent to which parents value learning. An educator can use statistics to find out how much these two characteristics (or variables) are correlated. In other word, is time spent on homework greater when parents place a higher value on learning?

· make predictions about the future using past information. For example, suppose a growing number of teachers were calling in sick due to a virus spreading through the school. For example, suppose the number of absentees double each day. The principal needs to know how many substitute teachers they will need next week and the week after. A principal could estimate the number of absentees next week and the week after (assuming no steps were taken to stop the virus.)

Students will also understand the following statistical methods (the usefulness of these statistics will become clearer as the course progresses):

· working with special characteristics of normal distributions and z-scores.

· understanding probability with fun games of chance such as cards and dice.

· understanding important probability-related concepts such as union, intersection, independent events, dependent events, and Bayes' theorem.

· make inferences about nonparametric variables (i.e. grouping variables, e.g. “special needs students” versus “not special needs students.”)

Requirements

· The most important requirements are a willingness to keep an open mind, a ready spirit, and dedication to the topic.

· The second most important requirement is a willingness to let go of math anxiety.

The following math skills are a plus, but, be assured, explanations will begin at a basic level and build gradually to higher and higher levels of complexity:

· Knowledge of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) of whole numbers.

· Knowledge of basic algebraic operations and simple equation solving.

EACH LESSON INCLUDES:

Video Tutorials: I present each lesson in short, easily-digestible chunks. I begin with an overview of the lesson; then I explain each concept in careful detail including concrete examples; and I conclude with a summary and segue to the next lesson. Students will also find each lesson has a fun, entertaining aspect because I have illustrated each one with abstract art from around the world. The great thing about learning with narrated video tutorials is students can stop the action at any point and go over the concept again if it doesn’t “land” the first time through. My modus operandi when I created these videos was to distill the topic down to the essential concepts and to present a streamlined, elegant version of each statistical concept. Many stats textbooks present unnecessary overkill and students become overwhelmed and discouraged. I think students will find my method a refreshing alternative to the traditional method.

Notes: Students will also get an inside peek into all the powerpoint slides with notes and transcripts for each lesson. These lessons are to statistics what Sparknotes are for books. Students will find the essential concepts without the showy overkill that appears in lots of textbooks.

Quizzes: At each step along the way, students can test their knowledge with quizzes and practice problems. I have also provided them with the answer keys, worked problems, and careful explanations of each answer. I have confidence that students will have a great experience with my teaching method.

HERE'S WHAT SOME STUDENTS HAVE TOLD ME ABOUT “STRESS-FREE STATISTICS FOR IBDP/AP STUDENTS” AND MY TEACHING APPROACH:

“I think Dr. Roberts is the BEST at teaching practical statistics...The materials she has developed are useful and help make the complex simple and understandable.”

Dr. George White,

Professor of Education at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA,

Coordinator of the Educational Leadership Program

Dr. Laura Roberts has been an exceptional resource for my study. She is a stellar statistician and dissertation consultant. She raised the quality of my paper by helping me with the design of the study and then, working with me through the subsequent data analysis.

David Harris, Oxford Learning Centre
Cambridge, Ontario

Dr. Roberts is one of the best professors I have had in my higher education in terms of both her teaching strategies and her content expertise in statistics and research methods. Statistics and mathematics have always been challenging subjects for me. Although I passed my university statistics courses with top grades, I did not truly understand most statistical methods. In addition, the complexity of statistical methods I used in my dissertation study far exceeded any methods I learned about in my doctoral courses. Dr. Roberts is patient, she uses visual models, and she gives detailed and precise explanations that make even the most complex statistics easier to understand. To be clear, however, she also did not spoon-feed me with answers nor do the hard work for me. Rather, she would give examples, then she would ask deep, thought provoking questions, requiring me to explain my thinking and demonstrate my understanding. Dr. Roberts is skilled at designing assessments and giving valuable feedback. Every time I sent another draft of my dissertation, Dr. Roberts offered a thoughtful balance of authentic compliments and detailed critique. Without coming off as demanding in a negative way, she was able to push, prod and convince me to keep at my writing and improve it beyond any level I would have previously imagined I was capable. Dr. Roberts has a passion for research that is contagious. Before I started the doctoral program, I really did not intend to continue in scholarly research. I was motivated to earn the degree for professional reasons, but I did not necessarily value being a scholar researcher. As a direct result of Dr. Roberts’s encouragement and enthusiasm, I have presented my dissertation findings at professional conferences, and I am working towards publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Laura Roberts has my highest recommendation for anyone looking for an outstanding mentor in research/statistical methods and dissertation writing. She also has my unreserved recommendation for any teaching or research position in higher education. She is an exceptional professor and researcher. Any higher research and education institution would be lucky to have her on their faculty.

Sean Areias, Ed.D.

Interim Superintendent

American International School of Lagos

Laura’s greatest skill is her work with statistics - not only bringing the highest level of quantitative analysis to the data, but "translating" it into layman's terms for her collaborators and a wider audience to appreciate.

Steve Mancuso

Superintendent of Colegio

Internacional Puerta La Cruz

Dr. Laura Roberts is a multi talented researcher, doctoral coach, professor of qualitative and quantitative statistics courses and many many other talents. She has been a doctoral mentor to a variety of international school heads, superintendents of schools and hundreds of educators. She has presented at and attended AAIE and the CP Task Force meeting we held at the US Department of State. She is a scholar of high repute and...a wonderful mentor and guide.

Christine Brown, Ed.D

US State Department Liaison to the European Council of International Schools

Is this course a good match for you?

Are you a non-math major who is required to take statistics? Do you break into a cold sweat at the thought of facing another required stat assignment? Have you searched the web looking for help and found nothing that really works for you?

Relax. You’re in the right place.

My name is Dr. Laura Roberts and I was a student just like you. I was a nervous wreck class after stat class. Dropping wasn’t an option – I needed those classes to graduate. And what I discovered after I earned my doctorate and began teaching my own classes … was this.

Learning statistics doesn’t have to be scary.

Over time, I developed teaching methods that my students found effective. They learned without the frustration and the stress – and they passed their classes with flying colors!

I’m the stat guru behind Right Angle Educators. I’ve put together a series of video tutorials that will help you grasp statistical concepts quickly and easily.

What do my video tutorials have that other online statistics videos do not have?

· Unit objectives

· Lesson objectives

· Type-written slides (believe it or not, many online videos offered by other companies are in hand-written script that is very hard to read.)

· Clearly sequenced and integrated lesson presentations

User friendly lessons that are based on my 30+ years of experience as a statistics professor. I found many students have high math anxiety. High anxiety interferes with learning. My approach is intentionally designed to lower students’ anxiety and increase their learning.

Some students don’t “get” the statistical skills necessary for original research. This course will give them all the skills they need to design and carry out their study.

Okay, so let’s get started. My materials will calm your fears and get you feeling like top-notch number cruncher in no time at all.