Q1: “Will there be online lectures available, or is the expectation for us to rely solely on the posted notes?”

A1: Yes, you can access the lecture notes under the Announcements section in D2L. Your primary learning resource will be these notes.

Q2: “Is there a specific schedule for when the lectures will be uploaded?”

A2: The lecture notes will gradually expand as I add new chapters to them. For the initial weeks, the current set of notes will suffice.

Q3: “Is a textbook required for the course?”

A3: While there are good books available at https://www.lock5stat.com/, having a textbook is not mandatory. The comprehensive lecture notes I’ve provided should cover all necessary material.

Q4: “When signing up for an account on Posit, there are options for both a free version and a student version. Is there a preference, or is the free version sufficient?”

A4: Opting for the free version is generally recommended, as it meets the requirements and is commonly used by many.

Q5 “I’m looking for additional ways to practice the concepts covered in the course. Is there anything we can do beyond reading the lecture notes?”

A5: A highly effective method to reinforce the concepts learned in this course is by engaging with ChatGPT. For instance, if you’re interested in practicing descriptive statistics (which involves summarizing data both numerically and graphically), you can ask ChatGPT to generate five comprehensive examples related to this topic. A Query like “I’m currently enrolled in an introductory statistics course for natural sciences. Could you please explain the concept of descriptive statistics and provide five detailed examples with relevant data?” You can also leverage ChatGPT to generate R code for histograms and box plots for each of these examples. Moreover, you can inquire about the step-by-step process of calculating the standard deviation using an illustrative example. This interactive process not only enhances your learning but also makes it an enjoyable experience!

Q6 “I’m concerned about the uncertainty surrounding the format of exams and projects. A single poor assignment might negatively impact the overall semester grade.”

A6: I’ll ensure that you receive sample exam Questions before each examination. Additionally, for projects, a comprehensive template has been provided towards the end of the first project description. Remember that utilizing office hours is another effective strategy to address your concerns. This way, you can clarify any doubts you may have and alleviate any worries about assignments potentially affecting your semester grade.

Q7: How will the exams be taken? Will it be a take-home style exam in which you will post the exam on a given day and we’ll have by the end of the day to complete and submit our exam? Or will the exam require technology (say LockDown Browser for example) and can only be taken in one sitting?

A7: Both exams will be administered through D2L. You will have a total of 75 minutes to complete the problems on the midterm exam. You are granted the flexibility to select a suitable time between 8:00 am and 11:59 pm on the designated day (10/12/2023) when the exam is scheduled. There will be only one sitting for each exam. I don’t use LockDown browser.