PSU 016.550 First-Year Seminar -- Course Information

Instructor: Dr. James L Rosenberger

JLR@stat.psu.edu

Course Information:

PSU 016.055 SCIENCE FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR, (STAT)
The First-Year Seminar (FYS) facilitates student's adjustment to the high expectations, demanding workload, increased academic liberties, and other aspects of the transition to college life. The Statistics FYS is intended for students who are interested in understanding the role of statistics and quantification aspects of science. Student experiences in this seminar might include; instruction in study skills and strategies, acquainting students with resources such as the library, computer facilities, the Co-op Office, and the Internet, introducing them to upper-class role models, and advising them individually as they outline their four year plans. Activities to stimulate student interest in statistical science may include readings, discussions, and reports on scientific issues of current interest, research projects on the internet or the library, and writing reviews and summaries of what was learned or heard in public lectures.

Course Syllabus: (topics will be adjusted by feedback and class preference)

Introduction of class members - write biographical sketch
Library Tour and research assignment
Academic survival skills: academic integrity, getting advice.
What is the legal drinking age. Each student to research the legal age in the country of their choice. Submit the finding and cite or copy the source(s) of the information.
Life management skills: finances, alcohol, time management, health
Attend 5 public lectures during the course of the semester. For each lecture attended, write a brief (1 page) review/critique of the lecture, including the 5 W's: Who, When, Where, What, and Why. Submit the review within a week of the lecture, at the next class period. Suggested the Distinguished Speaker Series, (beginning with Greg Louganis, on Monday 15th September) and the Colloquy Series.
Research through the internet.
Writing a resume and exploring careers
Service project (group or individual)
Creating your own web page: e-portfolio
Dealing with uncertainty - statistical sciences - Readings from the course text.

Election night predictions
Salk vaccine
Twin studies
Sports records

Other topics suggested by class

Course Text:

Tanur, et al., "Statistics: A Guide to the Unknown, 3rd Edition., Duxbury Press

Homework Assignments and Grading:

Academic Integrity

All Penn State and Eberly College of Science policies regarding academic integrity apply to this course. See http://www.science.psu.edu/academic/Integrity/index.html for details.

Announcements

(most recent at the top):

[4 October 2004] Last week we heard an introduction to e-portfolio http://portfolio.psu.edu/ from Glenn Johnson. Your assignment was to request web space and work through the "Web Publishing at Penn State in 50 Minutes!" link. By next week, 13 Oct. I would like to see everyone's web site... I consider it a first draft, with the final version due at the end of the semester.

[15 September 2004] Next week, 22 Sept at 9:05, we will meet in the Pavillion Theatre (across from the Creamery) for our class, with several other sections. There will be a play on Academic Integrity, and I will have several handouts to give you.
Assignment: Research the legal drinking age for the country of your choice, and write an essay which describes your opinion, after conducting this research, on what the legal drinking age should be. Please be persuasive, and base your argument on any data you can find about the dangers and outcomes of alcohol consumption. Your 2-3 page essay is due in two weeks, on 29 Sept.

[9 September 2004] FYI... you may want to visit the student Organization fair Tuesday and Wednesday, 9/14 and 9/15, 11:00am-7:00pm each day in Alumni Hall, HUB-Robeson Center.

[8 September 2004] Assignment: Each student is required to attend the library open house, Monday or Tuesday, Sept 13-14, at Pattee/Paterno library. The tours are 1 hour long, during 10am-6pm. You will receive a certificate to confirm your attendance, which you should bring to class on Sept 15, to show your attendance. See http://www.libraries.psu.edu/openhouse for more information.
Read the Chance Magazine (17(2):32-38, Spring 2004) article on Exit polling handed out in class.

[7 September 2004] The list of Distinguished Speakers for 2004-05 includes Robert Novak of CNN’s "Crossfire" program who speaks on September 29 at 8:00pm in Eisenhower Auditorium and Howard Dean, former governor and democratic presidential candidate, who speaks Oct. 28 at 8:00pm. The full list is available at: http://live.psu.edu/story/7864 .

[4 September 2004] Assignment: Each student is to write a brief 2-3 page autobiography, telling me about your life, and how you came to Penn State, and your aspirations for the future. Please type it and submit it on Wednesday Sept. 8.

[1 September 2004]
http://www.stat.psu.edu/~jlr/courses/04Fa/PSU016/