Stat 250: Introduction to Biostatistics - “This course will cover statistical analysis and interpretation of data in the
biological sciences; probability; distributions and statistical inference for one- and two-sample problems.”
3 credits
Prerequisite: 3 credits in mathematics
Goals - Please review the posted document at http://www.amstat.org/education/gaise/GAISECollege_Goals.pdf
for the goals for this class
Objectives - In this course you will gain problem solving skills that will allow you to decide for yourself if research
involving data is trustworthy or not. Mathematical calculations are necessary but more important is interpreting
the values computed. At the end of the semester you will be able to organize data using numerical and graphical
summaries, apply properties to data based on the distribution that it follows, make calculations that prove or
disprove a hypothesis, interpret the trend in new data compared to a previous standard, diagnose the
trustworthiness of inference, collect data without bias and diagnose bias in collected data.
Overview – Our class will follow a flipped classroom model where you view lecture videos outside of class and
then come to class prepared to delve deeper into the material. Lecture classes will have all sections combined
into one; in most lecture classes you will see examples done by the instructor and then work on problem solving
in groups of students. Lab classes will be individual sections run by a TA (teaching assistant) and LA (learning
assistant – computer expert) where you work on problem solving in groups of students with an in-class quiz based
on statistical software output due before class ends that day
Course Details –
Instructor:
Jennifer (Jenny) Shook 416 Thomas
(814) 865 – 6164 office number forwards to cell (no texts)
Email: ANGEL Communicate – Quick Message – To: Jenny Shook, checked once daily
PSU email messages will not be read (University “best practice” to keep it all in ANGEL)
TA and LA:
Information announced on Q&A Board on ANGEL when it is available
Office Hours: SOH (Shared office hours) – all TAs qualified to assist in this course will hold office hours that you
may attend; details posted on ANGEL as soon as they are available
Instructor Hours – 416 Thomas Fridays 2-4 pm
Sections:
1
2
3
M F 104 Keller 12:20 - 1:10 pm
M F 104 Keller 12:20 - 1:10 pm
M F 104 Keller 12:20 - 1:10 pm
W
W
W
214 Boucke 11:15am-12:05 pm
214 Boucke 12:20-1:10 pm
214 Boucke 1:25-2:15 pm
Materials:
Textbook – Pagano and Gauvreau’s Principles of Biostatistics Second Edition, Duxbury; bring
tables used in lecture videos to class (photocopies are fine)
Computer – One day each week you will have the use of a computer in class (lab). Outside of
class, most computer labs on campus can provide the same information or use webapps.psu.edu.
Course website: cms.psu.edu (ANGEL) contains all course materials including the syllabus, grade book, study
guides and practice quizzes, lecture videos and notes, lab directions, data, and quizzes, exams to review,
and all course announcements (Q&A Board). It is your responsibility to check the Q&A Board for all
announcements related to class prior to class each day
Course format: Read the textbook and watch each lecture video in the lecture video quizzes and complete the
quiz before the lecture class in which we start to discuss that material, taking detailed notes (done outside
of the classroom). Bring notes and tables from the textbook to class to ask questions and practice what
you have learned
Complete all in-class assignments
Complete all practice quizzes and exams (done outside of the classroom)
Course agreement / policies – By maintaining your enrollment in this class, you agree to
S1. The Penn State Principles (http://www.psu.edu/ur/pdf/principles.pdf)
S2. Attend class regularly. Any prolonged lapse in class attendance may result in no opportunity for
makeup work or any other adjustments
S3. Check grades on ANGEL (ANGEL>Grades, updated weekly unless otherwise announced) and report
errors in person to the instructor within one week of their posting. Failure to do so will result in no
adjustment for any reason. Ignore the percentages ANGEL computes – they do not make sense with our
points based grades
S4. Request no extra credit beyond what is already provided nor ask for extra points for any reason
S5. Use technology (computer, tablet, cell phone, etc) during class only for class purposes. Non-class
related activities may result in the confiscation of such devices for the duration of class.
S6. Discuss due date / time conflicts in person, by phone, or two-way conversation in ANGEL
Communicate (you send the email, you receive a reply and you read it) with the instructor before the due
date / time and provide necessary documentation. After any due date / time expires, there is no option
for any adjustments except those outlined in S7. Work sent to your instructor in email will not be graded
S7. University approved conflicts are the only reason for due date / time conflicts (family obligations,
interviews, religious observances, University sports activities, etc) and they must have documentation.
Conflicts due to illness will only be considered prior to the due date / time on an individual basis with
extended illnesses requiring documentation and illnesses that cause exam reschedules possibly requiring
documentation
S8. Use ANGEL with an acceptable browser and internet connection. Completing work off campus is at
your own risk – immediately contact ANGEL Support (http://kb.its.psu.edu/cms/article/191) and your
instructor by phone if any submissions fail, otherwise the work will not count
S9. Check ANGEL’s Announcements Board for all course announcements prior to each class period. Post
non-emergency questions about the course policies or content on the General Q&A Board and respond to
student questions if you know the answer
S10. Send email to your instructor about private matters (general course questions go on the General
Q&A Board) only through ANGEL Communicate (http://kb.its.psu.edu/cms/article/383) and use proper
email etiquette (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/694/1). Messages sent to the Instructor’s
PSU address will not be answered (University “best practice” to keep it all in ANGEL)
S11. Come to class prepared to demonstrate what you learned in the lecture videos, ask questions, and
work with classmates on everything but exams. Communicating in any way (talking, texting, writing
notes, etc) with other students during exams is not permitted
S12. Take responsibility for your actions and your grades; seek help from office hours as soon as you need
it; do not share posted solutions or quiz solutions with other students or non-students; do not share scrap
paper during exams; do not give or sell posted notes, data, or solutions on ANGEL to anyone
S13. Complete assignments in a timely manner; schedule exams at the Testing Center in a timely manner;
show up for class and exams on time. Those late to lab may not receive time to complete the lab quiz.
Those late to an exam will receive a 0 for that exam
S14. Follow all rules and policies here, at the Testing Center (http://testing.psu.edu/Students/), and of
the University in our class and in every classroom on campus (no food or drink)
The instructor and TA agree to
I1. Cancel class only in the event that both parties have an emergency; post an announcement about a
cancelled class on the ANGEL Q&A Board prior to the start of that class time
I2. Answer student questions without giving away answers
a. To the best of their ability based on the information provided at that time (student’s failure to provide
all the information may result in the miscommunication of ideas)
b. always when asked in class, having the proper preparation done before class starts
c. within 24 hours if posted on ANGEL’s Q&A Board or Communicate Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm
d. within 48 hours if posted on ANGEL’s Q&A Board or Communicate evenings and weekends
I3. Grade assignments within one week of the due date / time. Exceptions will be posted on the Q&A
Board. All quizzes on ANGEL will be open for full review after the due time
I4. Treat all students equally, making exceptions for no one to avoid partiality and bias
LAs agree to answer student questions about Minitab (not course content)
L1. To the best of their ability based on the information provided at that time (student’s failure to provide
all the information may result in the miscommunication of ideas)
L2. always when asked in class, having the proper preparation done before class starts
You are expected to complete all your own work in a collaborative setting for all assignments except exams. As a
reminder, the University has a policy on academic honesty. Cheating includes impersonating another student or
letting another student impersonate you, letting other students copy your answers, submitting a quiz early and
sharing the given answers with other students who have yet to submit their work, submitting answers based on
posted solutions, sharing scrap paper, communicating with other students in any way during an exam, using
provided solutions to check your answers before turning in your work, submitting answers based on posted
solutions, selling posted notes or solutions to anyone. You are expected to abide by the procedures set forth in
the University’s document at http://www.psu.edu/dept/ufs/policies/47-00.html#49-20 . First failure to comply
will result in a grade of 0 on the assignment, the second will result in a F for the course.
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. If you have a disabilityrelated need for reasonable academic adjustments in this course, contact the Office for Disability Services (ODS) at
814-863-1807 (V/TTY). For further information regarding ODS, please visit the Office for Disability Services Web
site at http://equity.psu.edu/ods/. In order to receive consideration for course accommodations, you must
contact ODS and provide documentation (see the documentation guidelines at
http://equity.psu.edu/ods/guidelines/documentation-guidelines). If the documentation supports the need for
academic adjustments, ODS will provide a letter identifying appropriate academic adjustments. Please share this
letter and discuss the adjustments with your instructor as early in the course as possible. You must contact ODS
and request academic adjustment letters at the beginning of each semester.
Course Requirements –
Semester Exams: 50 points, three during the semester, (the first two exams are 40 questions, 90 minutes, 20
points and the third exam is 20 questions, 60 minutes, 10 points) multiple choice, taken at the Testing
Center, you pick the time slot on the exam day. No exam scores are dropped. You will receive an email
requesting you to sign up for a time slot approximately one week before each exam date. Failure to
schedule a time slot in a timely manner will result in a 0 for your exam score. Please view their material at
http://testing.psu.edu/Students/ if you are unfamiliar with the testing center. If you experience
technology issues during the exam, immediately report your error. Failure to follow the course policies
about exams or the Testing Center rules will result in a 0 for your exam score. Exam details appear in the
Study Aids folder in ANGEL>Lessons. You are allowed to have something to write with and scrap paper will
be provided but must be turned in. Formulas and tables will appear at the end of each exam and a
calculator will be provided in each question of the exam. Exams will be open for review on ANGEL after all
students have completed the assignment
Final exam: 10 points, cumulative, multiple choice, as scheduled by the University (30 questions, 60 minutes).
Check elion Sept 29 for our exam schedule (usually scheduled Thurs or Fri of finals week). If you have a
conflict, you must file with the registrar’s office between Sept 29 and Oct 17. The instructor does not
have the ability to reschedule your final exam for any reason, especially because your ride leaves early or
you forgot to file for a conflict exam. Failure to show up on time for your final exam or failure to follow
the rules for the final exam will result in a 0 for your score. Final exam details appear in the Study Aids
folder in ANGEL>Lessons. You are allowed to have something to write with and scrap paper will be
provided but must be turned in. Formulas and tables will appear at the end of each exam and a calculator
will be provided in each question of the exam
Lecture Video Quizzes: 20 points, one quiz per chapter, fifteen total, 2 points each, highest 10 count; taken on
ANGEL outside of class (multiple choice questions, no timer – videos are about 10 minutes each and each
quiz may have 2-6 videos, only the highest submission before the due time counts) due before the lecture
class that starts the material. Quizzes are available on ANGEL starting from the first day of classes until
the class time when the material is started; you do not have to wait until right before class to take the
quiz. Failure to submit the quiz before the due date / time will result in no score for that quiz. Video
quizzes will be open for unlimited practice after the due date a separate folder on ANGEL>Lessons>Study
Aids
Lab Quizzes: 20 points, one quiz per week, fifteen total, 2 points each, highest 10 count; questions about the
syllabus and ANGEL, from the textbook, or on project guidelines all listed ahead of time on
ANGEL>Lessons> Labs. Prepare your work as outlined on the lab directions or project guidelines file and
open the timed quiz only when you are ready to submit your work (number of multiple choice or fill-inthe-blank questions varies from 10-15, 25 minutes, first submission counts), due before the lab class ends.
ANGEL will grade all questions. Failure to submit the quiz before the due date / time will result in no
score for that quiz. Student answers will be available for review upon submission – it is your responsibility
to review your answers before submission and make sure they submitted as you entered them. Requests
not made immediately after submission about submission errors will not be considered. Quizzes are
available on ANGEL usually starting on the Friday before the lab quiz day until the end of your lab class on
that lab quiz day; you do not have to wait until class to take the quiz. Quizzes past due are not available
for practice
Lab Quiz Questions:
Chapter 2 / 8, 10, 16, 18-20
Chapter 3 / 7, 13, 15
Chapter 6 / 16
Chapter 7 / 14, 17, 18
Chapter 8 / 11, 13, 15
Chapter 9 / 10, 12, 13
Chapter 10 / 11, 15, 16
Chapter 11 / 8-10, 13-15
Chapter 13 / 6, 8-13, 15, 16
Chapter 14 / 8-10, 12, 13
Chapter 15 / 9, 10, 14, 15
Chapter 17 / 5 a-d, 8
Chapter 18 / 8, 10, 13
Chapter 22 / 7
Project guidelines appear on
ANGEL>Lessons>Labs
Syllabus appears on ANGEL,
ANGEL questions based on the
discussion in the first lab class
Extra Credit for Practice: 4 practice quizzes, the first two are up to 2 points extra credit (40 questions, 90 minutes,
unlimited attempts before 8am on the exam date), the third is up to 1 point extra credit (20 questions, 60
minutes, unlimited attempts before 8am on the exam date) and the final practice is up to 5 points extra
credit (30 questions, 60 minutes, unlimited attempts before 8am on the final exam date) for extra
practice. Quizzes past due are not available for practice
Makeup Policy (based on S1, S2, S6, S7, S12 and S13 above): Forgetting to turn in an assignment does not warrant
a makeup; please don’t ask. All makeup requests must be discussed with your Instructor prior to the due
date / time of the assignment either in person with supporting documentation, over the phone (if there is
no answer, leave a message slowly and clearly stating your name, course number and section number,
ANGEL ID, and a way to contact you – phone number to call back, txt, or email in ANGEL Communicate)
with two way communication happening before the due date /time, or in ANGEL Communicate (with
supporting documentation for the reason and a way to complete the conversation quickly – phone
number, txt, or reply where you will check it before the due date / time) with two way communication
happening before the due date /time. Requests made through the Instructor’s PSU email account will be
denied / ignored
Students adding the class after the first day of classes will have one class day after enrollment to contact
the Instructor about making up missed assignments; students waiting longer than this will not be able to
make up missed work. Assignments regularly due for the class will start to apply to such students two
class days after the day of enrollment. All agreed upon makeup work is due within five class days of
enrollment in the manner discussed with the Instructor
Conflicts for exams must be entirely arranged (discussed and agreed upon by you and the instructor)
before the actual exam. Conflicts due to University Approved reasons will be rescheduled before the
actual exam time (not after) and may result in a slightly different (but not harder nor easier) exam.
Conflicts due to medical emergency will be rescheduled within 24 hours of the original exam time and
may require documentation and may result in a slightly different (but not harder nor easier) exam.
Conflicts due to serious medical issues that prevent the reschedule in 24 hours must have supporting
documentation and will result in a slightly different (but not harder nor easier) exam within two days
upon your return to classes
Conflicts for the final exam must be scheduled through the registrar’s office (www.psu.edu/oue/aappm/F3.html). Conflict requests for the final exam after the filing period has ended will be denied. Conflicts due
to serious medical emergency or University events with supporting documentation will be considered on
an individual basis
Conflicts with lab quiz due dates / times will be considered on an individual basis only. If you have a
conflict with the exact due date / time, please complete the quiz early or use it as one of your 5 drops
Conflicts with lecture video quiz due dates / times will be considered on an individual basis only. If you
have a conflict with the exact due date / time, please complete the quiz early or use it as one of your 5
drops
Conflicts with extra credit will result in 0 extra credit for that assignment. Extra credit cannot be made up
Course Grading – All grading will be updated weekly on ANGEL>Grades. Please ignore ANGEL’s calculations of
percentages – they do not make sense with our point-based grading system. Check your scores
regularly; failure to report discrepancies within one week of posting will result in no adjustment
Summary:
Semester Exams
Final Exam
Lecture Video Quizzes
Lab Quizzes
Extra Credit
50
10
20
20
10
Total: 110
Final scores are based on 100 points (not 110); that is the curve. Requests for individual adjustments for
reasons not noticed until weeks later than the grade posting date or reasons of being just a few points
away from a different letter grade will be denied; requests for extra assignments or late makeups will be
denied (based on S3 and S4 above), neither whole points nor tenths of points will be rounded
If your point total is:
93 and above
90 – 92.9
87 – 89.9
83 – 86.9
80 – 82.9
77 – 79.9
70 – 76.9
60 – 69.9
59.9 and below
or you have lost up to:
17 points
20 points
23 points
27 points
30 points
33 points
40 points
50 points
110 points
Your letter grade is:
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
D
F
Disclaimer – This course will run as outlined herein. However, if something unexpected happens (like severe
weather) and the University closes, adjustments may be made in the way assignments are turned in. Such
adjustments will be posted immediately following the closing on the Q&A Board on ANGEL. Messages in
ANGEL Communicate or voicemail may not be responded to in a timely manner due to such circumstances
Due Dates / Class Details –
Wednesday – Lab,
quiz due in class
ANGEL / lab introduction
Data collection, Lab Quiz
Syllabus and ANGEL
Week:
Monday – Lecture
1: Aug 25 – 29
Syllabus, Lecture Ch 1,
quiz due before class
2: Sept 1 – 5
No classes
Lab Quiz Ch 2
3: Sept 8 – 12
Lecture Ch 6,
quiz due before class
Lab Quiz Ch 3, 6
Work on Project 1
4: Sept 15 – 19
Project 1 Minitab
Lab Quiz Project 1
5: Sept 22 – 26
More on Ch 8
Lab Quiz Ch 7-8
Project 2 Intro, check final
exam schedule
Exam 1 Ch 1-3, 6-9,
no class
Lab Quiz Ch 9
Work on Project 2
6: Sept 29 – Oct 3
7: Oct 6 – 10
Lab Quiz Project 2
8: Oct 13 – 17
More on Ch 11, file for conflict
final exam?
Lab Quiz Ch 10-11
9: Oct 20 – 24
Lecture Ch 14,
quiz due before class
Lab Quiz Ch 13
Work on Project 3
10: Oct 27 – 31
Project 3 Q&A
Lab Quiz Project 3
11: Nov 3 – 7
Project 4 Intro
12: Nov 10 – 14
Exam 2 Ch 10-11, 13-16,
no class
13: Nov 17 – 21
More on Ch 18
14: Dec 1 – 5
Project 4 Q&A
15: Dec 8 – 12
Exam 3 Ch 17, 18, 22,
no class
Friday – Lecture
Lecture Ch 2,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 3,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 7,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 8,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 9,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 10,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 11,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 13, quiz due
before class, last day to file
for a conflict final exam
More on Ch 14
Lab Quiz Ch 14-16.1
Work on Project 4
Lab Quiz Ch 17
Work on Project 4
Lab Quiz Ch 18
Work on Project 4
Lab Quiz Ch 22
Work on Project 4
Lecture Ch 15-16.1,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 17,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 18,
quiz due before class
Lecture Ch 4 and 22,
quiz due before class
Project 5 Intro,
Review Exams 1-2
Lab Quiz Project 4 and 5
Review Exams 2-3
Final exam as scheduled by the University via Elion Sept 29 (usually on Friday of finals week).