" Lies, Damn lies and statistics"

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Is anyone else strugling with statistics?? I am a reasonably intelligent woman, but wow, I'm so lost! Our professor has a unique way of lecturing...He doesn't. From day one, he started class by asking us questions about the text. For instance, something like..." what is meant by standard deviation?" Then he takes a few guesses, and when no one answers correctly he yells, "Come on people! Haven't you ever heard of this stuff? That's scary. Well,I'm not going to tell you, you need to research this. I promise it will be on the test!" And then the next topic is presented in the same way. He yells and calls us all morons! ( I'm starting to think he might be right... I just don't get this stuff). I had an A untill this last test, ( I do ALOT of independent study, and research, trying to learn it) which was a 70! I have met with him a few times, and he's been good about that, but I really am having a hard time grasping the concepts. However,I can handle the math part.

So, I guess what I want to know (after that long rant...) is , Any one else feel my pain? Any tips to get me through the last test? And does any one actually retain the info they learned once the class is over? I can't tell you what I learned last week...

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Memorize the definitions you'll be tested on *all* of them! When you memorize the definitions you'll also learn the equations that go with them.

Yeah... you do remember some of it... the parts you memorize! :)

Good luck,

Mark

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Specializes in Peri-op/Sub-Acute ANP.

It sounds to me like this prof expects that everyone has read the assigned chapters of the text in advance. From what you are describing, this is not what is happening.

OK, I know it's rough, but he is expecting you all to come to class prepared to participate and be responsive, not expect him to feed you information. Hit the books and knock his sox off next week!

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This is one of my favorite quotes from Samuel Langhorne Clemens.

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Try to read the text and do the homework before the lecture, then go over it again. Go to the math lab and get some help if you can - often other students, tutors and TAs can do at least and often times a better job explaining things than the teacher. If your text is not great, see if they have another text in the math lab, tutor center or library. If your text has a CD or website - use it. Make sure you know how to use your calculator - it will do the work for you.

I lucked out, my instructor (who never yelled at us!) used one text for our class, but totally lectured out of another text. I could find the EXACT problems and answers in the other text - and sometimes they were on the tests! While it would have been easier to teach out of the text we were using, it was easier for him, to just take questions out of a different text. In all, I was reading and doing homework for 2 books, which is probably why I got an A, but I thought I was getting over. Certainly, I couldn't guess what questions he would ask, or memorize the answers, but it helped to recognize things.

I know some people really struggled, and I am sure it is extra hard if you have a lousy (and mean) instructor. You should record him calling the students morons and send it to the dean of his dept. That is unacceptable.

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This is a reassuring.:bugeyes:

I'm not a math person but I'm taking Statistics this summer ONLINE!! I don't know what the heck I'm thinking other than that it is the only way I'll be able to take the class. I did a few searches and found some websites that I hope will help me when I need it.

I bought Statistics Demystified a few weeks ago. I'm still reading through A&P for Dummies but I will start on the other book next week.

Good luck with the rest of your class.

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Is anyone else strugling with statistics?? I am a reasonably intelligent woman, but wow, I'm so lost! Our professor has a unique way of lecturing...He doesn't. From day one, he started class by asking us questions about the text. For instance, something like..." what is meant by standard deviation?" Then he takes a few guesses, and when no one answers correctly he yells, "Come on people! Haven't you ever heard of this stuff? That's scary. Well,I'm not going to tell you, you need to research this. I promise it will be on the test!" And then the next topic is presented in the same way. He yells and calls us all morons! ( I'm starting to think he might be right... I just don't get this stuff). I had an A untill this last test, ( I do ALOT of independent study, and research, trying to learn it) which was a 70! I have met with him a few times, and he's been good about that, but I really am having a hard time grasping the concepts. However,I can handle the math part.

So, I guess what I want to know (after that long rant...) is , Any one else feel my pain? Any tips to get me through the last test? And does any one actually retain the info they learned once the class is over? I can't tell you what I learned last week...

Oh man! That guy sounds like my stats teacher from round one about 6 years ago. I did all right in the class but only because we had a TA come to the rescue of the WHOLE CLASS one day after the instructor came in with a chart showing how pathetic our class was in comparison with classes he'd had in the past...seriously...a chart!!:uhoh3: I can empathize though I am not one to be able to offer any study tips for stats. I squeaked by with a C several years ago and have yet to use it since. Best 'o' luck to ya!

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Then he takes a few guesses, and when no one answers correctly he yells, "Come on people! Haven't you ever heard of this stuff? ...

That's because he doesn't know either.:yeah:

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Specializes in Telemetry and Psych.
That's because he doesn't know either.:yeah:

:lol2::lol2::yeah::yeah: too funny

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Specializes in progressive care telemetry.

I'm going to (try) to take the Excelsior statistics exam over the summer. I'm starting to wonder if going the self-study route is such a great idea. :bugeyes: One of the recommended texts is Statistics Without Tears which I bought through half.com for cheap. I've only skimmed it but it looks like it will help me a lot.

Maybe one of these "For Dummies" books would be in order. ETA - not saying you are a dummy of course. ;) I was mostly thinking out loud to myself.

Here's a couple sites on stats that I bookmarked a while ago to help me study:

http://home.ubalt.edu/ntsbarsh/opre504online/opre504online.htm

http://onlinestatbook.com/

http://www.cmu.edu/oli/courses/statistics/index.html

http://www.aaamath.com/B/sta.htm

HTH and Good luck!

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I took stats last Fall with a great teacher. He bent over backwards to make sure we understood the concepts. Made up a "cheat sheet" of formulas for us to use. Gave us his cell phone and implored us to call him if we needed help.

Your instructor sounds terrible.

steph

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