To locate appropriate data sets for the course the students should search the following Data and Story Library located at http://lib.stat.cmu.edu/DASL/DataArchive.html, and find data sets that includes at least one categorical variable and at least one quantitative variable by April 20, 1998 (Monday).

The organization of the in-class activities are summarized in the following flowchart. The main components of the organization structure are:

(i) Summaries and Outline: These two components, hopefully, will provide a smooth transition between the topics and lectures. These will answer three basic questions: Where have we been?, Where are we going?, and What have we learned?

(ii) Student Evaluators: Class participation and discussion are very important on the learning process. Students are encouraged to ask questions in the class. Questions, comments could help the instructor to set up his/her pace. The input from the students should be constant. If you point out the weaknesses of the instructor, and the problems with the course in general as soon as possible your learning process will be enhanced. To formalize and promote active learning, each in-class activity will be evaluated by the two students. These students will be responsible to point out all the problems that might affect the learning of the rest of the class. For example, the topics that are not clearly covered, pace of the lecture, use of the blackboard, problems with taking notes, etc. Student evaluators will be asked to make a summary of the previous class.

(iii) Minute paper: Time to time you will be asked to answer the following three questions:

1. What was the most important thing you learned today?

2. What was the most important thing you learned yesterday?

3. What questions are uppermost in your mind as we conclude this class session?

Answers to these questions will help the instructor on setting up her/his pace, pin-point the topics that the students are having problems on understanding, to correct misunderstanding etc. The questions are related with effectiveness of the lecture, retention of the information delivered, and effectiveness of the teaching in general.

The topics that will be covered are mostly in the text book. If a topic is not in your textbook, then it will be pointed out in the lecture and/or handouts will be provided.