Is this for real or is someone playing a joke on me?  I hope it is the former!  I know statistics is a difficult topic for some, so I am trying as hard as I can to make it interesting and still cover the course content.  I also tried to make the grading as fair as possible to reduce anxiety about grades.   I think the group work is helping, and I am pleased about that.   I will be asking for more input from you as to how I can improve this part of the course.  Please give me your ideas about the course.

I'm open to that.  I will discuss it in class.
FOLLOW-UP - The exam has been rescheduled to Wednesday, November 29.

2.  Do you curve the final grade in anyway?

I use the following grading policy:
A     93 to 100
A-    90 to 92
B+   87 to 89
B     83 to 86
B-    80 to 82
C+   77 to 89
C     73 to 76
C-    70 to 72
D+   67 to 69
D     63 to 66
D-    60 to 62
F      Below 60

Because of the nature of the grade - 9 assignments and 5 exams, I do not feel I need to offer dropping an exam or curving the final grade.  No one exam or even one assignment can put you in a hole.   It is hard to fail this course unless you don't take the exams or fail to turn in assignments. Even if you are late with an assignment, it is in your best interest toi get it in before the end of the course.

1.  Would you consider dropping one of the homework grades?

2.  Can you try to gear the homework as half hand calculations and half Excel spreadsheet.  The hand calculations are good practice for the test.  The Excel spreadsheet applications would be good practice for practical, real-life examples.

I designed the grading of the course to be fair and not to put too much emphasis on any one part.  No test is worth more than 10% of the grade, and homeworks are worth 6.5% (with the group work).  I know it's a fair amount of work, but I don't think it is excessive.  The homeworks are geared to cement the work and prepare you for the exams.  I don't want to make it possible for someone to skip an assignment or an exam.  And, I really don't want to change the grading policy this far into the semester.  If a problem is really giving you trouble and you feel you are spending too much time on it, come see me or e-mail me.  I will give you enough info to move you forward on a problem.

I will keep the susggestion in mind to balance between Excel and hand calculations.  I think I am trying to do that now, but will try to be more aware of it in the future.
 

I also agree that it is difficult finding time to finish the homework assignment the week we have a test along with the work from other classes.  Would it be possible to have the assignment due on the following monday for the assignments due the week of a test?

When there is a test, could the homework assignment be due the following class.  I understand it being used as a study tool, but it is very difficult to complete the homework when students have tests and other responsibilities occurring the same week.  Just a suggestion.

I agree that homeworks should not be due the same day as the exam.  The Wed before the exam help in my opinion because it would relieve the pressure of having two responsibilites (homework and a test).  Having the homework due on Wed would give 2 days of relief or 2 days to focus on studying.

I think it makes the most sense to allow the homework to be due the Monday following the exam.  I will discuss this in class.

My goal is to make the homework a useful way to study for the test.  The problems you do for the homework will be similar problems on the exam.  Thus, I wasn't thinking of the homework as a burden before the exam, but rather a study tool.  I am assuming that you are suggesting having the homework due the Wednesday after the exam - is that correct?  Let's see if there are other student comments on this topic.  I am not opposed to giving more time to the second assignment and having it due after the exam, but I still feel it is in your best interest to complete the assignment before the exam.
 

It is my goal to get the notes posted the day before class.  However, there are times I am making last minute changes and I don't get them posted until the morning before class.  I'll try to get them posted the day before.

I agree.  I felt a little uncomfortable with the arrangement at the last exam, but there wasn't enough time to move the tables and no one complained when I asked.  I will try to get there early enough next time to move the tables into more traditional rows.

Good point.  I will put the next one up with 6 and 3 per slide.  I'll ask the class which they would prefer.