Stat 850 Introduction

daisyowl, @daisyowl if you ever code something that "feels like a hack but it works," just remember that a CPU is literally a rock that we tricked into thinking. Reply: daisyowl, @daisyowl not to oversimplify: first you have to flatten the rock and put lightning inside it.

Goals for Today

  • Syllabus Q&A

  • Install software:

    • R
    • Python
    • quarto
    • RStudio
    • git

  • Stretch goal: set up Git

Syllabus

Contact Info

Tentative Schedule

Tentative schedule of class topics & project due dates
Week Topic Important Dates
1 Exploring the Toolbox
2 Introduction to Programming and Variable Types
3 Data and Control Structures
4 Data Programming
5 Reading and Exploring Data
6 Data Cleaning and Manipulation
7 Data Joins &Transformations
8 Graphics
9 Fall Break & Midterm Exam Midterm: Oct 23
10 Reproducibility & Documents
11 Functional Programming
12 Simulation
13 Simulation
14 Thanksgiving
15 Interactive Graphics
16 Final Part 1
17 Final Exam Final: Dec 17

Course Rhythm

F S S M T W R F
Week before Week Start
Textbook Skim Read Work Examples Reading Quiz Assignment-focused review Review difficult concepts Summarize important concepts
Homework Accept assignment & pull Read assignment Work in class Work at home (if necessary) Work in class Submit assignment
Contextual Reading Read articles Read articles & summarize

Grading

Assignments Weight
Reading Quizzes & Participation 10%
Weekly Homework 50%
Midterm 20%
Final 20%

Grading

Letter grade X + X X -
A 96.5 93.5 89.5
B 86.5 83.5 79.5
C 76.5 73.5 69.5
D 66.5 63.5 60.5
F <60.5

Exams

  • Midterm and Final

  • In class component + take-home component

  • Final take-home component will happen during “dead week”

  • Exams will include at least one response question from the contextual readings

AI Use Policy

  • Using AI to write code (Don’t!)

  • Using AI to explain an error (Ok)

  • Using AI to write explanations (Don’t)

  • If you use AI

    • Document the use, version, input, and output
    • Provide a diff of your submission vs. the AI output

Oral Exams

  • I reserve the right to replace any grade with an oral exam on your submission

  • Allows me to clarify how much you understand when that isn’t clear

  • Helps when I write an ambiguous question or you miss a key part of a question

  • If you can’t explain your code/answer you don’t get any credit

Some Things About Me

2 kids (and a Ryan)

Ivy “Mischief” Q-tip Vanderplas

Edison (Eddie) Eduardo Vanderplas

Class Picture

A cartoon view of 6 heads showing only gross features such as hair, glasses, and facial hair.

Image Source

Preview: Thursday

  • Set up Git

  • How to submit homework with Github Classroom

  • Git concepts: Push/Pull

Reminders

  • Homework due Friday night