Information about Modules

This page provides an overview of the scope of the three modules developed so far, and this video provides a tour of the modules and some ideas about how you might incorporate them in your courses.  

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Information about Modules

Understanding Descriptive Statistics Module

Visual overview of the descriptive statistics module

Some larger questions that the module addresses:

  • What information is contained in descriptive measures of a dataset?
  • What are differences in datasets can be explored using the descriptive measures?
  • How can choices about constructing plots and graphs impact the viewers understanding of a dataset and its descriptive measures?
  • How does one report descriptive statistics in the appropriate manner for a given dataset?

Specific skills. Students will be able to:

  • Calculate mean, median, mode, standard deviation, distributions and percentile rank
  • Construct plots and graphs to describe properties of a large dataset
  • Use exploratory descriptive methods to summarize characteristics of the dataset

Application Question Topics

  • Biology: Fish Growth with Treatment and Control
  • Biology: Plant Growth in Light and Dark
  • Biology: Plants’ Stomata
  • Chemistry: Aspirin Production
  • Environmental Science: Tracking Coral Decline
  • Political Science: Age of US Presidents
  • Psychology: Irrelevant Speech Effects
  • Public Health: Life Expectancy

You can access the current descriptive statistics module. If you are faculty member at a LACOL school other than Carleton, choose non-Carleton accounts, and then select “Login using your account on Google.” You will be able to see the module from the student perspective. If you run into any difficulties contact Melissa Eblen-Zayas (meblenza at carleton.edu).

Understanding Linear Functions Module

Visual overview of the linear functions module

Some larger questions that the module addresses:

  • What information about the behavior of a linear function is contained in the slope and intercept?
  • How can graphs of linear functions be used to describe model systems?
  • How can you connect the algebraic and graphical representations of linear functions?
  • How can graphs of linear functions be used to compare the behavior of systems?

Specific skills. Students will be able to:

  • Convert linear equations to the slope-intercept form
  • Construct graphs of linear equations
  • Recognize functions that vary directly and inversely

Application Question Topics

  • Astronomy: Pulsar timing
  • Biology: Logistic population growth model
  • Biology/Chemistry: Spectrophotometers
  • Chemistry: Ideal gas
  • Economics: Consumption Function
  • Geology/ Environmental Science: Glacial Retreat
  • Physics: Motion at constant speed
  • Psychology: Weber’s Law

Application Questions That Stretch Your Thinking

  • Biology: Enzyme kinetics
  • Economics: Supply and demand
  • Physics: Motion with changing speed
  • Physics: Motion with constant acceleration

You can access the current linear functions module. If you are faculty member at a LACOL school other than Carleton, choose non-Carleton accounts, and then select “Login using your account on Google.” You will be able to see the module from the student perspective. If you run into any difficulties contact Melissa Eblen-Zayas (meblenza at carleton.edu).

Understanding Exponents and Logarithms Module

Visual overview of the exponents/logs module

Some larger questions that the module addresses:

  • How are exponential and logarithmic functions related to each other?
  • How do logarithmic and exponential functions help us work with large numbers and put them into context?
  • What types of real-world systems are modeled by exponential and logarithmic functions?

Specific skills. Students will be able to:

  • Manipulate algebraic expressions that involve exponents and logarithms.
  • Interpret graphs involving exponential or logarithmic functions.
  • Use logs/exponents to analyze the number of steps in algorithms.
  • Work with different bases. (Most common — base 10, base e, and base 2. Others that we should consider?)

Application Problem Topics

  • Biology, Chemistry, Geology: Radiocarbon Dating
  • Chemistry: Playing with pH
  • Chemistry & Physics: Radioactive Materials Rate of Decomposition
  • Computer Science: Binary Sort
  • Economics: Estimating the Time for an Investment Asset to Double in Value
  • Geoscience: Earthquakes and the Richter Scale
  • Geoscience: Air Pressure
  • Neuroscience & Psychology: Perception of Sound
  • Physics: Newton’s Law of Cooling
  • Psychology: Hick’s Law

You can access the current exponents/logs module. If you are faculty member at a LACOL school other than Carleton, choose non-Carleton accounts, and then select “Login using your account on Google.” You will be able to see the module from the student perspective. If you run into any difficulties contact Melissa Eblen-Zayas (meblenza at carleton.edu).