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Course Overview
This page focuses on the course 18.05 Introduction to Probability and Statistics as it was taught by Dr. Jeremy Orloff and Dr. Jonathan Bloom in Spring 2014.
18.05 is an elementary introduction to probability and statistics for students who are not math majors but will encounter statistics in their professional lives. Topics include basic combinatorics, random variables, probability distributions, Bayesian inference, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, and linear regression.
In Spring 2014, class sessions emphasized active learning, with students engaging in concept questions, discussions, board problems, and computation using R. Outside of class, students used the MITx platform for interactive reading questions and problem set checkers.
Course Outcomes
Course Goals for Students
The primary goal of the course is for students to become more sophisticated consumers of probability and statistics. After this course, students should be able to understand the statistics they encounter in research literature, be able to critique papers or experimental setups, and work with a statistician to analyze data.
Students who are interested in becoming statisticians themselves can build a solid foundation in probability and statistics through this course but should plan on additional coursework for thorough and comprehensive preparation.
Possibilities for Further Study and Future Careers
Most students who take the course plan to become physicians, engineers, or researchers in fields other than mathematics, in which they will encounter probability and statistics. This is the terminal mathematics course for many of the enrolled students.
Instructor Insights
In the following pages, Dr. Orloff and Dr. Bloom discuss additional aspects of 18.05:
A Day in 18.05
Class sessions were extremely active and student-centered, with a mix of lecture, concept questions and discussion, board problems, and demonstrations and simulations. This section uses one sample class to give a glimpse of the rhythm of 18.05.
Timeline
The progression of the class is shown in the timeline below. Click on any color block to watch that portion of the class in the video below.
Each in-class activity type is pictured in an image gallery with descriptive commentary from Dr. Jeremy Orloff and Dr. Jonathan Bloom. In the key below, click on an activity type to see the corresponding image gallery.
![Displays the color on the preceding graph that represents .](/images/educator/edu_b-lecture-key.png)
![<p>This course served as an elementary introduction to probability and statistics for non-math majors who will encounter statistics in their professional lives.</p> <p>As students entered the classroom for Tuesday and Thursday class sessions, they were typically greeted with a comic or image related to the topic(s) for the day.</p> Four students sitting at a table look up at a projector screen that is showing a comic.](/courses/mathematics/18-05-introduction-to-probability-and-statistics-spring-2014/gallery1-1.jpg)
![Displays the color on the preceding graph that represents .](/images/educator/edu_b-recitation-key.png)
![<p>During each class, students worked on two to three board problems, each with multiple parts. We found that three cycles of getting up, working, and sitting down was the limit of student energy. Beyond that they would drag their feet.</p> <p>Problem statements were projected on screens around the room.</p> n instructor stands amidst seated students. The screen on the wall shows a slide with a math problem for the students to work on.](/courses/mathematics/18-05-introduction-to-probability-and-statistics-spring-2014/gallery4-1.jpg)
![Displays the color on the preceding graph that represents .](/images/educator/edu_b-present-key.png)
![<p>Students were expected to complete assigned readings and reading questions before class and we structured our teaching to build on this preparation. Lectures were brief summaries, kept short to allow ample time for active learning. We aimed to have students working on a problem within the first 15 minutes of class.</p> <p>For each class session, we created a slide deck that contained lecture content as well as problems for the students to work on. After class, we added full solutions to the slide deck and posted everything online for student use.</p> An instructor points at a projector screen showing a slide and addresses students, who are sitting at round tables.](/courses/mathematics/18-05-introduction-to-probability-and-statistics-spring-2014/gallery2-1.jpg)
![Displays the color on the preceding graph that represents .](/images/educator/edu_b-team-key.png)
![<p>In many class meetings, we illustrated concepts using physical objects like dice and cards. Sometimes, this took the form of an instructor-led demonstration in front of all of the students. We often asked students to participate by choosing cards, guessing outcomes, and explaining their ideas.</p> <p>At the start of the course, we also gave each student a bag of dice that included 10-sided dice and all the Platonic solids. The students used the dice to explore probability and collect data for statistics.</p> <p>In the demonstration pictured here, we illustrated the role of prior probability in Bayesian inference. We told students that we would randomly select and roll a die from a cup containing dice with 4-sides and 20-sides. Secretly the cup contained twenty 20-sided dice and one 4-sided die, and we intentionally placed the 4-sided die on top of the pile in order to select it by feel. We rolled the die covertly, reported a 3, and asked students which type of die was most likely chosen; students were split between 4-sided and equally likely. We then used the document camera to reveal the contents of the cup; as shown, the students now overwhelmingly favored the 20-sided die. This demonstration can be seen in the sample class video.</p> Students seated at round tables raise their hands. One projector screen shows a slide and one projector screen shows a set of dice.](/courses/mathematics/18-05-introduction-to-probability-and-statistics-spring-2014/gallery5-1.jpg)
![Displays the color on the preceding graph that represents .](/images/educator/edu_b-lab-key.png)
![<p>We aimed to have a few concept questions in each class. For these, we showed a slide with a multiple choice question, typically related to content just discussed in a brief lecture segment. The students responded to concept questions by logging their answers via handheld clickers they brought to class.</p> <p>Participating in clicker questions was worth 5% of students grades; answers were not graded for correctness. This also served as an incentive for students to attend class.</p> A multiple-choice question is shown on a projector screen. Students use handheld clickers to submit their answers.](/courses/mathematics/18-05-introduction-to-probability-and-statistics-spring-2014/gallery3-1.jpg)
![Displays the color on the preceding graph that represents .](/courses/mathematics/18-05-introduction-to-probability-and-statistics-spring-2014/edu_b-discussion-key.png)
Resources for Sample Class (Class 11–Bayesian Updating: Discrete Priors)
This video features the happenings of a full 18.05 class session.
Curriculum Information
Prerequisites
Calculus I GIR . The following versions of Calculus I are on OCW: 18.01SC, 18.01, 18.01, 18.013A, and 18.014.
Requirements Satisfied
- REST
- Can be applied toward a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
- Can be used to satisfy the probability and statistics requirement for a Bachelor of Science in Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Offered
Every spring semester
Assessment
The students' grades were based on the following assessment elements:
![The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by reading questions and in-class questions.](/images/educator/edu_b-lab-key.png)
![The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by problem sets.](/images/educator/edu_b-lecture-key.png)
![The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by the first exam.](/images/educator/edu_b-present-key.png)
![The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by the second exam.](/images/educator/edu_b-recitation-key.png)
![The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by the final exam.](/images/educator/edu_b-team-key.png)
Student Information
![On average, 48 students take this course each offering.](/courses/mathematics/18-05-introduction-to-probability-and-statistics-spring-2014/18-05_stat-students.png)
Breakdown by Year
Mostly juniors, some sophomores, some seniors.
Breakdown by Major
The students enrolled this semester were primarily life sciences majors. There were a fair number of students who planned to become doctors, researchers, or engineers. Math majors who are interested in probability and statistics tend to take 18.440 Probability and Random Variables. Electrical engineering and computer science majors who are interested in probability and statistics tend to take 6.041 Probabilistic Systems Analysis and Applied Probability.
Typical Student Background
Students tend to be upperclassmen. They enter the class as mature students, prepared to do work and manage their time. In addition, many of the students have already had exposure to reading research or even doing research, and so they can place a lot of these ideas in a context that’s familiar to them, especially when it comes to medical research.
The only prerequisite for this course is single-variable calculus. Students with a stronger mathematical background often find this course easier.
Ideal Class Size
Given the current staffing arrangement and classroom, the ideal class size is up to 75. The classroom is intended for up to 100 students. With 75 or fewer students, there’s ample room for everyone to get up and work on the white boards without feeling cramped. A class size of less than 75 also allows the instructors and students to get to know each other. With too few students, the classroom might feel way too big.
During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:
Lecture and Active Learning
- Two sessions per week, each lasting 1.5 hours; 27 sessions total
- Attended by all students
- Included brief lectures, demonstrations, and frequent opportunities for student participation: concept questions, discussion questions, board problems. These time types are described in image galleries linked from the timeline key for A Day in 18.05.
R Studio
- One session per week, lasting 1.5 hours; 10 sessions total.
- No new math content was introduced.
- Students used R, a free statistical software package, via the user interface RStudio, to apply statistical tools, visualize data, and explore concepts through simulations.
- Real-world examples were frequently incorporated.
- Students used and modified pre-written code to build their conceptual understanding of the week’s topics.
Out of Class
- Readings and reading questions before each class meeting
- Nine problem sets, due on non-class days so that students wouldn't forego class readings in order to complete problem sets.
- Preparation for exams
- Optional office hours on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and Mondays
Semester Breakdown
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![Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT.](/images/educator/edu_b-noclass-key.png)
![Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when lecture sessions are held.](/images/educator/edu_b-lecture-key.png)
![Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when exams are held.](/images/educator/edu_b-exam-key.png)
![Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when no class session is scheduled.](/images/educator/edu_b-blank-key.png)
![Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when R Studios are held.](/images/educator/edu_b-recitation-key.png)
![Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when assignments are due.](/images/educator/edu_b-duedate-key.png)
Course Team Roles
During Spring 2014, there were two lead instructors and three teaching assistants in the classroom at all times. Much of class time was devoted to board problems, during which all five members of the teaching staff circulated around the classroom and worked with students. The course was generously staffed during the 2013 and 2014 offerings to support the transformation in curriculum and pedagogy. From 2015 onwards, the course will likely have a smaller staff.
Lead Instructors (Dr. Jeremy Orloff and Dr. Jonathan Bloom)
- Designed the course syllabus and structured the course
- Prepared nearly all course materials, including readings, problem sets, lecture slides, and R studio materials
- Led each class session, gave brief lectures, conducted demonstrations, and worked with students on board problems
Teaching Assistants (Ruthi Hortsch, Erika Trent, and Dr. Peter Kempthorne)
- Supported all class activity, particularly student work on board problems
- As a statistician, Dr. Peter Kempthorne advised the lead instructors on teaching related to statistics and was key in developing the R studios.
Graders (undergraduate students)
- Graded the nine problem sets for the course