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Textbook: Writing for Statistics and Data Science

If you are looking for my textbook Writing for Statistics and Data Science here it is for free in the Open Educational Resource Commons. Wri...

Monday 23 April 2018

Scenario Based Exam Questions for Intro Statistics

A scenario based question is one that includes a brief description of a dataset or model, along with some information like a plot, set of summary statistics, or computer output. From this information, the student needs to answer several questions about the data, such as 'what to these parameters represent?' or 'would the correlation be stronger or weaker without the outlier?'. It's my preferred way of asking questions on exams and assignments, as it more closely mimics the sort of problems that someone would actually encounter in a non-classroom setting.

Below are four examples with post-mortem commentary, as well as download links to all 94 such questions I've made so far that are worth keeping and drawing from.


Saturday 14 April 2018

Simultaneous Strategy 2: Kung Fu Chess

Kung Fu Chess, as found at https://www.kfchess.com/ is a remake of a much older PC game by Shizmoo games, and has recently been adapted for online play.


Kung Fu Chess has the initial setup and most of the same rules as the standard game of queen's chess that everyone is familiar with. The primary difference is that instead of one player moving one piece at a time, a player may move any of their pieces at any time, provided that the peace in question has not been moved in the last 10 seconds.

Simultaneous Strategy 1: Cosmic Blocks

In the chess-like game Cosmic Blocks, by Narcissa Wright, and available through the Discord server at https://discordapp.com/invite/szpznUj , players each start with a 1-square base on an 11-by-21 grid. That base spreads influence, represented by coloured shading of squares, to the 3-by-3 area surrounding the base. The goal is to spread this influence into the opposing base.