The Advanced Placement Statistics course is equivalent to a one-semester, introductory, non-calculus-based college statistics course. The rigor of this course is consistent with colleagues and universities and will prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam in May. Upon successful completion of the exam, students may receive college credit and will be well-prepared for advanced statistics coursework. Additional details on this course from College Board can be found here: AP Statistics.
In this course, students will explore three big ideas:
(1) Variation and Distribution: The distribution of measures for individuals within a sample or population describes variation. The value of a statistic varies from sample to sample. Statistical methods based on probabilistic reasoning provide the basis for shared understandings about variation and about the likelihood that variation between and among measures, samples, and populations is random or meaningful.
(2) Patterns and Uncertainty: Statistical tools allow us to represent and describe patterns in data and to classify departures from patterns. Simulation and probabilistic reasoning allow us to anticipate patterns in data and to determine the likelihood of errors in inference.
(3) Data-Based Predictions, Decisions, and Conclusions: Data-based regression models describe relationships between variables and are a tool for making predictions for values of a response variable. Collecting data using random sampling or randomized experimental design means that findings may be generalized to the part of the population from which the selection was made. Statistical inference allows us to make data-based decisions.
Students will investigate topics such as one-variable data, two-variable data, collecting data, probability, random variables,, and probability distributions, sampling distributions, inference for categorical data: proportions, inference for quantitative data: means, inference for categorical data: chi-square, and inference for quantitative data: slopes.
This course incorporates a variety of textbook and multimedia resources including an adaptive problem set platform that provides various feedback on student assessments. Students will also engage in collaborative activities, such as simulations and discussions, and connect concepts in statistics to real-world applications and current events, in order to develop a deeper understanding of statistics in the world.
Students will be expected to enroll in My AP Classroom through their VHS Learning AP course and will be guided to complete review work in My AP Classroom throughout the year. My AP Classroom resources include AP Daily Videos and unit-based Personal Progress Checks, which include AP-style multiple choice and free response questions. Students enrolled in VHS Learning Advanced Placement courses with a passing grade are expected to take the AP Exam. Students register for AP exams through their local school or testing site as “Exam Only” students. AP exam scores will be reported to VHS Learning through My AP Classroom; exam results will not affect the student’s VHS Learning grade or future enrollment in VHS Learning courses.
This AP course has a required summer assignment. The summer assignment is a review of prerequisite content and critical concepts students must be comfortable with before beginning the course. Students are expected to complete their summer assignment before the course begins and submit their work by the end of Week 1. Students who register on or after September 1 will receive an extension to complete the summer assignment by the end of Week 3.