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Using Gemini notebook to check answers in statistics class

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As part of an introduction to MS 150 Statistics I showed the students how to enter a few basic statistical functions into a spreadsheet . I then used a Gemini notebook (formerly NotebookLM) preloaded with the textbook chapters to check the work. I started with a prompt: I want to give you some data followed by some statistical questions along with my answers. I want you to check my answers. The data: Car speed in mph 21.2 21.2 . . . 21.2 20.0 The questions: Statistic to calculate Sample size n Mode Median Sample mean x̅ Answers 18 21.2 20 20.3 Note that in the above the data was clipped, the original prompt included all of the data. Gemini/NotebookLM responded with the following analysis: Gemini notebook correctly discerned that the data set was multi-modal. There is a mode.mult function that can be used to return values in a polymodal data set, but that is not usually covered in the course.  The takeaway is that Gemini notebook correctly parsed and responded to a multipart prompt...
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Mars and Murrie discovery learning in statistics

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This term a course introduction presentation was used to organize the material on the first day. The session included a demonstration of entering formulas into a spreadsheet . A demonstration of NotebookLM/Gemini notebook was done after the spreadsheet demonstration. In a notebook that was already pre-populated with the textbook chapters the following prompt was entered using shift-enter to prevent premature submission: I want to give you some data followed by some statistical questions along with my answers. I want you to check my answers. The data: Car speed in mph 21.2 21.2 . . . 21.2 20.0 The questions: Statistic to calculate Sample size n Mode Median Sample mean x̅ Answers 18 21.2 20 20.3 Notebook responded with the following analysis: After this demonstration the first data exploration was shown, MMs distributed, and massed using the scale. 
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What is 120 plus 12?

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"What is 120 plus 12?" I asked the student. The student and I were measuring the circumference of a hoop that exceeded the length of the 120 inch tape measure. The student had chosen to measure the circumference and to use inches. The tape measure was 12 inches short of the circumference, the student was holding the tape measure showing that the gap remaining was 12 inches. The student looked up from the measurement in hand and said nothing. I waited.  Students in a prior term timing the period of a hoop. The period of a hoop is linearly related to the diameter. "Just add the 12 to the 120, what is 12 more than 120?" The student looked at me blankly. I waited. After twenty seconds, the student asked, "I can use my cell phone calculator?" The student pulled out their cell phone and obtained 132.  "You couldn't do that calculation in your head?" I asked. The student indicated that they could not.  ❖ "Plummeting math scores prompted lawmake...
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From Doom to Ready Player One: Simulated universes

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This term ended on simulation theory. As the week had been heavy with videos, and this was the last class day of summer session, ending on a playlist felt depressing. In the usual last minute cobbling together of a new angle on topic, videos were pulled together in the hour ahead of class. The session opened with Doom Alpha Versions . These versions were developed in 1992 and 1993. The video was paused in places to point out the pixelated characters and the extensive use of square grids. Then the third segment of 10 Games that take realism too far , Officer Down, was shown. The realism is startling.  This was followed up by RPGs with the most romance options . This is moving beyond point and shoot and into human relations. Or relations with elves, dwarves, or perhaps Sméagol.  Then, circling, back to 1982, Tron was used to demonstrate the evolution of graphics. The video was paused at a light cycle to point out the very basic shapes being used: spheres, segments of spher...
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Site swap notation

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SC 130 Physical Science has centered on performing experiments with physical systems that obey mathematical relationships. Mathematics has been at the core and center of the course. The board from yesterday was still up which shifted the focus from whether mathematics should be taught abstractly or in a specific contexts to a focus on what does it mean to be mathematically literate in a mathematical universe? During the term the students repeatedly demonstrated a complete loss of algebraic knowledge, although all had completed either MS 100 College Algebra and some had completed MS 101 Algebra and Trigonometry. Given this, how can a student prove that they "know" mathematics? What does "mathematical literacy mean?" What does it mean to "understand" mathematics? To be able to do mathematics? How can or should student demonstrate mathematical knowledge in this age of AI? Where copy and paste results in solutions? How shoul...
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Forcing an xy scattergraph for short columns in Google Sheets

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In a data exploration involving hoop rotation period versus diameter Google Sheets does not always produce the desired scatter graph. The issue appears to small sample size or short columns.  Spreadsheet Selecting a scatter chart for this data results in the following chart for some students:   Note the monotonic spacing on the x-axis. Google Sheets has defaulted to a form of line graph with monotonic spacing on the horizontal axis. To reunite the paired data, select Use column A as label under edit chart on a laptop or desktop computer.  Note that this option is not accessible from the Google Sheets mobile app. Of note is that while working inside the Google Sheet chart module in the mobile app the chart appears to configure as expected. Once one exits the chart module, the columns split into two data sets. There is no known easy fix on mobile. The repair essentially requires getting onto a laptop or desktop.  There are hackarounds. One is to manually type the data ...
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