Leandra Freitas

Marilyn Fichman
Statistics and Research Class
5/27/14




End of Course Reflection

One of the projects Ive completed during this class was Spirit Data. The objective of this
project was to help the Spirit staff identify if the students in each campus had improved on their
literature, as well as their math skills. This data helped the staff comprehend if they complied
with the expectations of helping the students improve their basic skills of literature and math by
the end of the program. We (Statistics class) used an Excel spreadsheet to help organize the
data weve received based on the students surveys. I became a stronger math student by using
this tool. I gained knowledge of how to make data more understandable to readers.

The topic that was difficult for me to grasp was the Measures of Central Tendency/5-
Number Summary/Standard Deviation.. This concept was difficult for me because I was
skeptical of how to properly make a graph.. I found myself using more unnecessary steps that
werent involved with standard deviation. I didnt have the prior knowledge of Central Tendency
as well as 5-Number Summary, so when I tried to allow myself to grasp the unit, I was trying
very hard to get the significance of this unit, but I had difficulties understanding it on the same
level as the other students. This unit was more difficult since I was afraid to ask questions
because I didnt want others to judge me based on my questions. When Id try to understand it,
it just wouldnt make sense to me.

I had a role of leadership within this class when we had to work together as a class for
the Salt and Vinegar Test. My role was to organize the results in categories onto a piece of
paper on what the testers rated both the Brand and Store brand Salt and Vinegar chips. They
had a choice on whether to rank the chips from a scale of 1-10., 1 being the worst chip they
ever eaten or 10 being the best chip they ever eaten. It was humorous to see some of the
testers faces while eating the salt and vinegar chips. I had fun working on this project and Id
definitely do it again if I was able to be in Statistics class next year.