Getting started

We’ve covered the following modules this semester:

This is a template schedule for a typical week. I’m sharing it for discussion on our first day, and as general guidance after that.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Mon at 12 (self-paced)In a typical week we won’t be meeting during the Monday and Friday lecture periods. They are self-paced work days.

Being self-paced means that the content of the online materials is designed so that it’s always available and you can cover it at any time of day that works for you. It replaces a stereotypical lecture where you get into a room the teacher shows you stuff on PowerPoint slides while you copy things down.

You should use this time to go through the learning goals, review and learn from the course material, and work on the related self-assessment problems once they’ve been assigned.

You’re responsible for covering that content and for using it to build your own set of notes and model problem sets that you can refer to in our Wednesday sessions and, in turn, to help you ace the quizzes.

Consult the activity schedule for details about what’s been assigned and what to be working on.
Your goal on Mondays should be to cover the assigned content and complete the self-assessment problems before Wednesday’s in-person session.
Tue at 4 (Lab)Once the applied self-assessment problems have been assigned, this lab period will be led by your TA to support you in troubleshooting them. This isn’t a get-started-on-the-problems or solve-the-problems-for-me period. Rather, it’s a get-help-where-you-might-need-it-on-the-problems-you’ve-already-worked-through period.Bring any questions you have about the problems you’ve already worked on.
Wed at 12 (Lec)Discussion-based lecture: On Wednesdays we will normally meet together (online). The invitation to the video call will come via D2L.

The agenda for these sessions will vary but expect it to be something like the following: 1) Welcome back + housekeeping + check-in; 2) Instructor-led discussions, examples, and/or mini-lectures; 3) Clarifying questions; 4) Look-ahead to what’s coming.

Don’t expect a PowerPoint slide show here either. I’ll have a whiteboard and pen ready to tackle and clarify concepts as we may need, but this is meant to help us bring things up a level and to reinforce the content already made available online that you should have covered before the session.
Attend class. Be fully caught up and prepared ahead of time for our discussions.
Thu at 2 (Tut)Once we begin with the conceptual self-assessment problems, this tutorial period will be led by your TA to support you in troubleshooting them. his isn’t a get-started-on-the-problems or solve-the-problems-for-me period. Rather, it’s a get-help-where-you-might-need-it-on-the-problems-you’ve-already-worked-through period.Bring any questions you have about the problems you’ve already worked on.

Self-assessment problems will be due on some Thursdays (see the schedule).
Fri at 12 (self-paced)New cycle begins: The next cycle of content will normally be made available on or before Fridays.

Fridays are self-paced work days.

Use the time to go through and learn the course materials and to work on the related self-assessment problems.
By now you should be finished everything that was published in the last cycle.

Your goal should be to make a plan for the work you’ll do before the next Wednesday.

Our quizzes also take place on some Fridays (see the activity schedule).
Self-paced work to tackle before next Wednesday
Areas in which you should focus each week will be summarized in this space.

You’ve landed on my “emergency remote teaching” materials delivered in Fall 2020 in response to the COVID-19 prevention measures we all face. I’ve tried to go beyond remote lecturing over Zoom to deliver a set of resources that can provide a meaningful stand-alone learning experience for any nascent engineer or other person wanting to pick up the topic. The materials have also been designed to help enable a facilitated and engaging learning experience when combined with other teaching and learning activities, whether still online or as a mix of online and face-to-face experiences in the future. Everything you find here is made available completely for free through this Creative Commons license. Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any feedback at all as I continue to improve things, or if I can help you with your own learning. Thanks for being here!

Activity schedule

If you’re learning this material in one of my university classes, then this is your teaching and learning activity schedule. Think of it as the definitive reference for what we’ll be doing / did every day. Refer to it for links to the online textbook materials and how they related to our in-person sessions and the course assessments. Collapse or expand each date range for details. Check it daily to stay current.

Welcome! This is our first week together. We’ll be getting to know each other a little, and you’ll learn what the course is all about and what it’s like to take a class with me. There’s nothing formally due on the first day or so but don’t miss it – we’ll be covering some pretty important stuff, you’ll have some work to do to get your feet under you, and we’ll formally begin our learning about probability, statistics, and estimation for spatial applications.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Sep 9 (Lec)This is our first class! We’ll spend some time to get introduced to this course, to help you get to know what it’s like to take a course from me. and to discuss how we’ll work together through a combination of remote and in-person sessions.

I’ll also want to hear from you on how best to support your learning.
Nothing’s due yet, but be sure not to miss it.
Thu Sep 10
(Tut)
No tutorial this first week
Fri Sep 11
(self-paced)
First cycle begins: By today I will release the first set of self-paced work for you to work on between now and our session next Friday. See below,Get started ASAP.
Mon Sep 14 (self-paced)Continue working on the self-paced work below in order to be ready for Wednesday.
Tue Sep 14 (Lab)There will be no tutorial today, since the self-assessment problems won’t have been handed out yet.
Summary of the self-paced work to tackle before next Wednesday
Review the course outline in detail.
Sign into this course website and get access to our online textbook materials. Be sure to use the directions I sent to you via D2L. You can check that you’ve done this correctly by making sure that you’re enrolled in this setup module.
Watch / listen to at least one episode of this podcast, which introduces you to some leaders in our field and the kind of work they do.
Watch the video at the bottom of the same page to get a bit of an introduction to me and our field.
Work your way through this module that provides an Introduction to using spreadsheets as a sandbox tool for spatial applications
Work your way through this module that provides an Introduction to browser-based coding as a sandbox tool for spatial applications

Welcome back! This will bring our first full learning cycle to an end and launch the second one. Be engaged. Get the pattern down. Ask questions if you have any. Get and stay on top of things. Jump on the self-assessment questions as soon as they come out on Friday. Be focused on getting yourself ready for the first quiz which is a little over two weeks away.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Sep 16 (Lec)We’ll meet together today with the following goals: 1) Welcome back + housekeeping + check-in; 2) Instructor-facilitated discussion about how the self-assessment problems will work and how they will be marked; 3) Clarifying questions; 4) Look-ahead to what’s coming.By today you should be close to finished all of the self-paced work from last week and ready to move to closing out your notes before we begin our next cycle on Friday.
Thu Sep 17
(Lab)
There will be no lab today, since the self-assessment problems won’t have been handed out yet. They’re coming Friday.
Fri Sep 18
(self-paced)
Second cycle begins: By today I will release the second set of self-paced work and the self-assessment problems to be worked on before next Friday. See below for details.
Mon Sep 21
(self-paced)
Use today to continue working and to get yourself ready for the upcoming sessions.
Tue Sep 22
(Tut)
This will be our first tutorial session and it will be led by our TA. You can think of this one as a drop-in session where you can bring either the applied or conceptual problems you’ve been working on. Recall that this isn’t a get-started-on-the-problems or have-someone-solve-the-problems-for-me period. Rather, it’s a get-help-where-you-might-need-it-on-the-problems-you’ve-already-worked-through period. You should be on top of things and looking to fill any gaps in your understanding.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Summary of the self-paced work to tackle before next Wednesday
The focus of your self-paced work in this cycle should be on this module: Some spatial and statistical fundamentals from a first “survey”

Read the notes. Watch the accompanying videos. Do the self-assessment problems. Get to know these fundamental concepts cold and be sure you know how to apply them. Plan to come to our sessions next week with this material under your belt and with any clarifying questions you might have in hand. Your TA will be there to support you in the lab and tutorial sessions. And have fun! This is an amazing and relevant topic area.

This cycle we’ll close out our second learning cycle and start our third. We’ll be building on the fundamentals we saw earlier by looking in some depth at the three key math models required for probability, statistics, and estimation. As you do this work, keep in mind that your first set of self-assessments is due in our next cycle, and your first quiz takes place then too. Hustle to build your perfect set of lecture notes and your perfect set of reference solutions – think of it as helping yourself do well as well as possible on the quiz.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Sep 23 (Lec)We’ll meet together today with the following goals: 1) Welcome back + housekeeping + check-in; 2) Instructor-facilitated discussion to bridge between last cycle and what’s coming this cycle; 3) Clarifying questions; 4) Look-ahead to what’s coming.By today you should be close to finished all of the self-paced work from last week and ready to move to closing out your notes before we begin our next cycle on Friday.
Thu Sep 24
(Lab)
This session will be led by our TA to support you with the self-assessment problems. Recall that these aren’t a get-started-on-the-problems or have-someone-solve-the-problems-for-me period. Rather, they’re a get-help-where-you-might-need-it-on-the-problems-you’ve-already-worked-through period. You should be on top of things and looking to fill any gaps in your understanding.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Fri Sep 25
(self-paced)
Third cycle begins: By today I will release the second set of self-paced work and the self-assessment problems to be worked on before next Friday. See below for details.
Mon Sep 28
(self-paced)
Use today to continue working and to get yourself ready for the upcoming sessions.
Tue Sep 29
(Tut)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Summary of the self-paced work to tackle before next Wednesday
The focus of your self-paced work in this cycle should be on this module: The three key math models for geospatial applications

Note that the section on stochastic modeling hasn’t been posted yet. This is deliberate because it’s not going to be covered on Quiz 1 and I don’t want people to get confused about what to prepare. As it relates, the self-assessment problems marked with a * are not required to be submitted along with your first submission on Oct 1.

As I did last time, I encourage you to read the notes. Watch the accompanying videos. Do the self-assessment problems. Get to know these fundamental concepts cold and be sure you know how to apply them. Plan to come to our sessions next week with this material under your belt and with any clarifying questions you might have in hand. We’ll take up a few related examples in our discussion on Wednesday, and your TA will be there to support you in the lab and tutorial sessions.

This week you’ll submit your first set of self-assessment problems and write your first quiz. I’ll also share a practice quiz.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Sep 30 (Lec)Today we will discuss the upcoming quiz and the practice quiz. As usual, we’ll also do a check-in, handle clarifying questions, and look-ahead.Prepare for today by doing the self-paced work from last cycle
Thu Oct 1
(Lab)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Self-assessment problems due at 11:59 pm
Fri Oct 2
(self-paced)
Quiz 1 will be handed out via D2L at the start of our regularly scheduled class period today. See the directions shared by email and on D2L. Today also marks the start of our fourth learning cycle, although I will wait until after the quiz closes to launch the new material.
Sat Oct 3Quiz 1 due at noon
Mon Oct 5
(self-paced)
Use today to continue working and to get yourself ready for the upcoming sessions.
Tue Oct 6
(Tut)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the new self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Summary of the self-paced work to tackle before next Wednesday
The focus of your self-paced work in this cycle should remain on this module: The three key math models for geospatial applications. I will be posting the sections on stochastic modeling.

This cycle you should focus on the stochastic model and on the new module that introduces you and takes us deeper into data, probability, statistics, and estimation.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Oct 7 (Lec)Today we will debrief the quiz. As per my D2L announcement, you can find the full solution here. As usual, we’ll also do a check-in, handle clarifying questions, and look-ahead.Nothing is due specifically but you should be working through the material and self-assessment problems for the stochastic model. They are due to be handed in along with others on Oct 22.
Thu Oct 8
(Lab)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.
Fri Oct 9 (self-paced)Fifth cycle begins: By today I will release the next set of self-paced work and the self-assessment problems to be worked on before next Friday. See below for details.
Mon Oct 12 (self-paced)Use today to continue working and to get yourself ready for the upcoming sessions.
Tue Oct 13
(Tut)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Summary of the self-paced work to tackle before next Wednesday
Your first focus in this cycle should be on the stochastic model found here: The three key math models for geospatial applications.
Next, you can dig into this module: A deeper understanding of data, statistics, probability, and estimation

In this cycle you should first focus on the module released last cycle on gaining a deeper understanding of data, statistics, probability, and estimation. I’ll also be releasing the module on descriptive statistics.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Oct 14 (Lec)Today we’ll do our regular check-in, clarifying questions and look-ahead.Nothing is due specifically but you should be working through the material and self-assessment problems for the current modules. They are due to be handed in along with others on Oct 22.
Thu Oct 15
(Lab)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Fri Oct 16
(self-paced)
Sixth cycle begins: By today I will release the next set of self-paced work and the self-assessment problems to be worked on before next Friday. See below for details.
Mon Oct 19 (self-paced)Use today to continue working and to get yourself ready for the upcoming sessions.

Tue Oct 20
(Tut)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Summary of the self-paced work to tackle before next Wednesday
You should be finishing off this module: A deeper understanding of data, statistics, probability, and estimation
And can turn your focus to this module which will take us into the next cycle: A first look at descriptive statistics, descriptive measures, and standard errors

In this cycle your focus should remain on the module on descriptive statistics made available last time.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Oct 21 (Lec)Today we’ll do our regular check-in, clarifying questions and look-ahead.

I will speak about Quiz 2 which takes place on Friday.
Nothing is due specifically but you should be working through the material and self-assessment problems for the current modules. They are due to be handed in along on Oct 22.
Thu Oct 22
(Lab)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.

The second set of self-assessment problems are due tonight at 11:59 pm. As discussed in class, these include all of the problems that have been handed out since the last set but not submitted yet – except those on measures of position and shape.
Fri Oct 23
(self-paced)
Quiz 1 will be handed out via D2L at the start of our regularly scheduled class period today. See the directions shared by email and on D2L. Today also marks the start of our seventh learning cycle.
Mon Oct 26 (self-paced)Use today to continue working and to get yourself ready for the upcoming sessions.

Our first Quality Circle meeting for this class will take place today. Please see D2L for details and for the names of your class reps. Again, the goal of the Quality Circle meeting is for me to learn from the class (via the reps) how I can make your learning experience as good as possible. Any feedback and ideas at all are welcome and appreciated.
Tue Oct 27
(Tut)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Summary of the self-paced work to be working on
Your focus should be on this module: A first look at descriptive statistics, descriptive measures, and standard errors

In this cycle your focus should be on finishing the module and self-assessment problems on descriptive statistics, and on reviewing Quiz 2.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Oct 28 (Lec)Today we’ll meet for a mid-course check-in. I will summarize and we will discuss the Quality Circle meeting that took place Monday. I will also debrief and review Quiz 2 (the solutions for which can be found here)Nothing is due specifically but you should be finishing off any topics and self-assessment problems you haven’t already finished, e.g. those on measures of position and measures of shape.
Thu Oct 29
(Lab)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Fri Oct 30
(self-paced)
Today marks the start of our eighth learning cycle. See below for the related self-paced work.
Mon Nov 2 (self-paced)Use today to continue working and to get yourself ready for the upcoming sessions.
Tue Nov 3
(Tut)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Summary of the self-paced work to be working on
Your first focus should be on finishing off our module on A first look at descriptive statistics, descriptive measures, and standard errors, i.e. the sections on measures of position and measures of shape that weren’t covered on the second quiz.
You should also review the solution to Quiz 2.
And here’s our next module: Mastering the normal distribution and related statistical tables and spreadsheet functions. This will be tested on Quiz 4 and the associated self-assessments are not due until the day before that.

This learning cycle will be a little different. It’s two weeks long because it includes our term break. As you will see, it contains all of the material to be tested on Quiz 3 (and all of the related self-assessment problems) which you can work through at your own pace, as well as a number of in-person sessions either side of the break.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed 4 Nov (Lec)Today we’ll meet to launch this portion of the course. We’ll do a check in as usual. Then I’ll introduce you to the related modules (see below). And I’ll answer any questions you have about what’s expected and how to prepare for Quiz 3.
Thu Nov 5
(Lab)
This session will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Nov 8 – 14
(self-paced)
This is the term break period. There are no classes on campus so it is by nature a self-paced portion of our time together.
Mon Nov 16 (self-paced)Use today to continue working and to get yourself ready for Quiz 3.
Tue Nov 17
(Tut)
This session will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Thu Nov 19 (Lab)This session will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.The third set of self-assessments are due today at 11:59 pm.
Fri Nov 20 (self-paced)Quiz 3 will be handed out via D2L at the start of our regularly scheduled class period today. See the directions shared by email and on D2L.
Summary of the self-paced work to be working on during this period
Here is the module for this period: Building your skills in functional modeling, linearization, and estimation for spatial applications. This is the basis of Quiz 3 and contains all of the self-assessment problems you need to hand in on Nov 19.

In this cycle you will submit the third set of self-assessment problems and write Quiz 3. I will also launch our second last module.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Nov 18 (Lec)Today we’ll do our regular look-back and look-ahead. I’ll highlight a few things from the practice quiz you have been working with. And I’ll speak briefly to the class performance on Quiz 2 (the solution for which is here).Nothing is due specifically but you should be preparing for Quiz 3 which takes place Friday.
Thu Nov 19
(Lab)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.The third set of self-assessments are due at 11:59 pm. As outlined above, you’re required to hand in all of the problems here.
Fri Nov 20
(self-paced)
Quiz 3 will be handed out via D2L at the start of our regularly scheduled class period today. See the directions to be shared by email and on D2L. Today also marks the start of our next learning cycle. See below for the related self-paced work.
Mon Nov 23 (self-paced)Use today to continue working on the next module and to get yourself ready for the upcoming sessions.
Tue Nov 24
(Tut)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Summary of the self-paced work to be working on
Your first focus should be on this module: Building your skills in functional modeling, linearization, and estimation for spatial applications. This is the basis of Quiz 3 and contains all of the self-assessment problems you need to hand in on Nov 19.
After that you can get back to working on the modules for Quiz 4. The first is this one which was handed out on Oct 30: Mastering the normal distribution and related statistical tables and spreadsheet functions.

The this is the next module, also for Quiz 4: An introduction to confidence intervals and a better understanding of statistical inference by estimating the mean

In this cycle you can complete the work on the recent modules, and I’ll launch our last module on An introduction to hypothesis testing for spatial and geospatial applications.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Nov 25 (Lec)Today we’ll do our regular look-back and look-ahead. I’ll provide some general feedback on Quiz 3 (the solution for which is here), and I’ll answer any open questions.Nothing is due specifically but you should be preparing for Quiz 4.
Thu Nov 26
(Lab)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.
Fri Nov 27
(self-paced)
See below for the related self-paced work.
Mon Nov 30 (self-paced)Use today to continue working on the next module and to get yourself ready for the upcoming sessions.
Tue Dec 1
(Tut)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
Summary of the self-paced work to be working on
You should working on the modules and self-assessment problems already released for Quiz 4: Mastering the normal distribution and related statistical tables and spreadsheet functions and An introduction to confidence intervals and a better understanding of statistical inference by estimating the mean
And here’s our last module for the semester! It’s also on Quiz 4: An introduction to hypothesis testing for spatial and geospatial applications

In this cycle you should complete any work you have left on the modules to be tested on Quiz 4. Your final set of self-assessment problems are due and the quiz takes place on our last day.

DateActivities and topicsThings due or required
Wed Dec 2 (Lec)Today we’ll do our regular look-back and look-ahead. I will review what’s going to be tested on Quiz 4 and take any questions.Nothing is due specifically but you should be preparing for Quiz 4.
Thu Dec 3
(Lab)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.
Fri Dec 4
(self-paced)
See below for the related self-paced work.
Mon Dec 7 (self-paced)Use today to continue working on the modules and to get yourself ready for the upcoming quiz.
Tue Dec 8
(Tut)
This will be led by our TA to help you with the self-assessment problems.Come with your worked problems in hand.
The self-assessment problems are due at 11:59 pm today.
Wed Dec 9This is the last day of classes. I will launch Quiz 4 to you which will be in the same style and format as always.
Summary of the self-paced work to be working on
You should working on the modules and self-assessment problems already for Quiz 4: Mastering the normal distribution and related statistical tables and spreadsheet functions
And: An introduction to confidence intervals and a better understanding of statistical inference by estimating the mean
And: An introduction to hypothesis testing for spatial and geospatial applications

As the semester unfolds, stay tuned right here for the rest of the schedule and for links to the rest of the online textbook materials as they are released.

Welcome!

Alex Bruton, PhD, PEng, MBA

Key dates

The table below summarizes the key dates. See the Activity Schedule for full details.

DateActivity
Sep 9First day of class!
Oct 1Self-assessments #1 due at midnight
Oct 2Quiz 1
Oct 22Self-assessments #2 due at midnight
Oct 23Quiz 2
Oct 26Quality Circle meeting
Nov 19Self-assessments #3 due at midnight
Nov 20Quiz 3
Dec 8Self-assessments #4 due at midnight
Dec 9Quiz 4

Note: We will discuss these dates in class and any required changes will be discussed and announced ahead of time.

Note: All times and dates are in the mountain time zone.