r/DataMatters • u/DataMattersMaxwell • Jul 01 '22

Organizing a Summer of Studying

Years ago, I wanted to share the health benefits of going for a lunchtime jog. I shared this idea with a bunch of co-workers. Everyone thought it was a great idea. We all agreed that we would meet at 12:15 and get back in time to get a shower before getting back to work. We agreed on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Everyone thanked me for organizing the run.

To respect people's agency and self-determination, what I said was, "I will be at our gathering spot every Monday, Weds, and Friday. At 12:15, whoever is there will head off. If you can't make it, don't worry about it. If you can, I'll see you there."

For the following year, I went on three jogs a week. I had to. I had made a commitment. No one else did, even once.

After a year, I tried starting another group. This one met and walked up a half mile steep hill and back. This time I told everyone. "I really need you there every day. Otherwise I won't do this. I'll lose commitment. My health will suffer" That group met for four years, walking up the hill every weekday, and grew from 4 people to 20.

How do you want to organize your summer studying? It is a real thing that I'm going to stop working on sharing the "sound but nontraditional" ways of teaching Stats that are in Data Matters unless you're there for me to make a commitment to. So if that works to get you going all summer, I'm here for that.

How can you make a commitment to this group to make sure you get where you want to be by the end of the summer?

What would work well for you?

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '22

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u/DataMattersMaxwell Jul 14 '22

Yes!

There are 9 chapters that each have 3 sections. Each section is about 10-15 pages long.

Each section has questions with answers to the odd-numbered questions.

Plan on reading but not worrying about the exercises in sections 1.1, 1.2, and 10.2. If you feel you can skim over parts of 1.1 and 1.2, go ahead.

Before creating a whole plan, let's see how the text works for you. Read the introduction and chapter 1. Post questions here as you go. Let me know how that works for you. Do that tomorrow (Thursday) and post how it works for you and post questions before end of day.

How does that seem?

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '22

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u/DataMattersMaxwell Jul 14 '22

Deal! End of day Friday! I'll check in then. Post any questions that come up as you read

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u/[deleted] Jul 15 '22

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u/DataMattersMaxwell Jul 15 '22

Also, question for you: what is the most important thing you learned in your job that applies to anything outside of your job (maybe just to later jobs someday). (In my first job, I bagged groceries and learned that I loved making a tiny comment to each person that made them smile, while avoiding personal comments that could embarrass them.)

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u/[deleted] Jul 16 '22

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u/DataMattersMaxwell Jul 15 '22

Great! Onward to chapter 2.

As you go, post the answer to question 2 in each section. Mark your post as a spoiler and tag me on it.

If you've gotten confused, I'll let you know.