You Can't Get There

From Here

Table of Contents	Objectives
Why??	Why the author thinks this is important?
Two Browser Windows	Learn How to tell the difference between the two different browser windows.
Late News	Read the latest about this environment.
Browsers	Netscape will work the best with this material.
QuickTime	Is QuickTime Installed?
Navigation Panel	Learn about the main navigation panel.
Wadsworth Link	Learn about the publisher.
Home	Where is home?
Navigation	Learn to Navigate the Environment.
Chapters	Learn how to read the interactive text.
Statlets	Learn how to start our statistical software package.
Search	Learn how to search the Environment.
Support	Discover Supporting Material.
	This button always takes you to the top of the page you are viewing.
Math Test	Evaluate your math skills.
Additional Information	Learn where to go if you are new to the Web.
Questions/Test	Evaluate your understanding.
Report	Send a Report to your Instructor

Why is this Important?

If you have QuickTime istalled, listen to the author of this text, and see why he believes statistics is a useful area of study by clicking on this QuickTime link. If Quicktime is not installed on your browser, first go to the QuickTime section of this page, and download and install the plug-in.

Two Browser Windows

In this Investigating Statistics environment, the web browser can display two different types of windows. The first type of window is called a primary page. Primary pages are always indicated by the fact that they contain either one of two Main Navigation Panels. The second type of window is logically called a secondary page. Secondary pages do not contain a Main Navigation Panel.

The Main Navigation Panel, shown on the left in minature, and in a full active form in the upper left and lower right corners of this page provides navigation choices that are fully discussed in the Main Navigation Panel section below . Primary pages must always be present to move around in the environment. Secondary pages that are created by clicking particular links on a primary page may hide a primary page making it appear that it has disappeared. The primary page has only moved to the background. When a secondary page is created it is best practice to read all the relevant material on the secondary page and then close it by clicking in the window's close box. The secondary page will be removed, and the underlying primary page will again be seen. If the primary page is allowed to obscure a secondary page, new information generated by a link in the primary page may never be seen as it is created in a secondary page hidden in the background.

Try it. Click on the secondary window link at the end of this paragraph. A secondary page will be created that either partially or fully coveres this primary window. Read the information on the secondary page, and then close it by clicking the secondary page's close box. This primary page should then be seen. You may want to try this several times to see the relationship between primary and secondary pages. Here is the secondary window link.

Late News

Because the cyber world is changing so fast, you may want to link to the environment's Late Breaking News page next. To view this secondary page that lists any errors, changes, or news about the Environment after the CD and textbook were published, you will need an active internet connection. One of the most important uses for the News page is to learn about and receive updates to the CD material. The Late Breaking News page will provide production dates for any new chapters so that you can compare them to the production dates appearing at the top of each chapter page. Thedirections for saving updates provide detailed instructions on how to get and save any changes.

Browsers

PCs

This environment is best viewed with Netscape Communicator or Navigator. You may get the latest version of this software at Netscape's web site. If you insist on using Internet Explorer on a PC, you may experience some difficulties with Statlets. The most common problem is that when you copy data from the clipboard into Statlets, it may not be visible. However, it is almost always present, and usable.

Macintosh

Recent versions of Netscape's Navigator have had some difficulties with JAVA. With Navigator 4.0 and 4.5, a very few Statlet's routines do not work. Netscape Communicator 4.6 and 4.7 crashes when Statlets is loaded. However, Navigator 3.0 workes without error. Internet Explorer also works with the exception that Statlet's menu choices are added to Explorer's menus instead of being created in a separate menu bar. On the Macintosh the preferred browser is Navigator 3.0 followed closely by Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer can be found at Microsoft Coporation's web site.

QuickTime

QuickTime is required in this environment. Plug-ins for Internet Explorer, and Netscape Navigator are available from Apple Computer at http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/. Make sure that QuickTime plugin is in the browser's plugin folder on your computer. To make sure everything is working correctly, click this QuickTime movie link, and a new browser page should open, and after loading, a QuickTime movie should be shown. If you do not have the QuickTime plugin installed, you will be warned, and then allowed to download QuickTime which includes the QuickTime Plug-In. This movie explains that to fully use this learning environment, you must have an active connection to the internet. Again, if you do not see this movie, or were provided with a broken QuickTime movie icon, make sure that the correct plugin is installed for your browser. At the time this document was written, QuickTime 5.0 was the latest version from Apple Computer.

Main Navigation Panel

As briefly noted above, on each primary page in the Investigating Statistics environment the main navigation panel shown on the top left and bottom right corners of this page will appear depending on the length of the page. If the page is short, the top left navigation panel will appear a single time. Otherwise, the navigation panel will appear at the top and bottom of each primary page. At the top of each primary page, the panel will be on the left edge. At the bottom of the page the panel will appear on the right edge. You use this panel to move to and from primary pages in the environment. Only one primary page can be displayed on your computer at a time. Clicking on a navigation panel button to another section will replace the primary page being shown with the primary page requested.

As detailed above, secondary pages do not contain the Main Navigation Panel. Several of the links above in this page will have created a secondary page. There is actually a third type of window that will be created when you use Statlets. You will see Statlets windows when doing computer projects in Chapters 2 through 15.

The next paragraphs explain each of the navigation panel choices that appear on primary pages.

Wadsworth

This environment is published by the Wadsworth Corporation. Clicking

in the navigation panel will do two things.

It will open a new browser page.
Provided you have an active internet connection, the new browser page will display Wadsworth's internet home page.

As noted above, there are many instances when a new browser window will be created and information displayed. Additional windows are created when material is displayed from the internet instead or when the information simply expands or clarifies the information contained on a primary page . It is important that after reading the information on these "extra" windows, that you close them. The more windows you leave open, the more memory is required to view the environment.

Home

Home is the first page you see when entering this environment. It is always quick and easy to go home. Clicking the Home button will always take you back to the introductory page. Because you can always go home, you can never get lost.

Chapters

Clicking the Chapters button displays a page with links to each of the CD chapters. These chapters are similar to those found in the textbook, but each has additional interactive features. In the CD chapters, you can link to information on the internet, do calculations directly in the chapters etc. The interactive materials in the CD chapters were designed to assist you in learning this material.

Statlets

Statlets is the statistical software package used in this environment. Clicking the Statlets button displays a Statlets' window enabling you to use the software. The CD contains the Java educational applet version of Statlets. To learn more about the product, or to upgrade to the professional program visit Statlets' Home Page.

Search

There are two possible searches related to the CD material: A Chapter Search, and a FAQ search. All searches are conducted on material at the web site. You must have an active web connection to search.

The Chapter Search link displays a simple search form. You can enter search words in the query box in any order. The search engine will find all chapter files with at least one of the search terms. When it returns the results, it will automatically rank them from relevant to least relevant. Natural language queries, such as questions or descriptions work well with this search engine. For example, you could enter this query: ANOVA calculation formula and get back results ranked according to how closely they resemble that query.
You can also add Boolean operators to searches to make your searches more specific. The Boolean search page describes these operators.
The FAQ Search displays a simple form in the Display frame that allows you to search the Frequently Asked Questions material. You use it just like the Chapter Search link. The material that is searched are answers to questions posed by students taking this course from the author. If you have a question about some of environment's contents, you might search the FAQs first to see if your question has been previously asked and answered.

Support

Clicking Support provides links to many statistical support tools. You will be able to join several different listservs for students using this environment or who are simply interested in statistics, read online statistical journals, find important sources for data, etc..

Please explore the support links. Using these links will truly enhance your learning beyond that found in the typical classroom.

To Top

Clicking the To Top icon on any page will quickly scroll the browser window to the top of the page. The To Top icon is found after most major chapter sections. Two other important navigation links that are not found in the main navigation panel, but are found in every chapter are discussed below. These are the Question/Test and Report links.

Math Test

Clicking on the link for the online (you must have an active connection to the web) test at the end of this paragraph will provide you with an assessment designed to evaluate your math skills. After clicking this link, you will only need to enter your name as an ID in the secondary page, and then take the test. This test will be scored, and your results displayed in the same secondary page shortly after you submit your answers. Students who score 80 percent or better have generally had little difficulty with the material. If you score below 80 percent, you should consider refreshing your math skills. Feedback from items that you miss will assist you in isolating your weaknesses, and what you need to review in order to be prepared for this material. Here is the link to the Math Skills Test.

Additional Information

If you are just beginning to use the Internet and the Internet Browser computing environment, you may want to look at some Web-based tutorials. To begin, you might simply use a search engine and investigate the links provided using the terms "Internet tutorials". Yahoo provides these links using those terms. Many universities provide tutorials for students and faculty new to using the web. Penn State University where the author currently teaches, has a set of Web-based tutorials developed to assist people who have little prior computer experience. You should search your school's offerings to find what is available and specific to your campus.

Questions/Test

At the end of each chapter, there is an self-scoring on-line (internet) test you can take to help determine if you understand the information. As an example, this link allows you to take a computer scored test based on the information presented on this page. Simply type in your name in the secondary page for the requested ID. The appropriate test is automatically provided for you. For chapter tests, if your instructor requests to see the results of this examination, you can either copy and e-mail, or print the feedback you receive immediately after taking the test.

Report

At the end of each chapter you will also find a link to send a report indicating your understanding of the material to your instructor. You need to know both your and your instructor's e-mail addresses. Please only send these reports if requested by your instructor. To try this feature, you may send a report indicating your understanding of this section to your instructor. To indicate that you have just finished the Navigation section, simply select "Navigation" at the bottom of the Reading Assignment selection choices. Then, enter your e-mail address, and your instructor's in the appropriate spaces, select your level of understanding of this section, and click the submit button.