Week 01, Session A: Introduction to Class

Alejandro Molina Moctezuma

Welcome!

I am very excited to be teaching this class.

  • Today we will be talking about the course.
  • Before this introduction, I talked about the website.
  • We will work together on projects, we will use this to create slideshows

Things you need for this course

  • Program R

  • RStudio or Positron (new!)

  • Github

  • I recommend you create a Github student account

Introductions

  • About me:

  • I enjoy numbers, statistics, coding, models and teaching

  • My academic history

My academic history

UNAM
UNAM
Undergraduate degree in Biology and Masters in Ecology. Worked with fish and the evolution of Matrotrophy
University of Maine
University of Maine
PhD working with Atlantic salmon movement and survival
LSSU
LSSU
Postdoc building a database, analysing data and looking at post-restoration ceommunity composition
MSU
MSU
Postdoc working with models

Currently

I mostly teach

Do some research

Serve on committees

Herbert College representative in the Statistics Minor and Masters

Your turn

  1. Name
  2. Department
  3. Interests both research and something you enjoy to do

Course overview

PLEASE CHECK THE SYLLABUS ON THE WEBSITE

Course overview

Learning Outcomes

  1. Critically evaluate quantitative methods in published research across agricultural and natural resource sciences
  2. Implement and adapt these methods using equations, models, and R code
  3. Apply appropriate quantitative approaches to their own research data
  4. Communicate and defend methodological decisions through peer-led discussions and final presentations

Course lectures

We will use some pretty different teaching and learning strategies. This are being used for three reasons:

  1. There is peer-reviewed evidence that these strategies improve learning outcomes. But I am an empiricist.
  2. You will develop some skills, like oral communication and some teaching abilities, that will be very helpful in your future.
  3. I believe it will make the class engaging.

This week’s assignment

  • Read Tredennick et al. (2021) or Zuur, Ieno, and Elphick (2010) depending on your group
  • Give a lecture (~25 minutes) on the paper and lead a short discussion (~5 minutes)
  • Be ready to answer questions from your classmates
  • Use slides or not, your choice
  • You will have 10 minutes at the beginning of next class to prepare with your group
  • You are the experts!

Zuur et al. 2010

  • A protocol for data exploration to avoid common statistical problems
  • Methods in Ecology and Evolution 1(1):3–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2041-210X.2009.00001.x

Treddennick et al. 2021

  • A practical guide to selecting models for exploration, inference, and prediction in ecology
  • Ecology 102(5):e03375. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3336
  • Some of you have already read this one!

Make sure you have everything ready for next classes

  • R and RStudio or Positron installed
  • Positron? What is that?
  • Positron is a new IDE by the makers of RStudio. It is still in beta but looks very promising.
  • Link: https://posit.co/download/preview/

Next Week

Notes before the end of the class

  • Office: ANRB 474
  • If you have issues with R or RStudio, please chech the resources section on the website
  • If you are struggling with basic linear models, you can review and work on the materials from SNR 610: https://moctezumaii.github.io/SNR610/ which can be a good resource!
  • This is a collaborative class, we will work together to make it successful for all of us! Feel free to ask anyone for help
  • See you next class!

References

  • Tredennick, A. T., G. Hooker, and P. B. Adler. (2021). A practical guide to selecting models for exploration, inference, and prediction in ecology. Ecology 102(5):e03375. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3336
  • Zuur, A. F., E. N. Ieno, and C. S. Elphick. (2010). A protocol for data exploration to avoid common statistical problems. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 1(1):3–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2041-210X.2009.00001.x
Tredennick, Andrew T., Giles Hooker, Stephen P. Ellner, and Peter B. Adler. 2021. “A Practical Guide to Selecting Models for Exploration, Inference, and Prediction in Ecology.” Ecology 102 (6): e03336. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.3336.
Zuur, Alain F., Elena N. Ieno, and Chris S. Elphick. 2010. “A Protocol for Data Exploration to Avoid Common Statistical Problems.” Methods in Ecology and Evolution 1 (1): 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2041-210X.2009.00001.x.