30% For each module you should do a learning activity (of your own
choosing) to introduce you to the module. You should send in (by e-mail) a
report of your learning activity before class on the day we start a new
module together in class. At a minimum this should include (but not be
limited to) a thorough reading of the chapter in our textbook. You will
receive a 4.0 if your learning activity report is on time, written in the
past tense and demonstrates significant interaction with the material. You
may receive lesser grades depending on its lateness or reduction in
quality. There is a lot of flexibility in what you choose for your own
learning activities; this philosophy accomodates different learning styles.
Do whatever you need to in order to meet your own learning style and
interact significantly with the material. (You should not feel a need to
be a complete master of the material at this stage or have _completed_ all
of the labs, because otherwise there would be no need to discuss things in
class or allow class time for labs. Find a nice balance so you do enough
to intelligently participate in the class discussions but still have more
to learn and do in class/lab. The learning activity should prepare you to
contribute to the class discussion at a level deeper than the textbook.)
20% At the end of each module there will be a test (administered and
returned by e-mail). You will receive whatever you give yourself if the
evaluation is justified, honest, and on time; if not, my graders and I will
decide what the test score should be (hopefully in dialogue with you).
Most of the tests will be essay questions, with the probable exceptions of
modules 3 and 4.
20% After each test you will submit a self-evaluation about your test.
Each evaluation must be turned in (by e-mail) before the next test. You
should start with the test answer you sent to me (there should be a copy in
your Out box) and annotate it, setting off your evaluation comments with **
or capital letters or something. Evaluate performance, not effort.
If your self-evaluation is justified, honest, and on time you will get a
4.0 for the evaluation and whatever you gave yourself for the test score.
If I disagree with your evaluation we will have a timely e-mail private
discussion giving you a chance to re-evaluate or convince me your original
evaluation was justified and honest. If that doesn't work, my graders and
I will evaluate your evaluation as well as your test. If it is less than a
week late but still justified and honest you can receive up to a 2.0 for
the evaluation. If it is more than a week late or not justified and honest
then the score on your evaluation can be as low as 0.0 and therefore so can
the corresponding test score. Evaluate performance, not effort.
[Because learning to judge quality is a difficult task, I propose we take
and evaluate test 1 normally but not count it (or self-eval 1) toward the
final grade. That will give us all a chance to learn the critiquing
process before it really counts.]
20% Homework and quizzes.
10% My evaluation of your work, attitude, participation, motivation,
helpfulness to others, and mastery of the material.
Summary:
30% Learning Activities
20% Tests
20% Self-evaluations
20% Homework and Quizzes
10% Instructor Evaluation
These are the only grades we will deal with in this class, including on the
tests, self-evaluations, and final grades:
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D+ 1.3
D 1.0
D- 0.7
F 0.0
Three goals:
------------
1) Learn what Computer Science is
2) Learn to produce, recognize, and critique quality work
3) Try a paperless experiment
Suggestions for learning activities:
------------------------------------
Read the chapter in the textbook
Answer the Review Questions sprinkled throughout the chapter
Do the Exercises at the end of the chapter
Read from the list of Additional Readings at the end of the chapter
Discuss the topic with experts (or even your classmates)
Find internet (e.g. web) resources that address the topic
Watch pertinent videos in the library
Begin the lab exercises
Read the chapter in the textbook a second time
Take reading notes
etc....
Scheduling:
-----------
Because the learning activities need to be done before we begin the module
in class, you will likely be working on different phases of three
different modules at any one time. For example, you could be working on
the labs for module 5, preparing your self-evaluation for test 4, and
reading ahead as part of your learning activity 6, all on the same day.
