Course Schedule

You've just started, you've never taken an online/internet/remote course before, why isn't it on your schedule like your other courses? … these questions and more hopefully answered here:

Technically, a cross between “always” and “whenever”, with an implied timeframe before a given project is due (typically aligning with the end of a class week, which is Wednesday).

We do not have any “regularly scheduled”, nor “face-to-face” class meetings. Nothing requiring you to be at your computer, in the discord at any particular time.

Instead, you use the discord and/or e-mail me when you (starting early, working away steadily, in accordance with the due date of the particular deliverable you are working on) are working on the class.

Interactions in the class will predominantly be transacted by questions, reading, and playing.

Be sure to stay up-to-date on your particular class channel, along with #announcements and #information (I am always tweaking and putting together new documents).

Due to the pandemic (coronageddon), CCC has created several new hybrid/online course categories for use starting in the fall semester of 2020:

• “REMOTE” which is a synchronous online offering of the course
• “HYBRID A-D” which is being used to balance social distancing requirements with unavoidably face-to-face lab activities (think Chemistry lab)
• amusingly, a blank (versus “INTERNET” or “TBA”) for my class, which is an asynchronous online offering of course

• asynchronous means: (of two or more objects or events) not existing or happening at the same time
• synchronous means: existing or occurring at the same time

I chose the asynchronous classification because:

• computing/programming naturally fits very well within that (different people have different preferences on when they best want to work on things)
• it is a good exposure to real world working conditions (where aside from an 8-5 workday, the work you do is being done by a deadline, not as specifically scheduled times of the day, which may be interrupted by meetings, telephone calls, e-mails, etc.)
• time management is an important skill, so it taking control of your life

Now, that is not to say, if you really, REALLY wanted to, you could on a set schedule of your own, be at your computer ready to interact in the discord (or send me e-mails) at the same time every day.

I am generally aiming to be broadly available throughout the day, with class-related conversations sparking up and down all throughout the day.

The aim is to start early, so you have the time to slowly and calmly poke away at things, including any delays between asking questions and getting responses (if I'm busy with other students, or sleeping, I may not get back to you immediately).