Lab46 Wiki

To maximize your experience and familiarity with concepts encountered during the course, you will be compiling a document that will be a representation of your activities. This “compendium” of knowledge and experiences will combine both materials you've produced and commentary/reflection/revelation of concepts and ideas you've realized.

This is a great way to keep a written record of your exploits, enabling an informative look back on past activities (especially from future classes!), and being a potential source of information from which others can glean some understanding of ideas or concepts.

For grading purposes, your Opus, this great tome of knowledge, will be reviewed by a given set of criteria up to four times a semester; some of the objective criteria to be met for each review include:

• information is contained within the appropriately named wiki page (part1, part2, part3, etc.)
• includes at least 4 dated entries
• appropriately identifies, defines, and demonstrates a number of topics
• adequately identifies, defines, and measures course objectives
• effectively performs/reviews and comments on a number of experiments

There will be a template provided that can be modified to meet these and other requirements.

These and additional requirements, specific to the course, will be presented in a follow-up document.

For the duration of the course I would like for you to keep a journal which details your experiences and revelations of your journey through the course. Each week (excluding break weeks) I would like for you to contribute to your journal, so that a written account can exist to tell your individual story of the course. (Great for looking back on things, and also useful if you are meeting with me).unix

In some cases, I may present some more structured activities to be done in the journal. But in general, you are to use the journal to record insights from your epic unixjourney you've embarked upon this semester. While I welcome off-topic banter, that should not be the exclusive subject matter of your entries. Please reference the Journal Initialization Tutorial for further information.

To get credit on your journal entries each week, you need to accomplish the following:

• journal entry is ready by the collection deadline (2AM on the Tuesday the following class week)
• achieve at least the minimum word count (300 words each week)
• entry is contained in the appropriately named wiki page (week1 for Week 1, week2 for Week 2, etc.)
• identifies and includes extrapolation of provided keywords for the week (if given)

Relate to what is going on in class- the topics, what you're doing with them, something you've realized, etc. Excessive irrelevant content (in the absence of any substantial class-related content) risks invalidating the entry.

Note that I am not interested in “English teacher approved” essays- in some courses and settings that is more important. For this course, I want you to be able to effectively convey your thoughts in words- a crucial ability that can later be applied to “proper English essays”.

You can never write too much in my class.

There will be no make-ups for missed journal entries. Have entries ready by the deadline or lose credit.

NOTE for those taking multiple courses with me: Journal content each week MUST reflect consideration from ALL courses you have with me.

Additionally, there are some journal achievements that can be unlocked:

• INTRO: You've filled out an intro section, minimum 192 words, so that it details who you are (x1)
• ALTER: You've customized the journal from the defaults; says your name, changed colors, etc. (x1)
• EXIST: The journal and all entries exist with at least minimum word count in each entry (x1)
• CREATE: You successfully created your journal in the prescribed way before given deadline (x1)
• WRITE: 3 journal entries exceed the minimum word count (x4)

Just to be clear: Achievements are not bonus points.

In your journal I would like for you to detail your experiences in the course. Summary of experience/class notes; or statements/musings on questions like: Do you understand the material? Is it interesting? Anything not making sense? Any parallels to the real world? and general comments and thoughts.

Use the journal to allow me to see the course through your eyes.

Quests constitute the portion of your grade involving activities you perform in the name of experiencing and demonstrating knowledge in this class- the means by which I will be assessing your understanding of the material through directed explorations of various topics. Such quests may be comprehensive to one another.

Quests can embody many forms, including (but not limited to):

• puzzles
• battles
• riddles
• challenges (existential, philosophical, etc.)
• mind games
• pattern matching
• righting grievous wrongs
• spreading peace and prosperity across the land

Successfully accomplishing quests can earn you:

• experience
• items
• knowledge
• purpose
• ability to encounter additional quests

Quests and related activities will typically include specific requirements necessary for accomplishing in order for any attribute of success to be applied.

Projects constitute the portion of your grade involving activities you perform in the name of experiencing and demonstrating knowledge in this class- the means by which I will be assessing your understanding of the material through directed explorations of various topics. Such projects may be comprehensive to one another.

Two key products of performing a project are demonstration and documentation. Demonstration is presenting your finished project (that it meets project specifications), to the instructor and being able to respond to any questions on any particular facet therein.

Perhaps more important than demonstration of a working project is the documentation. Documentation includes the instructions for recreation of the end product from the ground up, allowing not only the original author(s), but individuals of sufficient requisite skill to recreate and understand important concepts through reading the prepared documentation.

I reserve the right to request, for any project as terms of acceptance of project demonstration, the recreation of an equivalently functional end result through following of accumulated project documentation. If documentation fails to produce the desired outcome, it will reflect negatively upon the project evaluation.

A list of provided projects may be given, but there might also exist opportunities for additional project ideas- such projects are subject to approval by the instructor prior to starting, and are held to the same demonstration and documentation standards as standard projects.

In some cases, depending on the situations involved, a project may be conducive for group-based collaboration. This is not the default case, but is specified on a case-by-case basis. In such scenarios, all involved group members should be identified prior to starting on the project. Additionally, ALL group members in a collaborative situation must perform fairly equivalent work output into the completion of the project. Deficient members may experience reduced success.

Assignments constitute the portion of your grade involving activities you perform in the name of experiencing and demonstrating knowledge in this class- the means by which I will be assessing your understanding of the material through directed explorations of various topics. Some assignments may be comprehensive to one another.

Assignments that take the form of programs should adhere to the various submission policy points to ensure proper organization and readability. In the case of Programs or Scripts, be sure to include proper documentation in the form of code comments.

Projects, Labs, Case Studies, Quizzes, and Homework assignments are subject to the pertinent areas of the Submission Policy and will involve further research and exploration of some problem or topic being covered in the course. Projects may encompass a more time-consuming exploration of a topic or problem, whereas Labs will generally be a specific experiment related to the topic. Case Studies may involve the study or focus on particular concepts learned in class and on other assignments; Homework assignments will be more of a drill exercise helping to gain more familiarity with a particular topic.

Assessments/Projects as assigned must be well organized (ie easy to read) and contain enough of a written description so I can see the “you” in your responses. Generally, developing your own format and following the guidelines laid out in the Submission Policy will be more than adequate.

Maintaining an ever present effort in your journey with respect to being present for class gatherings and making your presence known (both in and outside of class) is an important aspect to academic interactions.

During each scheduled class gathering, you are to be present and have a shell open to Lab46, before class activities are underway. Your presence will be automatically ascertained and recorded.

In addition to your physical presence, participating in class interactions is also of significant importance. Participation is like the “I care” component of your grade. If you care enough to learn and help enhance the experience, you will have no trouble here. If you are disruptive or are not putting forth effort, however, then it will be duly reflected.

This isn't a “kiss up to the teacher” grade. I don't want people bending over backwards to please me. I want to see people learning and asking questions and growing, not agreeing with everything I say. Sometimes I will specifically ask questions or say things for the sole purpose of getting individual perspectives.

Participation is the contribution of YOU to the overall class, in a positive and harmonious manner to the overall group :)

Maintaining an ever present effort in your journey with respect to putting forth effort and making your presence known is an important aspect to academic interactions.

During each week of class (excluding breakweeks), you are to perform the following activities by 11:59:59pm Saturday of the given week:

• Make at least 2 on-topic and relevant posts to the class mailing list AND
• Make at least 2 relevant comments in the class IRC

Participation is like the “I care” component of your grade. If you care enough to learn and help enhance the experience, you will have no trouble here. If you are disruptive or are not putting forth effort, however, then it will be duly reflected.

This isn't a “kiss up to the teacher” grade. I don't want people bending over backwards to please me. I want to see people learning and asking questions and growing, not agreeing with everything I say. Sometimes I will specifically ask questions or say things for the sole purpose of getting individual perspectives.

Participation is the contribution of YOU to the overall class, in a positive and harmonious manner to the overall group :)

Maintaining an ever present effort in your journey with respect to putting forth effort and making your presence known is an important aspect to academic interactions.

During each week of class (excluding breakweeks), you are to perform the following activities by 11:59:59pm Saturday of the given week:

• Make at least 2 on-topic and relevant posts to the class mailing list or class IRC.
• Make at least 2 pertinent edits to the wiki (your Opus, your portfolio pages, etc.).

Participation is like the “I care” component of your grade. If you care enough to learn and help enhance the experience, you will have no trouble here. If you are disruptive or are not putting forth effort, however, then it will be duly reflected.

This isn't a “kiss up to the teacher” grade. I don't want people bending over backwards to please me. I want to see people learning and asking questions and growing, not agreeing with everything I say. Sometimes I will specifically ask questions or say things for the sole purpose of getting individual perspectives.

Participation is the contribution of YOU to the overall class, in a positive and harmonious manner to the overall group :)

Maintaining an ever present effort in your journey with respect to being present for class gatherings and making your presence known (both in and outside of class) is an important aspect to academic interactions.

Participation is like the “I care” component of your grade. If you care enough to learn and help enhance the experience, you will have no trouble here. If you are disruptive or are not putting forth effort, however, then it will be duly reflected.

This isn't a “kiss up to the teacher” grade. I don't want people bending over backwards to please me. I want to see people learning and asking questions and growing, not agreeing with everything I say. Sometimes I will specifically ask questions or say things for the sole purpose of getting individual perspectives.

Participation is the contribution of YOU to the overall class, in a positive and harmonious manner to the overall group :)

Maintaining an ever present effort in your journey with respect to being present for class gatherings and making your presence known (both in and outside of class) is an important aspect to academic interactions.

During each scheduled class gathering, you are to be present and have a shell open to Lab46, before class activities are underway. Your presence will be automatically ascertained and recorded.

In addition to your physical presence, participating in class interactions is also of significant importance. Participation is like the “I care” component of your grade. If you care enough to learn and help enhance the experience, you will have no trouble here. If you are disruptive or are not putting forth effort, however, then it will be duly reflected.

This isn't a “kiss up to the teacher” grade. I don't want people bending over backwards to please me. I want to see people learning and asking questions and growing, not agreeing with everything I say. Sometimes I will specifically ask questions or say things for the sole purpose of getting individual perspectives.

Participation is the contribution of YOU to the overall class, in a positive and harmonious manner to the overall group :)

In addition to being physically present, the following activities should also be observed:

• EMAIL: You participate on the class mailing list more than 2 times each week
• IRC: You participate in the class chat more than 2 times each week

Deficiency in these activities will negatively impact your performance in this area.

Maintaining an ever present effort in your journey with respect to being present for class gatherings and making your presence known (both in and outside of class) is an important aspect to academic interactions.

You should regularly participate in class interactions. Participation is like the “I care” component of your grade. If you care enough to learn and help enhance the experience, you will have no trouble here. If you are disruptive or are not putting forth effort, however, then it will be duly reflected.

This isn't a “kiss up to the teacher” grade. I don't want people bending over backwards to please me. I want to see people learning and asking questions and growing, not agreeing with everything I say. Sometimes I will specifically ask questions or say things for the sole purpose of getting individual perspectives.

Participation is the contribution of YOU to the overall class, in a positive and harmonious manner to the overall group :)

For participatory currency, the following activities should also be performed:

• EMAIL: You participate on the class mailing list more than 8 times each month*
• IRC: You participate in the class IRC at more than 8 times each month*
• WIKI: You participate on the class wiki page more than 8 times each month

*: The timeframe of “month” is meant to involve only the three full months of the semester; February, March, and April. This is to allow for getting used to the environment in January, and accommodating the end of semester winding down in May. So don't worry about having to meet these requirements before the end of the month of January.

ALSO: The discrete EMAIL and IRC categories can be merged if one is more conducive to the class than another. That is, if the class shows a preference for IRC over EMAIL, for instance, participatory activities can be exclusively focused in a singular medium, provided that the sum total (ie more than “16” times) is observed.

This merging does NOT apply to Wiki activities.

Deficiency in these activities will negatively impact your performance in this area.