(2/17 – a clarification has been posted).
The exact list of activities in this class will evolve depending on how the class goes.
Also, to accommodate the diversity of backgrounds in this class, and the multiple levels (638 and 838) there will be some options and variability.
But the activities in class will include:
- Lectures and Discussions: you are required to come to class and participate. If you don’t talk much in class, post in the online discussion. Even if you talk in class, contribute the online discussion. It is your responsibility to convince me that you’ve been “present” in class and learning from it (through your in class and online participation).
- Online Conversation: everything posted online should be viable for discussion. Comment on other people’s ideas, point out cool stuff (related to class) you discover on the web, comment on what you’ve learned from lectures, … Hopefully, Piazza will make all activities in this class part of a bigger conversation. And I truly believe you learn more by discussing (talking and listening).
- Readings: There will be a substantial amount of reading for this class. Including (but not limited to) a required textbook, and other readings that will be provided online. For most assigned readings you will have to post a response on Piazza. But in general, it is your responsibility to convince me that you did the reading (through class participation and discussion). For 638, you need to post enough to show that you did the reading. For 838, you need to be an active participant in the reading discussion. For some readings, 838 students will be expected to read more.
- Design Assignments: Everyone will have to try to make some stuff. For 638 students, no assignments will require programming (although, for 838 students you will have to do at least some assignments with a computer). Some assignments will be explicitly “pencil and paper” (although you can use computer drawing tools if you like), while for others you may be encouraged (or required if you’re an 838 student) to use computational tools on real data.
- Critique Assignments: These will be similar to readings, but require you to critique (and maybe redesign) a visualization. In some cases, you will have to find a visualization to comment on. In other cases, you will be assigned a visualization. Sometimes, you’ll need to critique another class member’s work (be constructive!).
- Project:
if you’re an 838 student, you will be required to complete 1 big or 2 small projects. If you are a 638 student, you will be required to do 1 small project.There will be 2 small projects. 638 students will have lower expectations for them. Students will have the option of having their 2nd project build on the first to make one “big” project.
Some of the design and critique assignments and projects may be done in pairs or groups.
Grading
Grading will be arbitrary and subjective and totally at the instructors discretion. It may involve randomness.
More seriously: the grading will be roughly split between the “subjective” aspects (lecture and online participation, readings) and the “objective” aspects (assignments and projects).
For the “subjective” aspects, your grade is based on my subjective impression of how well you did with it – this will be formed by your participation in class, online, in talking to me, … It’s your job to convince me you’re learning! There will also be an objective component to this (keeping track of who comes to class, statistics on Piazza postings).
We will not have exams. You need to use the mechanisms of the class to convince me that you have learned the material.