CogSci 3
Syllabus

Fall 2004

Discussion Topics

The assignment topics, very briefly, are:

• The "GUI" interface (how to use a Macintosh and Windows)
• Using the World Wide Web and Netscape
• Electronic Mail and Eudora, an email application
• UNIX, a Command Line interface
• Building Your Own Web Pages
• A touch of programming using JavaScript
• Microsoft Word, and Word Processing
• Microsoft Excel, a Spread sheet

Some General Notes About the Course

CogSci 3 is an introductory course in using computers, a computer literacy course, if you will. We believe that most of you have had some sort of exposure to computers, using the Internet, word processing, and email. This course should help you become more proficient at doing those tasks. In the unlikely event that you have never used a computer before, then this course will help you get booted up (started ).

While the course is intended to be relatively low stress and easy, it does take a commitment. There is an assignment and a quiz each and every week. You will need to do the assignment and attend the lectures so that you can do well on the quiz (as well as the assignment) each week.

The class tends to be easy, so most students do score most of the points. That means there may be very little difference between student scores at the end of the term. Thus, it is important for you to get every point you can.

Who Should Take This Class

• If you have never used a computer, or
• If you have only used a computer in a class, or
• If you have your own computer, but you only use it to write papers, or
• If you are curious about the Internet and World Wide Web, and want to get connected up
• If you want to learn how to make your own Web Site.

Who Should Not Take This Class

• Computer Science Major
• Rocket Scientist

Seriously, if you are an experienced computer user, please don't take the class, or become an Instructional Assistant for the course instead.

We expect that even savy computer folks will pick up a tip here or there, especially about using different computer platforms (MacOS, Windows, UNIX). But this class is frankly aimed at those will little or no computer expertise, and we would like to work primarily with them.

Grading and Course Mechanics

We anticipate there will be about 400-500 points in total, with about 20% of them from the final, 30% quiz points, and the remaining 50% assignment points.

Assignment Notes -- ACS Accounts

You must not share your account or password with anyone. Please review the other terms of ACS's Acceptable Use Policy (http://www-acs.ucsd.edu/lib/aup.html)

Assignment Notes:

• Assignments are "handed out" each week by being published on the class schedule web page
• A hard copy printout of the assignment will also be available at Soft Reserves at the Student Center here on campus for a nominal fee. Because there can be issues in printing documents from the World Wide Web, we strongly suggest that you spend the $2 or so to get the copy from Soft Reserves. We try very hard to make sure that it is complete and accurate.
• Whether you get your assignment from Soft Reserves, or print out your own copy, you should always check the "on line" version for updates before you start your work! There will be a pair of images at the top of the page, and by clicking on them, they will show you the areas where the text has been updated. (We never majorly change the text, just correct misspellings, omissions, or add more explanatory text.)
• You will turn in your assignments "electronically" by creating or copying files in your class file server; no printed paper.
• Assignments are due at the time of the lecture on the indicated dates (on the class schedule).
• Assignments are to be done individually--no collaboration, please! If you don't do the assignment yourself, you won't learn the material you need for the quiz. If we discover that you have copied another student's work, you will receive a score of 0 for that assignment. For many assignments, this may be enough to lower your final grade by at least one letter grade!
• For the same reasons as above, do NOT have your friend, who is a Computer Science major, help you with your assignment. They will do it in a "Computer Science" fashion and it appear to us as if you had cheated.
• The first few assignments may seem very easy-- don't be fooled. Later assignments will take more time and thinking.
• Not all assignments are scored the same. The harder assignments later in the quarter have many more points associated with them.
• Go to a section each week and get to know one of the TAs so they can help you if you get stuck on one of the harder assignments.
  • The TAs are there to help you if you get stuck or don't understand something, not do your work for you.
  • Do not ask them to "grade" your work; they have not yet seen the actual grading criteria yet and so can't really tell you what things are most valuable/important.
  • You may have a question or problem that the TA is unable answer; s/he will take your name and email address and we will get back to you with a resolution to your problem.
• You should read through each assignment before coming into the lab to work on it. This will help you maximize your time (and the TA's time) in section. (The TAs can get grumpy if you ask them a question that was specifically answered in the assignment text.)
• Some assignments are pretty specific about the steps you need to take. Other (later) assignments tend to be somewhat less structured.
• Assignments should take about 20 minutes to 3-4 hours depending on your computer expertise. If the assignment is taking you longer than 1 hour, you are probably stuck and should seek help immediately from your TA or the instructor.
• The assignments are not meant to be tricky, but they can seem that way. If you get stuck, see a TA or the instructor as soon as you can. Don't get stuck and be frustrated!!
• The first few assignments must be done in a campus computer lab. It is possible to do later assignments from a home computer provided you have the correct software and a working Internet connection.
• If you choose to work at home:
  1. It is your responsibility to get the assignment turned in properly (which means in a format we can grade).
  2. You should take the time to open it in one of the campus computer labs to make sure it is okay.
• Assignments account for a major proportion of your grade, so it behooves you to do ALL of them, even if they are late.

Late Assignments and Regrading

• Assignments are considered late if they are "turned in" after the lecture on the due date.
• If you turn the assignment in late, but within 1 week of the due date, you will be penalized only 25%. More than 1 week late, a 50% penalty will apply.
• You must inform your TA or instructor that you have turned in an assignment late for grading or it will not get graded. An email message is probably the best way to do this; this quarter we will have special email address and instructions on the class web site.
• We believe that much of the value you get in this course will be in doing the assignments. So, you may correct and resubmit assignments once for a re-grade. If you redo an assignment, you will receive 1/2 (50% penalty on) the points you make up.
  • That is, suppose an assignment is worth 20 points total, and you received 12 points on it the first time.
  • You can redo, and then resubmit it (you must tell (email) a TA or the instructor so it can be re-graded.)
  • If you successfully complete the assignment this time, your new score will be:
    12 + (20-12) * 50% = 12 + 4 = 16
• Assignments account for a major proportion of your grade, so it important to do them, even late, or have them re-graded if you received only a small percentage of the points. Please don't ask us to regrade an assignment that you only missed one point on.
• The last day to "turn in" any late assignments is posted in the tentative schedule. No assignments will be considered after that date.

Assignment Feedback

In general, we hope to have your assignments graded and put up on webct within a week of the due date. Your quiz scores will also be available via webct.ucsd.edu.

Quizzes

• There will be one quiz a week; given in lecture, this quarter, usually on Monday. Note: there is a lecture following the quiz!
• Part of the quiz will be about the week's assignment (like a chemistry class), and there will also be questions about material discussed in lecture.
• Quizzes are about 15-20 multiple choice, matching, or "fill in the blank" questions; probably mostly matching.
• We will ask for your class computer account code on your quizzes, please memorize it. This helps us in the cases where we can't read your handwriting, or there are duplicate names (it has happened!)
• There will also be 2 "make up" quizzes in case you miss a regular quiz.

Quiz Etiquette

• Remain seated until all of the quizzes are collected.
• Bring a picture ID to all quizzes.
• Put all materials on the floor under your seat.
• No cell phones or PDAs.
• Use blue or black pen only (NO pencil or red, pink, or orange pen).
• If you are wearing a baseball cap or visor or hat with a visor, please remove it or turn it around so that the visor is at the back of your head.
• Keep your eyes on your paper only.
• Only ONE answer per line (more than one answer will be counted wrong, even if one of the given answers is correct!)
• If you wish to correct an answer, cross out the original one and write the new one next to it, to the left of the original is fine.
• Please turn your quiz face down on your desk when you are finished so we can tell when everyone is finished.
• Pass in the quizzes face down
• If you arrive late, or cannot find a seat, please sit on the floor under the chalk board; we are not allowed to have students sitting in the aisles or area by the rear doors.
• Remain seated until all of the quizzes are collected.

Make Up Quizzes

• There will 2 Make up Quizzes: the first about week 6 and the second the last week of class. See the course schedule.
• The make up quizzes count the same as one quiz. So you can miss a quiz and take a make up in its place. If you know you are going to miss a quiz later in the quarter, take the first make up quiz.
• The make up quizzes will have about twice the number of questions as a regular quiz; i.e., they are harder (well, longer), even though they count the same as a regular quiz.
• Anyone can take the make up quizzes, even if you have taken all the quizzes.
• Everyone should take the make up quizzes, even if you have taken all the quizzes, you might improve a lower quiz score by a point or 2.
• Only the top 9 quiz scores will be counted, i.e., you can't get extra points by taking a make up quiz. But it can replace a lower score on a regular quiz.

No other make up quizzes will be available!

The Final

Grade Computation

• Add all your assignment points
• There are (usually) 9 quizzes and 2 make up quizzes, making 11 quizzes possible. Take your 9 highest quiz scores and add them, but remember that points on the make up quizzes only count 1/2 as much
• Add your final score.
• The total is your course score.
• Divide by the total possible points for the course, and multiply by 100 to get a percentage.
• In the past we have used a straight 70% = C, 80% = B, 90% = A grading scale.

Hints on Getting That "A"

• Do every assignment on time.
  • Work on the assignment in section so you can get help.
  • If you can't finish it on time, finish it and turn it late (see the assignment notes).
  • If you have trouble with an assignment, go to a section (or TA's office hours) to get help.
• Take all the quizzes, including the 2 make up ones. That means not blowing off class on Mondays (or whichever is quiz day)!

Academic Dishonesty -- cheating

Cogsci 3 is, we think, a pretty easy course. Nonetheless, we have observed students cheating in the past. If we discover you cheating, collaborating, or plagarizing as described in the Instructor's Guide on Academic Dishonesty, you will lose all points on the particular quiz or assignment, which will seriously affect your grade in the course. In addition, a letter will be sent to the dean of your college. Depending on the circumstances, you may be placed on academic probation for the remainder of your college carreer!

If you have not reviewed the Instructor's Guide on Academic Dishonesty, you should take the time to do so.

• In particular, we will be looking for cheating on quizzes. There are multiple versions for each quiz. Keep your eyes on your own work.
• If you were sick or otherwise unable to study for a quiz, by all means take the quiz anyway; you should be able to get a few of the points just by guessing. Just do NOT copy off someone else's quiz; it's not worth it if you get caught.
• There is to be NO collaboration on assignments. You need to do your own work!
• Do NOT have your friend, who is a Computer Science major, do your assignment for you!
• If you are unable to do, or finish, an assignment on time, turn in as much as you have done by the due date. Then finish it up as soon as you can and turn in the rest; it's only a 25% penalty on the portion you turn in late (assuming it's less than 1 week late). But don't copy someone else's work.
• If you observe other students cheating, please bring it to the attention of the instructor or a TA.

Again, if you are caught cheating, you will lose all points for that quiz or assignment. If you cheat on a quiz, you cannot make it up; i.e., that quiz, worth 0 points, will count as one of your 9 quiz scores.

'Nuff said.

Sections

Please note: section locations change depending on the the week's assignment. Check the course schedule for each week.

Sections are optional. You may do your assignments at any time in any Mac lab (or PC lab, if required) at your convenience. Mornings (8 - 9:30) generally seem to be the less crowded times in the labs.

Even though sections are not mandatory, we strongly encourage you to attend one of the sections with a TA. If you get stuck on an assignment, or otherwise want help, please come to one of the sections, or come to office hours.

If you can't make the scheduled section times or office hours, then make an appointment with a TA or the instructor! Make sure to get those assignments in on time to get maximum points!

Important if you get stuck on assignment , do not beat your head on the wall (or computer screen ). Come to a section or talk to a TA or the instructor ASAP.

We don't want to see this.

Office Hours

So going to one of the TA's or instructor's office hours might be an alternative to attending a section, and definitely a good place to find a quick answer to a question about one of the assignments.

Text Books

Hard copy versions of the assignments will be available from Soft Reserves for a nominal fee. Of course, you may also printout a copy of the assignments from the on line schedule. Please note however, that we have seen problems with the way different web browsers print some of the materials. We try very hard to make certain that the version sold by Soft Reserves has no omissions or other errors!

The Tentative Class Schedule

The assignments will be distributed via the web, via the course schedule page. The lecture notes will be on line as well, typically the day of lecture. Simply click on the Class Schedule, and then locate the date of the lecture of interest.

©opyright 1996-2004 Mark R. Wallen Last updated: Sun Sep 19 13:42:00 2004