CS 14 - FAQ Page

CS 14 FAQ Page

CS 14 Homepage

What does "f.a.q." stand for?
Frequently Asked Questions. A faq section is a standard way of addressing questions that are asked over and over. Web sites typically have a faq section so that: 1) the user does not have to submit a question and wait for an answer, 2) the folks that run the web site do not have to answer the same question many times and 3) you can get answers to questions that you might not have yet thought to ask.

Can we work together on our programs?
Copying code is forbidden. Allowing others to copy your code is forbidden. Protect your intellectual property and respect the property of others. Penalties will be severe.

Do I have to come to class?
I expect you to be in class. Coming to class reveals that you have an interest in your own education. What you do while in class is even more revealing. Be attentive, and courteous, especially to the other students. Ask questions. Not coming to class tells me that you have abdicated responsibility for your education. Don't expect me to assume the responsibility you have neglected - I won't.

But, should I come to class if I'm going to be bored or uninterested?
Don't come and sleep and especially don't sit and whisper back and forth with your neighbor - it is distracting, rude and really bugs the class. If you really don't want to be here, then stay home. Realize that your grade will probably suffer, but be a grown-up and accept that responsibility. Interest doesn't just happen - you have to generate it. I suggest that you come to class and fake it if you have to. Learn discipline - making yourself do something you may not enjoy in order to achieve a higher goal - it's important.

If I don't come to class, can you e-mail me what we did that day?
NO. As much as I'd like to be able to, I can't repeat every class on an individual basis. If you miss class, it is YOUR responsibility to get notes and assignments.

Do I have to read the book?
Of course you do. If you don't, you won't learn as much. If you're not here to learn, why are you here (you might ask yourself...)? Education used to be a privilege of the wealthy, but in this country, anyone can partake. Don't cheat yourself. Don't take it for granted. Much more than half the people in the world would kill to be in your position. Don't just sit there - educate yourself!

Can you put the slides up before class?
That has been one of my goals, but since I generate and revise them as the class progresses, I may not have enough lead time. The slides are a courtesy, not an obligation. Students have asked for copies, so I try to oblige.

Can you put the slides up in a different format?
I'm putting up PDF and Microsoft Powerpoint PPS formats only. The PDF are 3 to a page. You can download Adobe's Acrobat Reader for free. You are under no obligation to use the slides if they don't suit you.

Can I get extra help?
YES. Come to the TA office hours or make an appointment to come see me. It's part of our job, not a special favor, so don't feel guilty for asking us for help. Try to come with focused, directed questions so we can best help you. We're happy to help, but we can't do the work for you.

Will _______ be on the test?
Maybe. The idea of a test is to sample the information presented. If I tell you where I will sample, you'll ignore the unsampled information, which may also be important. To preserve the quality of your educational experience, I won't tell you if a particular topic will be on the test. Coming to class will help determine test content as I usually test on things that we spend time in class discussing.

Can I use a calculator on tests?
NO. Learn to use the calculator you were born with. I'm frightened to see many students unable to do simple 4th and 5th grade arithmetic! I know conceptual math is more important than mechanics, but you MUST have a foundation to build upon. It's like a writer who doesn't know the alphabet! If you don't know your fundamentals - learn them - it's not too late. Also, learn to think intuitively about numbers - learn to estimate and to do sanity checks. You need to UNDERSTAND computer math, not push buttons to get answers that you can't explain. A computer scientist should KNOW that 20 bits allows you to address a megabyte, or represent a million+ colors. Imagine being in a meeting (when you're making the big $$ in industry), and taking out a calculator to figure out an answer that everyone knows in their head - you'll wish you could disappear. You can disagree with me on this point, but you still can't use calculators on tests. You'll thank me some day.

Can I bring a "cheat sheet" to tests?
NO. This course is not rocket science so you should be able to understand and remember all that you need to know to do well in the tests.

Can you teach us _______ ?
I know you'll think I'm terrible, but I can't teach you anything. All I can do is try to lead you as you educate yourself. Think of it like a hike through a (sometimes scary) forest. I can show you the path, warn you of dangers, recommend strategies and give you an occassional boost - but I can't hike for you. Your educational experience depends more on you than on me. Take responsibility. Be bold. Go for it.

Can I sit in the last seat in the row?
Move up - stay engaged - act interested, even if you're not - learning to fake it might come in handy later in life... Students with the best grades tend to sit towards the front of the class.

Can we cancel class today? or go outside? or both?
Don't think I don't want to sometimes! But, no, we must meet all scheduled classes unless there is an emergency and we typically need the computer so we need to stay in the classroom.

Is the final cumulative?
Yes, all my finals are cumulative.

Do I have to take the final?
Yes, everyone takes the final.

Can I take the final in another section?
NO. You MUST take the final in the section you're registered for. I will not grade your final (which means you get a zero for it) if you attempt to take the final in another section. If you absolutely must take the final in another section, come talk to me WAY IN ADVANCE, and with a good reason.

Can we have the final during the last week of class?
NO. The final will be given according to the published final schedule.

Can I do extra credit?
NO. Do the assigned work and do it well. If I give you extra credit, I must give everyone the opportunity to do extra credit at which point it becomes just another assignment. If you haven't done the assigned work well, what sense does it make to give you more? Study hard for the next test - that's the most effective way to improve your grade.

Can we vote on _________ ?
NO. I am the dictator. I make the rules. I am benevolent, but I sometimes get agitated when people start whining...

Why do you _______ ? It's not fair!!
I try to be fair, but life isn't fair sometimes. Learn to deal with it. Don't let trivial issues of personality or perceived unfairness get in the way of your goals. Situations are going to occur that you don't like - how you respond is a critical decision - be wise.

Can I have more time for the assignment?
NO. I give lots of lead time. Start early. Plan. Always expect the unexpected delay. Things will go wrong at the worst possible time. Start early. It can take HOURS to find a simple computer programming error. Start early. Late assignments are penalized. Start early...

I deserve a better grade!
Your perspective is limited. I am tasked with fairly evaluating your performance in relation to the goals of the course and the performance of other students. I can't give special treatment to you without considering every other student. I will listen to your grade complaints, but please don't whine. If I have made an error, I will correct it and re-evaluate, but the decision of what grade to give is MY decision, not yours.

Are you as mean as this page makes you sound?
Meaner. Seriously, I'm a pretty friendly folk, but I created this page to give you insight into my expectations and assumptions so you can decide whether to take me for a course or how you'll be expected to act in a course. I get along well with about 95% of students. I'm working on the other 5%. Being up front like this may help me (and you) to avoid problems later in the quarter.