Note: If you have a disability that may require an accommodation for taking this course, please contact the Learning Assistance Center (758-5929) within the first two weeks of the semester.
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Course Objectives:
- Complements the CSC 101 lecture material
- Helps students learn the lecture material by providing hands-on experience related to the lectures
- Helps students to explore and experiment with technology and the tools:
Some parts of the lab manual contain specific step-by-step instructions. However, you will be often asked to answer questions or to complete a task without such hand-holding. In these cases, you are encouraged to discover the ways or the answers by experimenting with the technology.
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Attendance:
Mandatory. You are required to come to every lab. Unexcused absence will lower your lab grade. You are required to complete certain parts of the lab before you leave.
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Evaluation: 20% of the overall CSC 101 grade
- Lab reports and lab files are due 1:00PM the Friday of the same week of the lab. No points will be given to late reports or lab files that are turned in on or after the date of the next lab.
- You may be required to complete certain parts of the lab before you leave.
- Weekly short quizzes ~25-30% of the lab portion
- Class particpation: This includes paying attention to the lab briefing in class, respecting the instructor and TAs, working on the lab during the lab period (not sidetracking to do other non-lab related stuff), and being able to answer questions during the lab briefing. Not paying attention, disrupting the class, and being disrespectful to the instructor will lower the lab grade. The lab check-out requirement is part of the evaluation of class participation.
The grade of each lab will be available on Blackboard under the course name "FA2009 Overview of Comp. Sci. Lab CSC101L" by 5pm Monday. It is YOUR responsibility to check your lab grade on Blackboard every week to make sure it is accurate. All lab grades are final after one week from that lab date. (We take this policy SERIOUSLY. NO EXCEPTIONS!)
If you do not receive a lab grade for a lab, that means the TAs probably have not received your lab report and files. If you have turned in the lab report and lab files but do not get a lab grade for that lab, or if your lab grade is not accurate, please talk to me before the following lab period is over.
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About the Labs:
You may not be able to finish the lab within the lab period. It's perfectly fine. Finish the lab any time after class and make sure to turn in the lab reports and the lab files, if there are any, by 1:00PM Friday.
(1) Pre-Lab: Some labs require pre-lab readings or exercises. They are intended to help you get prepared for the lab by learning more about the subject and thus help you work more effectively on the lab. Some pre-lab assignments count towards the lab grade.
(2) Lab Reports and Manuals: The lab manual file for each lab is posted on the Timetable page. Download and print out the file before the lab. Bring the printout to the lab. The instruction file has lab related questions you need to complete.
- Lab reports: For most labs, you need to turn in the printout as the lab report.
- Lab files: Some labs may also require turning in files, by uploading them to a server. It is important to upload the files to the correct folder on the server before they are due is part of the lab. Being able to upload the files correctly and promptly is part of the lab grade.
(3) Lab check-out: Before you leave the lab, you need to talk to me or the TA about your lab progress. We will check off your name. If your name is not checked off, your lab grade will have 50% deduction. This is part of the evaluation of class participation and attentance.
Note: Stay in the lab to work on the lab as much as possible. Don't leave the lab early if you have not finished the lab.
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Policy for Late Lab Turn-in and Late File Upload:
- Late labs will NOT be graded. (We take this policy SERIOUS. NO EXCEPTIONS!)
- Having completing the files but forgetting to upload or uploading to the wrong folder is still counted as NO file submission. NO EXCEPTIONS!
- It is your responsibility to remember to submit the files correctly and on time. It is part of the requirements for every lab that you are able to upload files correctly and on time.
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Thinkpad Problems:
If your Thinkpad is being repaired at IS, you CAN still do the lab. Don't miss lab only because you do not have your Thinkpad. Contact me before the lab day if you are not sure.
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Pandemic Plan:
In the events of campus closing due to pandemic flu outbreaks, I will try to email you or call you before the campus closes. After the campus closes:
- If the electronic communications, such as emails and internet, are still available, the lab will continue through emails and Web.
- The class and lab materials can be downloaded from this course Web site.
- The lab files can be turned in by uploading to Blackboard as usual.
- If the electronic communications, such as emails and internet, are NOT available, the lab will continue through postal mails.
- The lab materials will be mailed (weekly or biweekly) to your home address that you gave me at the beginning of the semester.
- The lab files can be turned in by putting them on CD and mailing to my home address