Course Wiki (where all the action happens)

Materials

Text: There is one required text for this course:

• Agile software development: Principles, patterns, and practices by Robert C. Martin (ISBN:0135974445). Martin is one of the 17 authors on the Manifesto for Agile Software Development along with heavy hitters and personal heroes like Kent Beck, Ward Cunningham, Martin Fowler, etc., etc., so he's not to be taken lightly.

Software: Elcipse (using agreed upon style guides (Checkstyle and PMD)), EclEMMA, Subversion/CVS

You should feel free to download these for use at home, and there will be much more information about that on the Course Wiki .

Web materials:

You are expected to check the Course Wiki at least one time between course meetings.

Contact Guidelines

I will be in my office with the door open during office hours. Please feel free to stop and see me during those times. If I can not be there during the scheduled hours, I will attempt to let the class know in some fashion.

I tend to prefer email over telephone contact, though I will accept either. Please make certain that you sign your e-mails and that you make it clear what the e-mail is about. This will help me to help you.

If my office door is closed, don't try to get my attention by knocking. I am either NOT THERE, or I am attempting to get work done. If the door is propped open even a little bit, I am willing to speak with you. But, if it is closed and latched, I request that you respect my need to get something done (but please yell and knock if the building's on fire!)

Policies

All class policies are based on responsible and respectful behavior and actions. Flexibility within the framework of any class is always more possible as long as requests follow these principles.

You may appeal any grade or policy you feel is inappropriate. Provide an appeal in writing (on paper). Outline why you think the decision or policy is wrong. Set a meeting time to discuss the issue and so that you can advocate for your position. Decisions regarding your appeal will be made at that meeting. If you feel the process was unsatisfactory, you may use the grievance process provided by UMM.

• Communication is important. If something is unclear, please ask. If there is a problem, please bring it to my attention. It is impossible to be responsive to your needs if you do not make it clear that help is needed.
• Remember, feedback helps make the class and my teaching better!
• If you have a disability or medical situation that requires attention, please inform me as early in the class as possible (and see Coleen in disability services). I will endeavor to keep these situations confidential and I will do my best to accommodate you. You are responsible for providing UMM with the proper documentation so that we, as instructors, can support you.
• It is important that the class environment feels like a SAFE learning environment to you. You should not be subjected to harassment based on gender, race, ethnicity, orientation or creed. If there are problems regarding the learning environment, please let me know what can be done to improve the situation. If I am the source of the problem, and you are not comfortable with bringing it to my attention, contact another CSci faculty member or the Division Chair for help.

• Attendance is strongly encouraged. A large portion of your grade depends on your success in building software as a team, and much of our class time will be used for team organization, communication, and work. I reserve the right to refuse to repeat myself incessantly due to your absence. But, I will work with you if I am forewarned of an absence. In-class activities will occur in this class frequently. You need to make sure your peers have the information they need to be successful in your absence.
• We will have quizzes and "whaddayaknows" in class on a regular basis toward the beginning of the semester. If you miss a "whaddayaknow", you can make it up as a quiz. Quizzes can only be made up if arrangements have been made prior to class.

• Assignments are due at the BEGINNING of class on their due dates.
• Late assignments (labs) will be accepted until one week after the due date for 75% of the points as the new maximum number of points possible. Note: If the asignment has been graded and returned, you will have to make an appointment and sit in my office while I grade the assignment. You will have to show me what you did and why. This will show me that you understand the work and it will prevent me from letting ungraded work pile up. This policy will enable me to give you prompt feedback on your work (which will help you learn more and be more productive in this course). So, if you turn it in late, you run the risk that you will have to show me every step of what you did to solve the problem, and you will be docked 25% off the top.
• Do your own work. It will be clear when you are expected to do work without collaboration. It will be equally clear when collaboration is encouraged. However, even when you work with others, you are expected to provide an equal share of the effort. Please see UMM policies if you feel you must review the consequences of failure to comply with this.

Grading (tentative percentages - will possibly be updated in the first week of the course)

A standard 90%(some kind of A), 80%(some kind of B), 70%(some kind of C), 62%(some kind of D) (The D- grade is considered an F) scale will be used. Results are NOT curved.

Your Focus

You should always focus on learning the material, working as an effective team member, and creating an excellent project. I realize that there is a great deal of pressure to receive high marks/grades. However, if you focus on the grade, you will fail to focus on the very thing that can earn you the grade you want. Achieve the goal of becoming confident in your knowledge of the material and a helpful collaborator. I want you to be successful in this course, so please communicate your needs/questions/concerns so that I can help you.

My Focus

It is important that I show you respect by being responsible for facilitating your learning to the best of my abilities. I will do my best to be approachable and to be timely in my work. I am willing to discuss things with you as needed. I will do my best to honestly and accurately answer your questions. I will admit when I don't know an answer, but I will try to either find the answer later or point you to a good resource.

Official Grading policy:

• A -- achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements.
• B -- achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements.
• C -- achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect.
• D -- achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements.
• S -- achievement that is satisfactory, which is equivalent to a C- or better (achievement required for an S is at the discretion of the instructor but may be no lower than a C-).
  -----------------------------------------------------
  
• F (or N) -- Represents failure (or no credit) and signifies that the work was either (1) completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit or (2) was not completed and there was no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an I (see also I)
• I -- (Incomplete) Assigned at the discretion of the instructor when, due to extraordinary circumstances, e.g., hospitalization, a student is prevented from completing the work of the course on time. Requires a written agreement between instructor and student.

For undergraduate courses, one credit is defined as equivalent to an average of three hours of learning effort per week (over a full semester) necessary for an average student to achieve an average grade in the course. For example, a student taking a three credit course that meets for three hours a week should expect to spend an additional six hours a week on coursework outside the classroom.

Academic dishonesty: academic dishonesty in any portion of the academic work for a course shall be grounds for awarding a grade of F or N for the entire course.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is essential to a positive teaching and learning environment. All students enrolled in University courses are expected to complete coursework responsibilities with fairness and honesty. Failure to do so by seeking unfair advantage over others or misrepresenting someone else's work as your own, can result in disciplinary action. The University Student Conduct Code defines scholastic dishonesty as follows:

"Scholastic Dishonesty: Scholastic dishonesty means plagiarizing; cheating on assignments or examinations; engaging in unauthorized collaboration on academic work; taking, acquiring, or using test materials without faculty permission; submitting false or incomplete records of academic achievement; acting alone or in cooperation with another to falsify records or to obtain dishonestly grades, honors, awards, or professional endorsement; altering forging , or misusing a University academic record; or fabricating or falsifying data, research procedures, or data analysis."

Within this course, a student responsible for scholastic dishonesty can be assigned a penalty up to and including an "F" or "N" for the course. If you have any questions regarding the expectations for a specific assignment or exam, ask.

This page: http://www.morris.umn.edu/~lamberty/cs3601/index.html last updated 1-22-2008

The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author. The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.