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Introduction
The syllabus states: "A small percentage of the course grade
comes from service and participation, defined as something which helps
you learn and helps the staff or potentially benefits the class
as a whole. We may throw out examples and suggestions as we go
along. But don't wait to be asked. Create your own opportunities,
too."
Some
yes's and no's are listed. But a key phrase is "create your own
opportunities." If you wait for your teacher to say "do this and
you will earn points", you may end up with no points at all. On
the other hand, before going ahead with a project or activity, it would
be good check to make sure that it qualifies.
The activity has to be
verifiable. If you say "I held a study session" then there needs
to be documentation that it was announced in advance (for example, on
the Message Board) and actually
occurred.
Finally, these are not free points and are not guaranteed. All
students won't necessary
earn all possible points -- just as with homework or tests!
| No |
Yes |
| Coming to class every single day --
no! You are expected to do that. |
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Working on a special group activity with
other students from the class. For example: building the class
pictures web site; arranging for demos of projects or artwork (if
applicable);
developing and posting study guides. "Create your own
opportunities". |
| Having a study session with classmates from
your floor of the residence hall. That's a good thing to
do! It's just not a "service" to the class as a whole. |
Scheduling a study session in your
residence hall, open to anyone, and announcing it in advance. |
| Bringing the instructor an interesting
article, or sending an interesting web link to the Message Board.
That's nice! Please do that. But don't expect to get credit
for it... |
Finding an article or web link which is
truly useful and relevant to the class as a whole, and which couldn't
have been found by anyone with a few minutes of searching, and which
you share with the class in some fashion that doesn't come across as
spam. For really interesting stuff, you might even make a 5
minutes presentation about it in class. |
| Do NOT send computer humor or jokes!
If you found it on the Internet -- multiple people have already found
it and sent it around, trust me. |
(If the instructor is Martin Dickey)
bringing the instructor a cartoon which is new to him, funny and
relevant -- and not on the Internet. Be sure you have it cited
(publication, date, etc.) |
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Volunteering to be in
skits, animations,
demos, etc in class. |
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Assisting with classroom activities, such as passing out
handouts, collecting or sorting stuff, helping with audio/visual
equipment, decorating the room, enforcing the rules, etc.
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Submitting sample exam questions which
actually get used... |
| Staying after class to talk to your buddy,
who's having more trouble with the material than you are. |
Being available after class to talk about
CSE14x matters with anyone in the class who is not too shy to ask you a
question. |
| Solving a homework problem ahead of the
deadline and making the solution available to other students --
NOT! |
Developing test cases, sample input files,
etc. for homework projects and making them available to all students in
time to be useful and in an accessible format. Sometimes the
instructor will provide specific opportunities for this and even post
the material on the web; other times, you could use the class message
board or your own web site. |
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Pointing out errors on the slides or web
site -- especially pointing out errors made during lecture on the
slides or programming examples. |
| Reading and asking questions on the Message
Board is a good thing -- do it! It's just not a service
credit. |
Answering questions on the Message Board,
especially over a period of time, and especially when your answers are
consistently helpful, courteous, and constructive. |
| Taking notes for your friend who couldn't
come to class. That's what friends are for. |
Being a DSS (Disabled Student Services)
volunteer notetaker. |
| Something that gives you and your posse a
leg up over the rest of the class |
Something that might help everyone learn |
Etc. Etc.
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