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Hello and welcome to CSW 8!
Below are a few notes that can help you get oriented in the course and address a few commonly asked questions.
🌟 Please read the Syllabus first.
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Content-wise this is the same course, the "W" in the title indicates that the course is on the Web, i.e., online. Both courses count as the same course.
Yes, there are no required synchronous components other than the weekly quizzes.
- See the [Syllabus]({{ site.url }}/{{ site.baseurl }}/about) for more information.
- See the "Attendance" section below for more information.
That being said, to help you learn and review the material, we plan to record the main portions of the in-class explanations, announcements, demos, etc. and will post it before the end of that day.
Please see the answer above and the "Attendance" section below for more information.
Yes, the Thursday section time that you are enrolled in is the lab time.
Related question:
- which class section do I attend?
Check your schedule on GOLD.
Yes, you are welcome to attend whichever lab section works with your schedule. No need to get a new add code and switch it on GOLD. Just make sure that when you are registering for your zyBook, you select the section that you are going to be attending.
See the "Attendance" section below for more information.
- We refer to the Thursday lab section times as lab sessions.
- The lab activities (LAs) that you complete in zyBooks are different from the session times - they refer to the lab assignments posted in zyBooks.
Related question:
- What does "Lab Checkpoint" refer to on the [schedule]({{ site.url }}{{ site.baseurl }}/calendar)?
This grade item is supposed to capture your potential (optional) participation during the lab session, and your progress on the checkpoint labs to ensure that you get started on the labs.
Remember to "Submit" your code in order to see that the automated tests are passing.
Note that if you do not completely finish the checkpoint lab, your score for it will be whatever it is at the time the due date occurs; however, you can still get credit for it: it needs to be completed and be correct before the hard deadline the week after the labs for that week are released. Thus, if a student misses the checkpoint deadline, but fully completes all those sections by the hard deadline, the checkpoint score will show up as 0, but the lab total will take care of that, since it will be at 100%.
Yes, zybooks is our “textbook.”
The access/enrollment code is posted on Gauchospace (see the link in the [Syllabus]({{ site.url }}{{ site.baseurl }}/about#textbook)).
Contact [email protected] and let them know that you are retaking the course: they should be able to waive your fee.
You can do it from the My Subscription tab, which you can access from the main zyBooks page that lists all chapters. See the instructions / screenshot posted on Gauchospace (see the link in the [Syllabus]({{ site.url }}{{ site.baseurl }}/about#textbook)).
You can also check out the "Account and platform basics" in the How to Use zyBooks book.
Is there an option for students who cannot currently afford the zybook subscription? Can I defer the purchase of the zyBook?
Below is the information from the zyBook support staff:
Yes, we can accommodate such requests students make! What your student will need to do is follow the directions in Does zyBooks offer temporary subscriptions? to request a four-week temporary subscription. Once approved, they can begin working on their assignments without any issue and can also provide payment at any time to access the book for the remainder of the term.
You can also use the same link to request a two-week free trial of the zyBook subscription if you are unsure if you will stay in the course.
What do the PA, CA and LA mean on the zybook, where are they found? How do I know when they are completed?
- PA{: .label .label-orange }(Participation Activities),
- CA{: .label .label-blue }(Challenge Activities),
- LA{: .label .label-green }(Lab Activities).
PAs, CAs, LAs, are all found inside the respective sections of the zyBook for this course.
There's no need to submit the activities anywhere else, just complete them in zyBooks.
- For PAs and CAs, you will see a checkmark to the right of the title for that activity, once the activity has been properly completed.
- For LAs, you will see the score for how many tests for correctness of that lab have passed. Once you see 100%, you have effectively completed that lab.
Note that after you complete the PAs and CAs, zyBook will remove your answers, which is supposed to help you come back and review. Your completion will be recorded but the answers will not be visible to you.
You can find more information and helpful tips in the How to Use zyBooks book.
You can find more information and helpful tips in the How to Use zyBooks book.
You can see the overall completion of each of the zyBook activities when you are on the main page of the zyBook (the view that lists all chapters and their sections), which you can get to by clicking on the main title of the book CMPSCW 8: Introduction to Computer... at the top of the page, after My library.
✨ Pro Tip✨ : We recommend spending no more than 2 hours in a row reading through the sections and completing the activities in zyBooks. Your brain will get tired and will need a break. Trust us: even your prof cannot meaningfully work through this material for more than 2 hours, so save yourself some time and allow for at least a 30-minute break between the study sessions.
Please follow the [suggested workflow and the roadmap]({{ site.url }}{{ site.baseurl }}/success)).
Related questions:
- How many attempts do I have to submit zyBook activities?
- Do we have unlimited attempts to submit our labs?
You have unlimited attempts. You can also work on the problems after the deadline, but your progress will not count toward your score.
We recommend getting started on them as soon as you can, since we plan to release them at least a day early, so you can come prepared with questions.
Note that you won't be solving all labs during the lab session time. That time is dedicated to the specific breakout room activities and to answering your questions about the material, so you need to complete the rest of the labs on your own time, before the deadline.
Just like the rest of the zybook activities, the labs are graded for accuracy.
No, the materials from those sections will not be on the main quiz. However, we might include it on the practice quiz.
Related question:
- how do I get color-coding in zyLabs?
In accessibility mode, zyBook replaces the rich text code editor with a plain text editor to make the text be more compatible with common screen readers.
You can turn on/off the accessibility feature on the "My subscription" tab of the zyBook.
Yes, this is our main communication platform. Guidelines for how to use it are in the [Syllabus]({{ site.url }}{{ site.baseurl }}/about#textbook) and in the Posting Guidelines note on Piazza itself. See more information in the "Getting Help" and the "Communication" section below.
No need to enter any code. Make sure that you create your account using your @umail.ucsb.edu address (not @ucsb.edu).
If you have multiple accounts on Piazza with different email addresses, you can add them to you account to merge the accounts:
- (using the browser on the computer), Click the cogwheel in the upper-right corner of the window (to the right of your name)
- select “Account/Email Settings”
- add your email under “Other emails”.
Make sure that you create your account using your @umail.ucsb.edu address (not @ucsb.edu).
You might need to go through the activation link in the email sent to you by Gradescope/Piazza.
Related questions:
- Do we have unlimited attempts to submit our labs on Gradescope?
Yes, you have unlimited attempts before the deadline. You won't be able to submit to Gradescope after the deadline has passed.
We recommend submitting your code to Gradescope periodically to backup your submissions.
Yes, your latest submission will be the one that’s used for grading.
The slides and the recordings are linked on Gauchospace. Look for the playback icon ⏩.
Yes. We will spend the first couple of weeks working within zyBooks and then we will ask you to Download the latest version from python.org (see instructions [on this page]({{ site.url }}{{ site.baseurl }}/ref/ide/#step-1-go-to-pythonorg)).
We will be using IDLE that will be installed with Python as our Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Check out the [How to install the Python Interpreter]({{ site.url }}{{ site.baseurl }}/ref/ide/#how-to-install-the-python-interpreter-on-a-windows-machine) guide.
Download the latest verion (see instructions [on this page]({{ site.url }}{{ site.baseurl }}/ref/ide/#step-1-go-to-pythonorg)).
If you already have Python installed, check that you have at least version 3.8.
The reflection usually shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes to complete. The questions will vary each week but there will always be an open-ended question for any feedback/thoughts that you'd like to share. It's a low-stress way to take a look at the past week and the activities for the future week and assess how things are going and what you are learning.
They will normally be posted on Gauchospace on Thursday, around 1pm. This quarter, we will administer them as a google form.
Check that you are logged-in using your UCSB account: switch which account you are using, since the reflection requires that you use your umail.
Not quite.
While the reflections are intended as a learning tool for you, since you will receive credit for submitting them, we want to make sure that your answers make sense and that you have put reasonable effort and thought into it.
If you have nonsensical answers, we can give you a lower score for your submission.
See the notes in the "Quizzes" section below.
Since we do not offer any make-up quizzes/assignments, the Syllabus outlines our lowest quiz score drop policy to account for any unexpected situations. In those cases, nothing can be done apart from simply using the "drop the lowest grades" option, which is applied automatically in the Gauchospace gradebook.
Please, don't contact us about it unless you have a documented emergency or a documented, official exception paperwork (e.g., a signed letter from your sports coach with the tournament dates). In those cases, just like in cases of documented emergency, please, submit the form linked in the [Syllabus]({{ site.url }}{{ site.baseurl }}/about#request-for-accommodations) and provide the documentation that shows your name, the reason, and the date of the incident/event.
This course has a consistent weekly pattern to help you manage your workload and help you set a consistent schedule for this class. Set those dates and reminders on your calendar to proactively keep track of the assignments yourself. See additional information and resources that we provided on the How to Succeed in CSW 8 page.
We cannot stress enough how important it is to create a study plan for this class and to follow it consistently.
Around Week 3-4, material will begin to pick up its pace and concepts will begin to get more involved, so you need to make sure that you've allocated enough time slots in your schedule to ensure that you can keep up with the course.
There will be several quizzes every week to help you assess how well you understand the reading and are able to write code.
Quizzes will always be posted on Gauchospace: they will usually be 10-15 minutes (but can be longer) and will cover the material that you were supposed to read and work with up to (and not including) that week. They are intended for you to check how well you are following the explanations in zyBooks, and some questions will be similar to the PAs, CAs, and LAs in the book. Quizzes are supposed to be done individually and are meant to ensure that you are keeping up with the reading and are able to use course concepts.
Quizzes will vary in style: they will always start on Gauchospace but sometimes, a quiz will redirect you to Gradescope, after randomly assigning you a quiz version.
- A quiz on Gauchospace is going to consist of randomly selected multiple-choice and short-answer questions, which will check your understanding of the reading, similar to the PAs and CAs in the book.
- A quiz on Gradescope is going to ask you to write code, similar to the CAs and LAs in the book.
✨ Pro Tip✨ : We recommend reading through the sections and completing PAs as you read. After you finish reading the chapter, come back to complete the CAs in each section.
After the quiz grades have been posted, you will be able to review them with the mentors: if you got something wrong on the quiz, make sure that you understand what the correct answer is supposed to be and why. Quiz questions from previous weeks might show up on the future quizzes to give you a chance to get them right next time you see the same scenario.
Related questions:
- Is CSW 8 going to be asynchronous?
- I am enrolled in another class that conflicts with CSW 8. Is it a problem?
- Can I change/switch my lab section?
See the corresponding section in the Syllabus.
Synchronous class time and lab section attendance are not required but are highly recommended, especially, if you are new to programming. We will have quizzes
during the scheduled class, so having a conflict with another class/activity might jeopardize your ability to participate (potentially affecting your grade).
Whenever possible/reasonable, we will record in-class sessions and post them on Gauchospace (under that Week's tab) for you to review/refer to them.
If the lab section that you are registered for conflicts with your schedule, feel free to attend the section that works for you (there's no need to make any changes on GOLD). When registering for zyBooks, select the lab section that you plan to attend. The labs are intended for you to work with your classmates and to get a chance to ask mentors questions about course materials and assignments.
Please, do not email us directly. Direct emails, especially without the "CSW 8" in the subject, will likely not be answered.
To make sure that you can always get your questions answered, we have multiple ways for you to reach the instructor and our course mentors.
Below are the main ways for you to ask for help (from fastest to slowest response times). Note that we might not check or respond to messages over the weekend, so please plan accordingly.
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class time and lab sessions are the dedicated synchronous times when you can (and should!) ask questions.
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Prof. K can stay right after class and can also meet with you by appointment: you can book a meeting through a link posted on the office hours page or send a message to the Instructors on the forum, requesting to meet at a specific time.
-
we have synchronous Zoom office hours every day Monday through Friday in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings.
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we have an online Q&A forum, Piazza: post your questions there (you can do so anonymously) and your classmates can help answer it; otherwise, we will try to respond within 36 hours.
- Please, follow the posted forum guidelines (a pinned post) to make it easier for us to respond.
- We cannot guarantee that last-minute posts before a deadline would receive a timely response, so please start early and plan your work accordingly.
-
we have a fully-anonymous form where you can ask questions or send your suggestions: [{{ site.anon_form }}]({{ site.anon_form }})
Please contact us via Piazza. Read the pinned post there titled Posting Guidelines, which describes how to submit a direct message to the Instructors. See the Communication section below.
Sometimes, it can be difficult to formulate a question if you are not sure of what's confusing you.
In cases when you are not sure what to ask, go ahead and ask "Can you please show another example of X?", where X is something that you are not fully understanding or would like to see explained again.
For example, you might ask something like "Can you please show an example of how to use a for loop with a range?"
The idea here is that by working through an example, you might be able to catch what's confusing you and ask a follow-up or a clarifying question.
Hopefully, the example itself will be sufficient to help you feel more comfortable with this concept.
After seeing the example, try to vary the condition to see how well you are able to follow the explanation.
For instance, after seeing an example for your initial question, modify the result to check if you can now write a for loop using the range to generate a sequence of odd numbers, of even numbers, of even numbers that start at 10, etc.
See additional notes in the "How to Succeed in CSW 8" resource on how to get/ask for help.
Please, do not email us individually.
See the guidelines above - How do I send a direct message to TAs or professor?
We will use the corresponding "Week" tabs and "Instructor Announcements" on Gauchospace as the main communication mechanism in this course.
For your convenience, we plan to keep the Calendar on this site updated as well but Gauchospace is still considered the main and official source of information.
- This FAQ page should be your first place to check if you have a question.
- If you don't find the answer, then search through the posts on the forum to see if your question has been answered there.
- We ask that you do not email the Mentors directly and instead use the forum message that can be addressed directly to the instructors/TAs!
It is your responsibility to make sure that you check and keep up with the information that we post. We hope that you will also participate in the exchanges on the forum and help us create a supportive and collaborative environment where everyone is comfortable asking questions and experimenting with the powerful programming concepts that we will be using in this class.
As mentioned in the syllabus, you should use the forum for all course-related questions. Please address it to the Instructors if you need to make it private.
If you ever need to send the professor a direct email, make sure to include "CSW8" in the subject, and if there is a follow-up, keep it in the same email thread (i.e., use "Reply" instead of starting a separate email). Due to a large volume of emails, if you do not follow these guidelines, your email might not be even seen.
Use any of the mechanisms described above in the Getting Help section to submit your query.