1.3. Course Policies

1.3.1. Attendance Policy

Coming to class is important. Don’t be absent.

1.3.2. Physical Computing Lab

The classroom for the course in the IDeATe Physical Computing Lab in Hunt A10. It is part of the IDeATe@Hunt Collaborative Making Facility and students will be required to follow the IDeATe@Hunt policies as detailed under IDeATe Facilities Policies and Fees.

All lab users are expected to abide by the Physical Computing Lab Policies. The lab inventory of components and materials is available online as a Google Sheet named Physical Computing Lab Inventory, with separate tabs for tools and materials.

The room is used quite a bit during Mon-Thu, see Physical Computing Lab Calendar or IDeATe@Hunt PhysComp Lab Calendar.

Other resources may be reserved using the IDeATe@Hunt Reservations Calendar.

1.4. Grading

Each assignment serves both learning and evaluative goals. Fulfilling the assignment is an essential step in the learning process, and the result also demonstrates learning success. Please take careful note of the requirements for each assignment: they represent a type of contract between student and instructor.

Everybody is assumed to start with an A in the course. If you do the work you will keep it, but failing to fulfill the expectations will cause you to drift downward.

The total grade in the course will be weighted approximately 70% for projects, 20% for exercises, and 10% for the research talk.

1.4.1. Project Grading Rubric

Projects will be considered along a number of axes:

  1. the artifact
  2. the performance
  3. the narrative concept
  4. the execution of the concept
  5. the analysis of the result
  6. the technical implementation
  7. the documentation

Please see General Requirements for In-class Critiques for details on expectations regarding critiques and Requirements for Final Project Reports for details on the written documentation requirements.

1.4.2. Lateness Policy

All reports must be submitted by the required deadline, unless prior authorization is obtained from an instructor and documented in email. Verbal authorization is not sufficient: any verbal discussion of late submission must be backed up with an emailed request and reply.

Reports received within 24 hours of the deadline will receive half-score. Reports received later than 24 hours will not be examined and receive zero score.

Reports bounced for revision at the discretion of the instructor must be returned within 24 hours if not otherwise specified. This rule is meant to allow a grace period for reports which overlook a required element; please do not assume that incomplete work can be resubmitted.

However, please remember that something is always better than nothing. If the deadline is imminent, please submit whatever text, images, and drawings you can rather than do nothing.