General course information (academic integrity, late assignment policy, needs and suggestion sections are not included. They are available on request from huss@beloit.edu.)
Each course I teach has learning goals and outcomes. Here is what I hope you will gain in this class:
There will be no required textbook for this course. We will use readings from other sources with information discussed in class and posted to Moodle.
Grades are assigned by weighting your grades in various aspects of the class as described below. Your final score will not be less than this weighted average except in certain circumstances. I may give a grade lower than your average if you receive a D or F on two (2) or more activities of the class (an exam, assignment, participation, etc). In some cases I choose to raise your final grade. For example, if there are specific reasons for the weighted average being lower such as an unusual grade or a lower grade on early work where later work shows a clear understanding of this material. In general you should expect your grade to be the weighted average and view any increase in final grade as the exception rather than the rule. You should also review the late assignment policy section for how that impacts individual scores. I use the Moodle grade book so it is available to you for review.
I generally use these values as the ranges for grades:
Letter Grade |
Low |
High |
---|---|---|
A |
93.00 |
100.00 |
A- |
90.00 |
92.99 |
B+ |
87.00 |
89.99 |
B |
83.00 |
86.99 |
B- |
80.00 |
82.99 |
C+ |
77.00 |
79.99 |
C |
73.00 |
76.99 |
C- |
70.00 |
72.99 |
D+ |
67.00 |
69.99 |
D |
60.00 |
66.99 |
F |
0.00 |
59.99 |
Did you attend class, come on time, participate in class, and actively participate in activities? I'm not seeing if you ask a question in every class. I'm interested if you participate in group activities and participate in the learning process. I also won't zero out your score if you miss one class. However, I do expect you to attend class and absences should have a valid reason which are conveyed to me. (In advance, if possible, if it is a scheduled item like a sports event. Afterward is much better then not at all.) An e-mail is needed for records and to enter into the attendance system but you can also discuss with me if you wish. Letting me know any reason (even if it does not seem very valid) is better than not telling me anything. If you miss a class you need to find out what was accomplished and see if you need to perform any work to make up that day. This is often posted on Moodle. Failure to do this will mean that you still will be penalized for missing a class even if you have a valid excuse. Arriving late will count as a partially missed day where the later you are the greater the penalty. Note that attendance records are kept on Moodle and the penalty for each type of absence/lateness is listed there.
Class attendance is central to this course. It is not only your opportunity to learn the material but many pair/group activities occur. When you are not present you diminish both your own and the learning experience of others. Missing more than 5 classes is of serious concern and likely to cause significant issues in the course. More than 5 absences (including prorated reductions for lateness) will, by default, result in an F for the course. If you anticipate having more than 5 absences then you should discuss this with me as soon as possible. If there is an approved reason and we come up with a plan that I approve in advance for you to make up all missed work and learn the materials then you can continue in the course. Note for both your sake and that of other students, it is imperative that you discuss this situation with me as soon as practical (an email is okay if you are ill and we can chat afterward). Delaying will result in less options and a higher probability that you cannot continue in the course. In general, you should not be waiting until you have reached the limit of 5 days before talking with me and you must talk with me in advance if you know of the situation in advance.
There will be assignments throughout the course including written assignments and working with real-world data. Any quizzes or changes in class directly related to assignments fall into this category.
We will be doing a large project on energy metering. Details will be given during class.
There will be one exam during the semester worth 10% and the final worth 15% of the overall grade.
These criteria are subject to revision during the semester. I try to stay with them but unforeseen circumstances can necessitate changes.