Computer Science Teaching Seminar CS 4955
"Remember you are working with humans first, computer science second." -- Your Instructor
Schedule/Road Map
| Week |
Module |
Date |
Lecture and Readings | Assignments | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ethos, Pathos, and Logos | Wed, Jan. 8, 2020 |
|
A1 Out - Ethos Reflections | |
| 2 | Wed, Jan. 15, 2020 |
|
A1 due before class A2 Out - Pathos Reflection |
||
| 3 | Wed, Jan. 22, 2020 |
|
A2 due before class A3 Out - Logos and first presentation |
||
| 4 | Wed, Jan. 29, 2020 |
|
A3 due before class A4 - Teaching Reflection #1 |
||
| 5 | Building a Short Course | Wed, Feb. 5, 2020 |
|
A4 due before class A5 Out - CS1 |
|
| 6 | Wed, Feb. 12, 2020 |
|
A5 due before class A6 Out - Hour of Code Syllabus |
||
| 7 | Wed, Feb. 19, 2020 |
|
A6 - due before class
A7 Out - Teaching Reflection 2 |
||
| 8 | Wed, Feb. 26, 2020 |
|
A8 - Lights, Camera, Action | ||
| 9 | N/A | Wed, March 4, 2020 | ------ (No Class -- Spring Break) ------ |
|
|
| 10 | Final Capstone | Wed, Mar. 11, 2020 |
|
- Final Lecture Topic Survey - A9 - Online Draft 1 |
|
| 11 | Wed, March 18, 2020 |
|
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| 12 | Wed, March 25, 2020 |
|
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| 13 | Wed, April 1, 2020 |
|
Final Project out! | ||
| 14 | Wed, April 8, 2020 |
|
Final Project due (Potential Google Hangout to end class) | ||
| 15 | Wed, April 15, 2020 |
|
Course Information
- Course Number: CS 4955
- Semester: Spring 2020
- Piazza: Forum Board (For both sections)
- Use piazza instead of e-mail for all course related matters
- This way all course staff can answer questions
- Class as a whole can participate and learn in discussions
- Code also formats better nicely pasted in
- (Linking your github is also easy for private posts)
- Section 1: CS 4955 - 37980
- Schedule: W 1:35pm-2:40pm
- Location: Ryder Hall 220
Instructor
- Instructor: Mike Shah
- E-mail: mikeshah( a t )Northeastern{dot}edu
- e.g. I have a co-op interview and need to reschedule XYZ
- e.g. I am away for a conference on date X to date Y
- e.g. I am away for a doctors visit.
- (Read How to send an e-mail)
- Office: Nightingale 132A
- Student Hours: In my office
- Review course material with me and ask questions
- Date/Time: By appointment, arranged by e-mail (We are a small class :) )
- Use e-mail primarily for personal matters
Course Description
In short, we are going to become better teachers by improving our presentation skills, and thinking about how we teach computer science.
Registrar Description: Introduces techniques and frameworks to prepare undergraduate students to become more effective teaching assistants in the field of computer science. Students analyze and reflect on literature, case studies, and real examples of teaching computer science. Offers students an opportunity to participate within in-class activities to learn presentation skills, to practice speaking to different audience sizes, and to learn how to work with different types of audiences. Culminates with a final capstone project in which students prepare and present a lecture on a topic in computer science. Successful students are prepared for careers in teaching, presenting technical content when pursuing graduate studies, and for presenting technical information in industry.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you will:
- Introduce students to literature on computer science pedagogy and how to evaluate and reflect on the effectiveness of teaching strategies.
- Provide students a set (i.e. toolbox) of teaching techniques that they will select and apply in different teaching situations.
- Teach students to analyze their audiences prior knowledge and present information to audiences of different levels of technical competence.
- Teach students strategies for structuring and presenting an engaging lecture.
Resources
There will be no required textbook for this course. However, these resources are recommended.
- (free) Tomorrow's Professor
- (free if accessing on campus) ACM SIGCSE Top Ten Symposium Papers of All Time
- (Strongly Recommended) Small Teaching
Prerequisites
- Undergraduate level CS 2500 Minimum Grade of D-
- You should have TA'd a course before
Academic Integrity and Non-Discrimination
Students and instructors are to follow the Northeastern policies on these important issues.
- Northeastern Non-Discrimination Policy - This classroom is a safe space for the instructor and students to talk about ideas, share viewpoints, and learn.
- Northeastern Academic Integrity Policy - You only cheat yourself if you are not honest. Most often cheating occurs when an individual falls behind or perhaps has other circumstances occurring in their life. Please consult the instructor before ever considering cheating.
- If you are caught cheating I have to report the violation. My official policy is you receive a 0 in the course. Always remember, if you use any external sources, you must cite them.
- Student Code of Conduct: Students and instructors will follow the following guide for how we conduct ourselves. This is to create a respectful environment where everyone can learn.
Make-Up Policy
- Students participating in varsity athletics(this does not include club sports or intramurals) or other University sanctioned events may have the need for a make-up. Please contact me in advance of such events, so that appropriate accommodations can be made.
- Occasionally, other life events and circumstances occur that were not planned. If this is the case, please e-mail me privately.
- E-mailing me asking for extensions just because is unfortunately not fair to your classmates. The 10% penalty for each day late has to be enforced so I do not get taken advantage of.
Accessibility
Part of what makes Northeastern University unique, is our diverse cohort of students, faculty, and staff. In order to support this, Northeastern is committed to providing equal access and support to all qualified students through the provision of reasonable accommodations so that each student may fully participate in the University experience.
- If you have a disability that requires accommodations, please contact the Student Accessibility Services office at DRC@northeastern.edu or (617) 373-2675 to make an appointment with the Disability Resource Center representatives in 20 Dodge Hall to determine appropriate accommodations.
- We Care is another university resource for helping tackle challenges you may be facing. Asking for help is okay!
Lateness and Attendance Policy
Students who do well in this course tend to show up to the course consistently, participate, and engage with their peers. Come to class, come on time, and build good habits! In-Class activities that are not attended are a zero.
Wellness
Northeastern Univerity provides resources for student healthcare and general wellness. Please visit Northeastern Health and Counseling Services for your needs. While university can be difficult at times, please do take care of yourself. It is okay to seek help and take a break. Please communicate with your instructor, advisor, and officials at the university if you just need a mental break.
Assessment/Course Polices
Please find below the grading distribution that will be used for this course. You will find the grade you earn in this course on blackboard.
- In-Class Participation: (10%)
- Assignments: (60%) (All equally weighted)
- Teaching Capstone: (30%)
- The grade system follows the University Grading System.
- A = 95 – 100
- A- = 91 – 94.99
- B+ = 87 – 90.99
- B = 83 – 86.99
- B- = 80 – 82.99
- C+ = 77 – 79.99
- C = 73 – 76.99
- C- = 70 – 72.99
- D+ = 67 – 69.99
- D = 63 – 66.99
- D- = 60 – 62.99
- F = 0 – 59.99
- In the event of a sick/snow day (i.e. we miss a lab or in-class activity) the weight of each assignment increases (There may also be shuffling of course material if we are interrupted).
- The expectation is that the assignments are fair but difficult, so you should start early!
- Late Submissions of Assignments receive 10% off per day submitted late (up to 3 days max, then 0% received)
- Unfortunately, with large classes I cannot make individual exceptions (i.e. "special deals") fairly to your classmates who are likely making other personal sacrifices to complete work on time.
- Come speak to me about your wellness if something is otherwise impeding your progress so we can provide you available resources to succeed.
- Assignments that do not compile/open receive no credit Simply put, programs that do not compile do not do anything.
- There are no "re-grades" or points awarded one week after your grade is posted. "re-grades" may result in a higher, equal, or lower score.
- There are no "re-grades" after the semester is over.
- Do not ask multiple members of the course staff for "re-grades"
- If you are currently waitlisted, you must submit your homework on time. That is the gamble! If you do not have blackboard access, you will submit by e-mail or other course mechanism (e.g. github).
- There are no extra credit assignments just for you. I reserve the right to add points to assignments that do go above and beyond however. I reserve the right to give an extra credit assignment to the entire class, though this is highly unlikely.
- I reserve the right to modify the grading scale in your favor if you show exemplary proficiency in any of the catagories. I will never modify the scale to lower a students grade.
- In class work cannot be made up at a later date unless otherwise arranged with the instructor well in advance.
- Course work completed after the date cannot be graded, as solutions will have been discussed (this includes if taking this course for an Incomplete).
- Once again, "in-class" work must be completed in-class unless there is a documented emergency or you have prearranged with the instructor a make-up well in advance.
- Lab time is meant for helping students with the lab, not completing homework. I have to prioritize lab first, then can answer homework questions.
- No Facebook, no cell phones. Not only does it distract you, it distracts others!
- Everyone needs to come see me in office hours (or by appointment) at least one time during the semester to introduce yourself. The purpose is so that you:
- Know where my office is.
- Get used to coming to office hours.
- Let me know how I can help you achieve your goals.