Ground Rules
From Classes
- The notes distributed in class contain “exercises" and “tasks". Students will solve these problems at home and then present the solutions in class. The instructor will call on students at random to present “exercises"; he will call on volunteers to present solutions to the “tasks".
- When in the audience, students are expected to be actively engaged in the presentation. This means checking to see if every step of the presentation is clear and convincing, and speaking up when it is not. When there are gaps in the reasoning, the students in class will work together to fill the gaps.
- The instructor serves as a moderator. His major contribution in class will consist of asking guiding and probing questions. He will also occasionally give short presentations to put topics into a wider context, or to briefly talk about additional concepts not dealt with in the notes.
- Students may use only the class notes and their own notes taken during the semester; they are not allowed to consult other books or materials. Students must not talk to anyone outside of class about the assignments. Students are encouraged to collaborate with other class participants; if they do, they must acknowledge other students’ contribution during their presentations. Exemptions from these restrictions require prior approval by the instructor.
- The instructor is an important resource. He expects frequent visits from all students in class during his office hours – many more visits than in a “normal" class. Among other things, students probably will want to come to the instructor’s office to ask questions about concepts and assigned problems, they will probably occasionally want to show the instructor their work before presenting it in class, and they probably will have times when they just want to talk about the frustrations they may experience.
- It is of paramount importance that we all agree to create a class atmosphere that is supportive and non-threatening to all participants. Disparaging remarks will be tolerated neither from students nor from the instructor.
