1 Course Information

• course number: course title
• course description
• other information about the course

2 Class information

• section number
• meeting days and time
• other class specific information

3 Professor information

• Tak Auyeung
• email: auyeunt@arc.losrios.edu
• phone: 916-484-8250

4 Office hours

• days and time

5 Presentation/Delivery Methods

Course content is delivered via the following methods:

• reading material
• video clip
• synchronouse mode: face-to-face or live-streamed lectures and/or lab sessions
• interactive activities

6 Regular effective contact and communication policy

To stay in touch with the instructor:

• utilize office hours
• email
• messaging using the learning management system or communication platform chosen by the instructor

Expectation of time frame:

• a turn-around time of no more than 24 hours to messages sent between Monday midnight and Friday midnight excluding college holidays
• otherwise, a turn-around time of no more than 48 hours during a semester

7 Conduct

Refer to the college’s expectations of behavior and conduct for more details.

The instructor’s policy is to be consistent with the expectations from the Office of Student Contact. The instructor reserves the right to report all cases of violations without warnings.

8 Attendance/absences

Refer to “Attendance” on the college’s web page on College and Academic Regulations. Specifically read the district’s attendance requirements.

8.1 Why?

Attendance is positively correlated with performance and success in a class. While attendance by itself does not guarantee academic success, it is a necessary component.

8.2 Specific to synchronous online classes

Attendance is taken using specific means as mentioned by the instructor. Note that in a synchronous online class, just having a “presence” in a communication platform such as Zoom or Discord is insufficient to count as being present. The instructor can specify how attendance is taken during a lecture.

8.3 Excessive unexcused absences

As per the district’s regulation, the threshold to be counted as excessive is 6%. In a 16-week (full semester) class, each week is more than 6%. This means that a total unexcused absences that is equivalent to one week’s of lectures and/or lab activities is excessive.

If a 16-week class meets twice per week, this means that missing a total of two classes adds up to more than 6%.

9 Grading

9.1 What is being asssessed

An assessment can be a lab activity, a homework assignment, a Canvas activity, a quiz, or an exam. For each individual part (defined by the assessment). There are some dimensions of assessment:

9.1.1 Prior knowledge and recall

This dimension is moot in an assessment that is open book and open notes.

9.1.2 Analysis/critical thinking

This dimension quantifies the ability to break down a question/problem into components that correlate with symbols, definitions, and concepts introduced in class.

9.1.3 Synthesis/Problem solving

This dimension quantifies the ability to utilize symbols, definitions, concepts introduced in class to achieve an objectively defined goal.

9.1.4 Performance

This dimension quantifies the familiarity and efficiency of performing critical thinking and problem solving.

9.2 Meanings of 0 to 4

The assessment is reflected by a number ranging from 0 to 4.

• 0:
  • no work is submitted
  • the submitted work shows no evidence of
    • the ability to analyze and think critically
    • the ability to synthesize or problem solve
  • unless otherwise specified:
    • code that does not compile or assemble
• 1:
  • the submitted work shows some, but insufficient, evidence of
    • the ability to analyze and think critically
    • the ability to synthesize or problem solve
    • familiarity and efficiency do not matter when there is insufficient evidence of the abilities to analyze and/or synthesize
• 2:
  • the submitted work shows sufficient evidence of
    • the ability to analyze and think critically
    • the ability to synthesize or problem solve
  • the submitted work also shows evidence of
    • incomplete and/or inncorrect understanding of material
    • insufficient familiarity and/or efficiency
• 3:
  • the submitted work provides sufficient evidence of
    • the ability to analyze and think critically
    • the ability to synthesize or problem solve
    • complete and correct understanding of material
  • the submitted work also shows evidence of
    • operational (as opposed to conceptual) mistakes and/or obmissions
    • room for improvement in terms of familiarity and/or efficiency
• 4:
  • the submitted work provides sufficient evidence of
    • the ability to analyze and think critically
    • the ability to synthesize or problem solve
    • complete and correct understanding of material
    • operational correctness
    • excellent familiarity and/or efficiency

9.3 Late policy

No late submission counts to the final grade. Please submit your work on time.

9.4 Assessments

9.4.1 Homework assignments and lab activities (20%)

These are low-impact activities designed to test the application or materials learned in class. Homework assignments typically have at least 2 days between assignment and collection, whereas lab activities are due at the end of a lab session.

A lab session is characterized by having the instructor being present to address questions.

9.4.2 First Exam (20%)

This exam occurs at about \(\frac{1}{3}\) through the semester. This exam uses the entire duration of a lecture session. For face-to-face classes, this exam is taken in the lecture room.

9.4.3 Second Exam (20%)

This exam occurs at about \(\frac{2}{3}\) through the semester. This exam also uses the entire duration of a lecture session. For face-to-face classes, this exam is taken in the lecture room.

9.4.4 Final exam (40%)

This exam occurs at the end of the semester. The instructor follows the policies regarding when to hold the final exam. For synchronous online classes and face-to-face classes, refer to the final exam schedule for the date and time of the final exam. In the case of a face-to-face class, the final exam is taken in the lecture room.

For asynchronous online classes, the last lecture meeting is used for final exam purposes.

10 Topic schedule