The requirements and corresponding assessment weights below do not constitute a unique menu of requirements because one menu “does not fit all.” One menu cannot be optimal for different students with different academic histories, training, abilities, and skills. Thus, there is a freedom to students to self-select and choose optional activities that will consume effort on the one hand and enhance their skills on the other. These optional activities might enhance their grade, if assessed better than non-optional requirements, but can never lower it. Students will allocate their effort (optimally) between necessary and optional course requirements. Normally, it is advisable to engage in optional requirements only after the necessary requirements are satisfactorily fulfilled.
Contribution to Class Lectures
Contribution to Class lectures is measured by mere participation in the class academic discourse, and does not require “saying the right things,” or “giving correct answers.” To get credit, at the end of each class, students will register, with the instructor, the number of times they participated in the lecture discourse. Participation three times per class will merit full credit. Maximum credit for each weekly assignment is 0.75%, and maximum credit for each class participation in is also 0.75%.
Assignments
Following each class, students will solve and upload on Moodle the textbook’s end of chapter problems consulting the solution manual judiciously, problems assigned in lectures, and problems posted on Moodle. Students should keep copies of the submitted assignments. Demonstrating sufficient effort by adequately solving eight problems will merit full credit.
Projects
Student may elect to engage in voluntary projects. Students who wish to engage in voluntary projects must seek the advice and approval of the instructor regarding projects topics and project specifics to enhance the productivity of their effort. The instructor will consequently select W for each project, as a function of the project size.
Projects will be original, and use new data. Each submission will include a signed statement “I have neither given, received, or taken unauthorized assistance on this submission” by each author. The report on the project should be brief and accompanied by presentation slides. Justifications of claims should be put in appendices. Students will submit both hard and electronic copies.
Exams; General
All exams are comprehensive with respect to all the material that was covered in the course up to the exam, including additional topics assigned by the instructor for students’ self-study, assigned readings, and related topics. It is recommended that studying in the course, including preparing for exams, student prioritize effort allocation “in concentric circles.” First, material covered in class including topics assigned for students’ self-study. Second, material covered in assignments. Third, material covered in assigned readings. Fourth, related topics. Exams will typically include, both, “Gift questions” and implementation questions. The former has been discussed in class and the latter apply tools developed in class to solve problems. Questions could be either “multiple choice,” or “open.” See example of exam instructions on Moodle.
Each of the above requirements is associated with all of the learning outcomes listed above. Attending and continuously following and participating in class discourse are essential to success in the other requirements including the exam. It is important that all class material will be learned and disseminated immediately after each class, and that all questions and clarifications will be addressed by the next class. Please email questions and requests including for reviews and repeated explanations well before the following class so it is determined whether to provide the answers personally or to the whole class. Projects and oral presentations will build students’ knowledge of the subject matter, interest, presentation skills, ability “to think on their feet,” and interviewing skills. Most of the exam questions will be subsumed in the class lectures and discussions, and few will refer to issues not fully discussed. Students who will engage in private conversations in class will be asked questions relevant to the prevailing class discourse till they are able to give a satisfactory answer.
The grade of this course, G, will be the following function of the individual requirement grades Ats, P1, P2, M and F, where At, As, P1, P2, M, and F are on the interval [0,1],
G1 = 17 x Ats + 9 x P1 + 37 x M + 37 x F
G = G1 + W x Max [P2 - G1, 0]
It is essential that students participate in all class meetings and exams, and fulfill all course requirements. Makeup exams might be verbal or include verbal parts.
Assessment Format
The format of projects, assignments, and papers will be explained in class and will fit the particular item. However, all students’ submissions should include, in large block letters, the student’s full name, surname first, ID number, the course code, and Course Section. Please see also the information above. Submission of assignments must be done electronically directly to Moodle.