Adapting to our Program

To adapt PSI to CS4984, several changes or additions seemed appropriate. First, given limited GTA support, it is necessary for the instructor also to play the role of proctor and tutor, during office hours and during specially scheduled appointments. Use of MOO technology extends those times of contact to any time the instructor or GTA are in EIEIOmoo. Second, given space limitations and the current lab situation for Computer Science regarding multimedia technology, it seemed necessary to hold class sessions in Derring 2069 twice, to accomodate two sections. Thus, a combined lecture for both sections takes place Monday afternoons, and each section has a session on either Tuesday or Thursday. Third, given the availability of computing resources, it seemed sensible to use MOO technology, electronic forms and electronic mail as much as possible, to encourage additional communication with the instructor and to avoid needless use of paper. Finally, given the lab availability and limited software licenses, it was arranged that students would be able to work directly with some software (either in the Derring classroom or in one of the labs on campus), but for other software would only watch a demonstration.

fox@cs.vt.edu
Mon Jan 16 04:19:35 EST 1995