Course operations

In the Spring 2023, I teach COMP 306/406 (Data Mining), and COMP 363/460 (Algorithms), and COMP 170 (Introductory Programming).

  • Synchronous sessions will be available on Zoom. You must have it installed on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. A link to our Zoom “classroom” is available on the course’s Sakai site. There will be no separate emails with the Zoom link. Zoom availability is provided for emergencies only. Students are expected to be in class. You may use Zoom if you are isolating for health reason, if you are traveling, if you are facing a family emergency, if commute to campus is horrendous due to traffic, or if weather conditions make it difficult to come to class.

  • If, at any time, Zoom is unavailable due to high-demand or any other reason, our fall-back method for online meetings will be Google Hangouts. You will need to sign up for a free Google account, if you do not already have one. (If you have a gmail address, you have a Google account). In case we need to switch to Google Hangouts for a class meeting, you will be notified by email sent to your official LUC.EDU address.

  • If we experience a Zoom disruption during the first half of class meeting, we will switch to Google Hangouts immediately. If the disruption occurs during the second half of the class meeting, we’ll cancel the rest of the meeting, and I will provide notes and reading suggestions to make up for the lost time. If there is a disruption to a Zoom meeting, please check your Loyola email within 5 minutes. As soon as I troubleshoot the disruption and determine the best course of action, I will email you with instructions about how and where to reconvene.

  • Student hours (aka, office hours) are by appointment and via Zoom only. Please use the Calendly website to schedule an appointment.

  • It is my commitment to make my courses as classes as engaging and productive as possible. To achieve that, I will need your help. Please reach out to me at any time with suggestions, concerns, and ideas related to the course and to your studies. If you prefer to share your thoughts in a confidential way, you can use an anonymous feedback form. Communications are key!

Recordings

Zoom sessions are recorded and available to watch later if, for some serious reason you may not be able to attend a class meeting. Notice that the availability of recordings is not a reason to skip class without a justifiable reason. Zoom provides me with attendance information and I will be monitoring it closely. Some courses include in-class assessments as part of the grading scheme. I am planning to continue conducting these assessments even when meeting remotely, so your attendance is critical.

Recordings are made available only to Loyola Students. You must contact me and provide a justification as to why you missed class if you wish access to a recorded meeting. Authentication (using your LUC login credentials) is required to access a recording. These recordings will be removed after the semester is over. Downloading of these recordings is not possible.