🦠 CS 300 format for 2021 🎥 😷
Rather than conventional, synchronous lectures on Zoom, we're trying out a different model that tries to accommocate different time zones and makes the Zoom experience as interactive as possible.
Here's how this will work:
- We will split each 80-minute lecture into several recording sessions (~30 min each), which will take place at different times of the day, convenient for different time zones.
- You'll pick a time that works for you and join an active listener group of ~12-15 students associated with this time. A signup form for this will be available on the first day of the course.
- When you are an active listener, your attendance is required. We expect you to attend the recording session, be prepared, ask questions and contribute to the discussion. This is your chance to experience CSCI 0300 as if it was a small seminar!
- We will organize each lecture segment around a concept or demonstration program. Since we want you to participate actively in the lecture, there will often be some (brief) preparation work that we will assign to you.
- When it is not your rotation's turn, you will watch the recorded video, which we'll post on the course website.
- You are welcome to attend anyway should you wish to, but we'll ask students who aren't active listeners to turn off their video and give the active listeners priority for particiation.
- Over the course of the semester, each student will be required to attend about 10 lectures as an active listener (exact number TBD).
Recording times. See below for the recording times. Please ensure that you attend during your active listener rotation's timeslot.
Tuesday | Thursday |
ALR1: 9-10am | ALR4: 10:30-11:30am |
ALR2: 1-2am | ALR5: 2-3pm |
ALR3: 7-8pm | ALR6: 8-9pm |
Asynchronous lecture watching. Those students who aren't part of a live lecture recording as active listeners are expected to watch that lecture asynchronously. Once the course enrollment has stabilized, we are hoping to form "lecture watching teams" of about four students each, based on a number of factors, including time zone. These teams will watch the lectures together and interact at times of their own choosing.
Lecture length. Lecture length will be more driven by content than time block. We will record six lecture segments a week, each 30 minutes in duration (sometimes a little more to allow for questions and discussion). Recording slots are 1 hour in duration, but will often take less time. Topics for the recordings will be announced in advance, and will roughly follow the course schedule.
Optional sections. From time to time, we will offer optional sections, led by the instructor or TAs. These sections will review material and practice key skills, as well as offering a chance for you to ask questions. If the public health situation permits, we may offer in-person sections for those in Providence, subject to Brown's rules for hybrid course meetings (i.e., no more than 19 attendees, masks and social distancing required). Details will be announce on Piazza.
In the shopping period, the initial lectures recordings will take place during the normal time slots (1-2:20pm Tuesday and Thursday). These recordings will be available shortly after for those who cannot make these times. Once course attendance has stabilized and you've submitted your active listener rotation time preferences, we will start the rotating recording schedule.