Grade Assignment
The assignment of letter grades will be made as follows:
| Letter Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A | ≥ 90% |
| B | ≥ 80% |
| C | ≥ 70% |
| D | ≥ 60% |
| F | < 60% |
In general, we will not assign lower grades than shown. We reserve the right to change the grading cut lines.
Point Distribution
| Activity | Weight |
|---|---|
| Formative: Readings and Labs | 25% |
| Formative: Knowledge Checks | 30% |
| Formative: Essays and Reflections | 15% |
| Summative: Attendance and Discussions | 5% |
| Summative: Midterm Exam | 5% |
| Summative: Practical Project Code | 5% |
| Summative: Practical Project Paper | 10% |
| Summative: Final Exam | 10% |
Grade complaints will be considered only for two weeks immediately following when the assignment grade appears on Canvas!
- CSU Online students will have a higher readings and labs grade at 30%, as attendance is not tracked.
Assignment Categories
Formative Assignments
Anything considered a formative assignment, can be redone within two-weeks (14-days) of the due date. It is our belief that learning is a process, and mistakes happen during learning. Instead, we will continue to ask you to redo something until you get it correct.
Reading Assignments and Labs
Reading assignments are to be done in Zybooks, and are meant to be done before the associated lecture. Labs are meant to be after the lecture, and both are major components in your understanding how to code. The readings often start out longer at the start of the semester, but decrease in length when we return to topics. Labs will start off easier, but will get longer throughout the semester.
To complete a reading, it suggested you use the link in canvas every time you login as compared to going directly to zybooks. Due dates for the assignments are in Canvas, and are the night before the associated lecture.
Accommodation Window / Resubmissions
You may resubmit assignments and labs for up to two weeks after the due date. You must have an initial submission by the due date to be allowed to resubmit. Due to how technology interacts,
the official “cutoff” date is in zybooks which will allow you to submit anything
done before that date to canvas at a later time. Please note, it is still recommended
that you complete most of the reading by the due date in canvas!
For accommodations, the resubmission window takes into account most accommodations, as it will allow anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks of extra time. While the expected time is the due date in canvas, we understand that everyone can occasionally need accommodations, so having this resubmission window helps show competency at your own rate.
Knowledge Checks
Knowledge Checks and in-class activities supplement the lecture, by interweaving recall and instruction with the lecture content. Knowledge checks are available on canvas and are used to help ensure you are keeping up with current content and may be redone within two weeks after the due date. Like other formative assessments, there must be an initial submission by the due date in order to resubmit for a new grade..
Accommodation Window / Resubmissions
Knowledge checks may be resubmitted for two additional weeks, but you will
need to score a 3 of 4 to move onto the next module. As they are open for extended dates,
even though they are due each week, accommodations are already taken into account.
Study Suggestion
You should go back to older knowledge checks each week, and interweave your study
habits. For example, during week four, pick a knowledge check from 1, 2, and 3 to
redo. This will help solidify content, and help with retention of information.
Essays and Reflections
You will have three papers throughout the semester, one for each unit. You will have two reflections. Please note, these papers are meant to teach you a foundation for research, and should not be taken lightly! They are a major component of your grade.
Accommodation Window / Resubmissions
There is an accommodation window of 3 days after each paper. Please note that due to
the nature of providing prompt feedback and peer grading, we cannot extend past this window.
The window is automatically taken into account in canvas by the until by date. You should
try to follow the due date unless something comes up, and just submit before the
until by if something does come up. With that said, we assign the paper at the beginning
of a unit, and we do not assume it will take 3 weeks to write a paper. As such, we encourage
students to plan ahead!
The week after papers are graded, students may request the option to resubmit. In order to request this option, they must meet with their cohort TA, and go over the points they missed on the paper. The TA will then mark the student as allowed to resubmit, correcting their mistakes on the paper.
Grading
Papers will be graded using 0-4 standard rubric. Each standard will have 0-4, but in order to score
a 4 on the assignment, you would actually have to have a majority of 4 in all the standards, and no less
than a 3 in the other standards. To score a 3, you need majority 3 or 4s, but will have a 1 or 2 in other
standards. To score a 2, you will have majority 2 and 1s. To score a 1, you will have to have
a majority of 1s in the standards.
Summative Assessments
70% of the course uses what we call formative assessments. Learning is meant to have mistakes, and we do not feel you should be penalized for learning. Instead, you are given the option of redoing it for two weeks until you get it correct. For the Summative Assessments, are your projects in which you demonstrate mastery of the subject, and combined make up 30% of your grade. Of this 30%, 15% of your final grade is dedicated towards the final exam.
While there will be readings and knowledge checks during unit 4, there will be no labs, so you can work on your Summative Assessments.
Practical Project / Final Paper
You can learn more about the Practical Project at the end of Unit 2. The practical project has both a coding and written component.