Frequently Asked Questions

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== Should I take the subject this semester? ==
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== Why are there rules of engagement and what are they? ==
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The following are the major differences between the fall and spring versions:
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We of the staff promise that we will do all we can to make 6.034 an interesting, useful, and inspiring subject.
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We cannot honor our promise if we are talking to the back of laptops or to people manipulating cell phones or reading newspapers. 
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We find it insulting, and when we are insulted, we are distracted, and when we are distracted, we do less well,
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and when we do less well, we are less useful to people paying attention, so an open laptop harms other students. 
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* Professor Patrick H. Winston is in charge in the fall; Professor Tomas Lozano-Perez are in charge in the spring.
 
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* Much of the material covers the same ground.  The most conspicuous differences are that the fall version focuses toward the end of the semester on models of aspects of human intelligence and the spring version includes a major section on formal logic.
 
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See the Underground Guide for further guidance.
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Accordingly, we do not teach when computers or cell phones are in use or newspapers are being read.
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== Should I buy a book? ==
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There are alternatives to 6.034 that satisfy the same requirement; check with the instructors for the rules of engagement in those subjects.
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No.  All the reading material you need will be online at zero cost.
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== Should I take the subject this semester? ==
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== Am I expected to attend lectures, tutorials, the megarecitation, and the ordinary recitations? ==
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* 6.034 is not offered in the Spring Semester.
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Yes. We believe that the lectures, tutorials, and recitations are all an
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* In 2015, 6.034 will again feature ''Right Now'' talks, by prominent MIT faculty and staff describing their current research. These will complement Professor Winston's lectures.
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important part of the MIT experience, and we work hard to make them
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interesting and useful.
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* Lectures introduce powerful ideas and relate the material to the "big picture." We often include questions on the quizzes and final that you can answer only by faithful lecture attendance.
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* Tutorials provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and to demonstrate your understanding.
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* Recitations play a major role in clarifying the material and demonstrating how problems are solved.
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== Can I collaborate with friends on the homework? ==
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<!--
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See the [https://sixweb.mit.edu/search/search?subject_num=6.034&term_season=Fall Underground Guide] for further guidance.
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-->
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Yes.  We create the homework to help you learn the material.  For many, that means
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== Should I buy a book? ==
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working together, and certainly when you get stuck, you should seek help.  On the other
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hand, you are not to simply submit someone else's work, as this would be both unethical
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and detrimental to your own learning, which will be reflected in quiz performance.
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Also, we get very sore if we catch someone cheating.
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== Do I need to know how to program in Scheme? ==
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No.  All the reading material you need will be online at zero cost.  See the [[Reference material and playlist | references page]].
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The subject is not centered on programming, but a substantial fraction of the homework
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== Am I expected to attend lectures, recitations, and the ''Right Now'' talks? ==
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requires an understanding of Scheme and working out some small Scheme programs.  The
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quizzes and final do not include questions that require any knowledge of Scheme
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programming.  Veterans of 6.001 should have no trouble with the programming involved;
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students skilled in some other programming language will have to spend a couple of
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weekends reading the Scheme book and should work out a catch-up plan with their tutor;
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students with no programming experience are advised not to take the subject.
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== What can I bring to the quizzes and the final ==
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Yes.  We believe that the lectures, recitations, and right-now talks are all an important part of the MIT experience, and we work hard to make them interesting and useful.  When we develop the quizzes, we will include some material that is presented only in lectures and talks.
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All quizzes and the final are open book, open notes, open problem sets and solutions,
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<table cellpadding=5 border=1 cellspacing=0><tr><td>
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open everything, except for computers.
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<b>Element</b> </td><td><b>Purpose</b>
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== How are grades to be computed? ==
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</td></tr><tr><td>Lectures </td><td>To introduce most of the material and provide the big picture. We often include questions on the quizzes and final that you can answer only by faithful lecture attendance.
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<!--
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</td></tr><tr><td>Mega recitation </td><td>To demonstrate how to work problems of the kind that tend to show up on the quizzes.
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</td></tr><tr><td>Regular recitations </td><td>To introduce some of the material, answer questions, provide additional perspective, and be a venue small enough for discussion.
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-->
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</td></tr><tr><td>Talks </td><td>To see what's happening in today's research projects in talks that complement the material presented in lectures.
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<!--</td></tr><tr><td>Tutorials </td><td>To get help with the homework, review lecture material, work through practice problems, and have additional opportunities to ask questions and engage in discussion in a small venue.-->
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</td></tr><tr><td>Recitations </td><td>To review lecture material in more technical detail, work through practice problems, and have additional opportunities to ask questions in a small venue.
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</td></tr></table>
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=== The tangibles ===
 
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There are to be four quizzes with corresponding elements on the final examination.  On
 
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each quiz and for each element on the final, we decide how to translate your
 
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score into an assessment.  Thus, if you have a bad day
 
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on one of the quiz days, you can make up for it on the final, as we propose to give you
 
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the max of the two assessments.
 
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The final also will include a fifth part devoted to material introduced during the final
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== Do I need to know how to program in Python? ==
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week or so of the semester after the final quiz.  You only get one shot at that
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material, alas.
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The subject is not centered on programming, but most of the homework requires an understanding of programming and working out some small programs.  The
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quizzes and final do not include questions that require any knowledge of Python programming. 
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Students who can program but are unfamiliar with Python will have to spend a couple of weekends to catch up; students with no programming experience are advised not to take the subject.
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We never compute a class average.  Instead, in summarizing results on the Main Page, we use various assessment terms that have, roughly, the following translations:
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== Do I have to take the final? ==
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You need not take the final if you are happy with the grade you will get based on the quizzes.  If you take the final, your grade may go up, but cannot go down.
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Thorough understanding: A
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== What can I bring to the quizzes and the final? ==
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Acceptable understanding: B
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You are allowed to bring any printed material you want (books, notes, labs and solutions, previous quizzes, etc).
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Needs work: C
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You are allowed to bring tools such as calculators, clocks, rulers, slide rules, telescopes, etc.
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Homework grades use the same scheme and have weight equal to one quiz.
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You may wear a costume.
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Of course, if all your grades are in the A or B range, you get an A or a B.  When your grades are mixed, we form a GPA like average from the assessments using a sigmoid around the breakpoints that flattens out about 5 points above and below the breakpoint.
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You are NOT allowed to bring cell phones, computers, iPads, etc (even if you turn off the wireless).
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If you are consistently below the acceptable understanding/needs work breakpoint, you are probably destined for a C.  If you are way below that breakpoint, you could do worse.  See the next subsection on the intangibles.
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== How do I get my quiz back? ==
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=== The intangibles ===
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Quizzes are handed back in the next recitation.  If you choose not to go to recitations, you have to pick up your quiz in Patrick Winston's office, [http://www.csail.mit.edu/resources/maps/2/251.gif 32-251].  Except under special circumstances (right before drop date, right before the final, or if you are physically unable to pick up your quiz), we will not give out quiz grades over email.
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Tutorial participation moves a substantial number of subject grades up or down a letter.
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== Can I collaborate with friends on the homework? ==
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We note when students seek help and try hard; if no one has ever seen you, that is noted too.
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See [[grading policy]].
== What is the final grade distribution likely to be?==
== What is the final grade distribution likely to be?==
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Because MIT does not, by policy, permit grading on a curve, and because there will be
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See [[grading policy]].
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little or no time pressure on the quizzes and the final, we expect the grade
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distribution to reflect understanding.  In the past year, we have seen a great deal of understanding.
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== What if I'm sick or have a conflict with a quiz?==
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See [[grading policy]].

Revision as of 14:35, 3 September 2015

Contents

Why are there rules of engagement and what are they?

We of the staff promise that we will do all we can to make 6.034 an interesting, useful, and inspiring subject. We cannot honor our promise if we are talking to the back of laptops or to people manipulating cell phones or reading newspapers. We find it insulting, and when we are insulted, we are distracted, and when we are distracted, we do less well, and when we do less well, we are less useful to people paying attention, so an open laptop harms other students.


Accordingly, we do not teach when computers or cell phones are in use or newspapers are being read.

There are alternatives to 6.034 that satisfy the same requirement; check with the instructors for the rules of engagement in those subjects.

Should I take the subject this semester?

  • 6.034 is not offered in the Spring Semester.
  • In 2015, 6.034 will again feature Right Now talks, by prominent MIT faculty and staff describing their current research. These will complement Professor Winston's lectures.


Should I buy a book?

No. All the reading material you need will be online at zero cost. See the references page.

Am I expected to attend lectures, recitations, and the Right Now talks?

Yes. We believe that the lectures, recitations, and right-now talks are all an important part of the MIT experience, and we work hard to make them interesting and useful. When we develop the quizzes, we will include some material that is presented only in lectures and talks.

Element Purpose
Lectures To introduce most of the material and provide the big picture. We often include questions on the quizzes and final that you can answer only by faithful lecture attendance.
Talks To see what's happening in today's research projects in talks that complement the material presented in lectures.
Recitations To review lecture material in more technical detail, work through practice problems, and have additional opportunities to ask questions in a small venue.


Do I need to know how to program in Python?

The subject is not centered on programming, but most of the homework requires an understanding of programming and working out some small programs. The quizzes and final do not include questions that require any knowledge of Python programming.

Students who can program but are unfamiliar with Python will have to spend a couple of weekends to catch up; students with no programming experience are advised not to take the subject.

Do I have to take the final?

You need not take the final if you are happy with the grade you will get based on the quizzes. If you take the final, your grade may go up, but cannot go down.

What can I bring to the quizzes and the final?

You are allowed to bring any printed material you want (books, notes, labs and solutions, previous quizzes, etc).

You are allowed to bring tools such as calculators, clocks, rulers, slide rules, telescopes, etc.

You may wear a costume.

You are NOT allowed to bring cell phones, computers, iPads, etc (even if you turn off the wireless).

How do I get my quiz back?

Quizzes are handed back in the next recitation. If you choose not to go to recitations, you have to pick up your quiz in Patrick Winston's office, 32-251. Except under special circumstances (right before drop date, right before the final, or if you are physically unable to pick up your quiz), we will not give out quiz grades over email.

Can I collaborate with friends on the homework?

See grading policy.

What is the final grade distribution likely to be?

See grading policy.

What if I'm sick or have a conflict with a quiz?

See grading policy.

Retrieved from "https://ai6034.mit.edu/wiki/index.php?title=Frequently_Asked_Questions"
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