Frequently Asked Questions

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== Should I take the subject this semester? ==
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<!--
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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 and Professor Leslie Kaelbling 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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Accordingly, we do not teach when computers or cell phones are in use or newspapers are being read. 
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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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-->
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== How will the class meet during Fall 2020?==
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The class will meet for lectures remotely via Zoom MWF 10-11.  The Zoom link(s) can be found on the [https://canvas.mit.edu/courses/4358 6.034 Canvas site].  Lectures will be recorded and accessible via the 6.034 Canvas site sometime after class.  Recitations will meet on Fridays and have their own Zoom links, also to be found on the Canvas site.  Recitation meetings will not be recorded, but recordings for each of the recitation topics will be available.  6.844 will meet remotely via Zoom F11-12. The Zoom link can be found on the [https://canvas.mit.edu/courses/4571 6.844 Canvas site].  Class meetings will be recorded and accessible via the 6.844 Canvas site sometime after class.
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Quizzes will be administered via Zoom.  See [[Grading and collaboration policy]] for more details about quizzes.
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== Should I take the subject this term? ==
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* 6.034 is not offered in the spring term.
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* In 2020, 6.034 will again feature Right-Now talks by prominent MIT faculty and staff describing their current research. These will complement the class lectures.
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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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== May I attend 6.034 as a listener?==
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A qualified yes:  We welcome listeners to the 6.034 lectures, but unfortunately we don’t have enough staff to enable listeners to attend recitations.  Recitations are intended to be small-group discussion sections, and the sections would become too large to be effective if listeners attended.
== Should I buy a book? ==
== Should I buy a book? ==
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No.  All the reading material you need will be online at zero cost.
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No.  All the reading material you need will be online at zero cost.  See the [[Reference material and playlist | Reference material page]].
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== Am I expected to attend lectures, tutorials, the megarecitation, and the ordinary recitations? ==
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== Am I expected to attend lectures, recitations, and the ''Right-Now'' talks? ==
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Yes.  We believe that the lectures, tutorials, and recitations are all an
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Yes.  We believe that the lectures, right-now talks, and recitations 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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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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<table cellpadding=5 border=1 cellspacing=0><tr><td>
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<b>Element</b> </td><td><b>Purpose</b>
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Yes. We create the homework to help you learn the material. For many, that means
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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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working together, and certainly when you get stuck, you should seek help. On the other
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<!--
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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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</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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and detrimental to your own learning, which will be reflected in quiz performance.
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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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Also, we get very sore if we catch someone cheating.
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-->
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</td></tr><tr><td>Right-Now 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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== Do I need to know how to program in Scheme? ==
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== Do I need to know how to program in Python? ==
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The subject is not centered on programming, but a substantial fraction of the homework
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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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requires an understanding of Scheme and working out some small Scheme programs.   The
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quizzes and final exam do not include questions that require any knowledge of Python programming.   
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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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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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All quizzes and the final are open book, open notes, open problem sets and solutions,
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== Do I have to take the final exam? ==
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open everything, except for computers.
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== How are grades to be computed? ==
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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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=== The tangible ===
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<!-- == What can I bring to the quizzes and the final? ==
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There are to be four quizzes with corresponding elements on the final examination.  On
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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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each quiz and for each element on the final, we decide how to translate your
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score into a letter grade.  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 grades.
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The final also will include a fifth part devoted to material introduced during the final
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You are allowed to bring tools such as calculators, clocks, rulers, slide rules, antikytheras*, etc.
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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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We never compute a class average. Instead, in summarizing results on the Main Page, we use various terms that have, roughly, the following translations:
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You may wear a costume.
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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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Thorough understanding: A
 
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Acceptable understanding: B
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[* Look it up.]
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<!-- == What are spiritual/right-now (SRN) questions on the quizzes?==
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Spiritual/right-now sections of quizzes focus on questions about the talks researchers give about their research (i.e., the right-now talks).  They also focus on lectures that are about classical AI methods that are not tested as part of the core skill-building component of the class; they're considered "spiritual" in that they convey big ideas about the field.
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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 kind of GPA like average from the four max grades using a sigmoid around the breakpoints that flattens out about 5 points above and below the breakpoint.
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On quizzes 2-4 and the final, we will have a multiple choice question about each of the lectures that were spiritual and/or right-now. These questions are meant to test whether you were actively engaged with the talk rather than just being a warm body in a seat.
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If you are consistently below the acceptable understanding/needs help 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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See previous quizzes in the [http://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.034f/Examinations/ quiz archive] for examples.
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-->
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== What are the Spiritual/Right-Now (SRN) assignments? ==
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The GPA is combined with your homework grade in something like a 4 to 1 ratio. That is,
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These assignments will be related to topics in lectures and Right-Now talks that are not included on the quizzes. We're still working out details about these assignments, but one thing we do know: We will not be testing the SRN material via multiple choice questions on quizzes, as in previous terms.
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the homework accounts for about 20% of your final grade.
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=== The intangible ===
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== How do I get my quiz back? ==
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Tutorial participation moves a substantial number of subject grades up or down a letter.
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<!-- Quizzes are handed back in recitation.  If you choose not to go to recitations, you have to pick up your quiz during designated pickup times.  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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We note when students seek help and try hard; if no one has ever seen you, that is noted too.
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-->
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We used to give quizzes back during in-person recitations, but we'll figure out this term how to get them back to you virtually.
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== Can I collaborate with friends on the homework? ==
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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, 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]].
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== I'm a cross-registered student.  How do I set up an MIT account?==
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See instructions [http://kb.mit.edu/confluence/display/istcontrib/Stellar+Access+for+Cross-Registered+students here].
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Note: We don't use Stellar, but the information about setting up an MIT account is relevant.

Current revision

Contents

How will the class meet during Fall 2020?

The class will meet for lectures remotely via Zoom MWF 10-11. The Zoom link(s) can be found on the 6.034 Canvas site. Lectures will be recorded and accessible via the 6.034 Canvas site sometime after class. Recitations will meet on Fridays and have their own Zoom links, also to be found on the Canvas site. Recitation meetings will not be recorded, but recordings for each of the recitation topics will be available. 6.844 will meet remotely via Zoom F11-12. The Zoom link can be found on the 6.844 Canvas site. Class meetings will be recorded and accessible via the 6.844 Canvas site sometime after class.

Quizzes will be administered via Zoom. See Grading and collaboration policy for more details about quizzes.

Should I take the subject this term?

  • 6.034 is not offered in the spring term.
  • In 2020, 6.034 will again feature Right-Now talks by prominent MIT faculty and staff describing their current research. These will complement the class lectures.

May I attend 6.034 as a listener?

A qualified yes: We welcome listeners to the 6.034 lectures, but unfortunately we don’t have enough staff to enable listeners to attend recitations. Recitations are intended to be small-group discussion sections, and the sections would become too large to be effective if listeners attended.

Should I buy a book?

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

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

Yes. We believe that the lectures, right-now talks, and recitations are all an important part of the MIT experience, and we work hard to make them interesting and useful.

Element Purpose
Lectures To introduce most of the material and provide the big picture.
Right-Now 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 exam 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 exam?

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 are the Spiritual/Right-Now (SRN) assignments?

These assignments will be related to topics in lectures and Right-Now talks that are not included on the quizzes. We're still working out details about these assignments, but one thing we do know: We will not be testing the SRN material via multiple choice questions on quizzes, as in previous terms.

How do I get my quiz back?

We used to give quizzes back during in-person recitations, but we'll figure out this term how to get them back to you virtually.

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.

I'm a cross-registered student. How do I set up an MIT account?

See instructions here.

Note: We don't use Stellar, but the information about setting up an MIT account is relevant.

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