Grading, Feedback and Policies

22 Aug 2016

tl;dr: Do interesting work and you'll be fine. Make sure it's submitted on time. Grading and feedback is focused on creative projects. There will be some opportunities for extra credit.

The course is focused on exploring distance learning by making interesting creative work. To get a good grade you’ll need to:

• Show up to class (on time)
• Regularly participate in conversations and crits
• Turn in your work on time for each module
• Support your classmates by giving them feedback on their work,
• Taking part in the course Slack by sharing content and helping out peers
• Provide thoughful contributions to reading discussions
• Offer well researched and interesting examples and cases
• Create interesting, well-crafted and well documented projects
• Be open to new perspectives on media and generally positive and engaged.
• Ask questions.

The most important element: the work you do. Make an effort, try new approaches, experiment technologies, and apply them in interesting and unexpected ways. They key to getting a stellar grade will mean finding an exciting interactive strategy, for distance learning.

A note on assignment briefs

The written descriptions of the project is a starting point for your exploration. They aren’t designed to, nor will they, provide a template for things you need to do to get 100%. Instead, they are prompts meant to get you thinking.

You should interpret them and approach them creatively. It’s meant to be explored, reinterpreted and pushed. You are strongly encouraged to ask questions, challenge constraints and think beyond that’s written.

Grading

To facilitate grading all students are expected to prepare digital pages for their work (e.g. Google Documents). All work must be submitted or presented by the deadline. Late work will not be accepted.

This course will assign a mixture of independent and group based work. For independent projects, all work submitted must represent a distinct product by that individual and may not be produced in partnership with any peer within the class. Group projects allow for collaboration but expect that all members contribute to the final work equally. Work submitted for assessment in one class may not be submitted in full or in part for assessment in a second class.

Breakdown of grades

Final grades for the course will be broken down as follows:

• Attendance & Participation - 10%
• Module 1: Design Proposal (creativity, viability, research) - 20%
• Module 2: Prototype Intervention (quality, robustness, implementation) - 30%
• Module 3: Evaluation - 20%
• Final Report - 20%

Grading of Final Report

The final report will be examined on the:

Content: 40%

• Topic - 10%
• Quality of Arugmentation, Ideas and Thinking - 10%
• Relationship to course material (relevance, connections made) - 10%
• Understanding of course material - 10%

Writing Quality: 30%

• Clarity of writing - 10%
• Quality of writing (grammar, mechanics, etc.) - 10%
• Organization of writing (structure of paper) - 10%

Research: 20%

• Quality of independent research (goes beyond the course material and uncovers interesting theories, methods and works) - 10%
• Sources of supporting information (cites and evidences ideas, includes appropriate quotes, sources integrated) - 10%

Illustration: 10%

• Includes appropriate illustrations (diagrams, artworks references, etc.)

Module Grading

Unless otherwise noted, the grading rubric for module projects is as follows:

1. 60% - Merit, creativity, and context for the outcome/proposal

2. 20% - Quality and description of process (ideation, iteration, etc.)

3. 20% - Documentation of the outcome (code, video, circuit diagrams, repeatability, etc.)

Grading Standards / Rubric

• A: Superlative or exemplary work, initiative beyond the description of the problem. Significant understanding of the problem. Conceptual clarity. An attitude of self-motivated exploration, open-mindedness, and a willingness to benefit from criticism.

• B: Very good, some exemplary work, a thorough understanding of the problem. Project displays conceptual foundation, well crafted. Competence and mastery of skills. Open, inquisitive attitude.

• C: Satisfactory or adequate work that meets the minimum requirements of the problem and course. Shows understanding of the problem, with some deficiencies. Reasonable mastery of skill and concepts. This grade is seen to represent the average solution.

• D: Passing, work that is complete, but does not show an understanding of the problem or expectations, and demonstrates deficient skills.

• R: Failing work that does not meet the requirements of the studio, shows a serious deficiency in skills or is incomplete.

Grading Scale

The grading scale for the course is as follows:

• A - 90 - 100%

• B - 80 - 90%

• C - 70 - 80%

• D - 60 - 70%

• R - < 60%

Late work

As the course is designed for in-class review and discussion of almost every assignment (readings, research, creative projects), late work is not accepted. Without delivering your work on time, you will not get the benefit of in-class feedback, discussion and critique that it brings. More importantly, it can hold up the progress of the class as a whole.

The only exceptions will be in the case of medical or family emergencies or other pre-arranged university-approved absences.

Grading, Assignments and Your Wellbeing

Besides all of the above, your health and wellbeing is first priority. Particularly as the semester comes to a close and there are many competing deadlines, assignments and priorities, first and foremost, take care of yourself. Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress.

All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. You are not alone. There are many helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for support sooner rather than later is often helpful.

If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) is here to help: call 412-268-2922 and visit their website at http://www.cmu.edu/counseling/. Consider reaching out to a friend, faculty or family member you trust for help getting connected to the support that can help.

If you have questions about this or your coursework, please let me know.