Course Syllabus

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Due to COVID-19, all dates and policies contained in the CS 7940 syllabus and Canvas course are subject to change.  Students can expect to be informed immediately and clearly of any changes.

Course Information

The Computer Science Education Seminar is a weekly meeting in which attendees read and discuss one or more papers / articles chosen from a CS education conference or publication.  Each meeting has a designated “facilitator” who is responsible for leading the discussion.  The schedule of weekly papers / articles and facilitators is constructed in the first meeting of the semester.

Instructors

H. James de St. German, germain@cs.utah.edu, 3190B MEB 

D. Erin Parker, parker@cs.utah.edu, 3144 MEB

Meeting times

Tuesdays 3:40-5p in 3147 MEB

Communication

Students should use the email addresses above to reach the instructors and can expect a timely response 9a-5p Mon-Fri.  (Use of Canvas Inbox is discouraged.)  When the instructor needs to reach the students outside of class, they use each student's UMail address.

Student evaluation 

Each student enrolled in CS 7940 for credit must complete the reading for each week and participate meaningfully in the discussion.  In addition, every enrolled student must facilitate at least one seminar meeting during the semester.  Students are evaluated by the instructors using the UofU criteria for letter grades:

A, A- excellent performance, superior achievement
B+, B, B- good performance, substantial achievement
C+, C, C- standard performance and achievement
D+, D, D- substandard performance, marginal achievement
E unsatisfactory performance and achievement

UofU student code

All students are expected to maintain professional behavior, according to the University of Utah Student Code (Links to an external site.).  Students should read the Code carefully and know that they are responsible for the content.  According to Faculty Rules and Regulations, it is the faculty responsibility to enforce responsible classroom behaviors, beginning with verbal warnings and progressing to dismissal from class and a failing grade.  Students have the right to appeal such action to the Student Behavior Committee.

Other policies and guidelines

CS 7940 students are also bound by the following policies and guidelines:

Students should thoroughly read and understand each of these documents, asking questions as needed.

Prior seminar meetings

COVID-19

University leadership has urged all faculty, students, and staff to model the vaccination, testing, and masking behaviors we want to see in our campus community.  These include:

  • Vaccination
  • Masking indoors
  • If unvaccinated, getting weekly asymptomatic coronavirus testing

Vaccination

Get a COVID-19 vaccination if you have not already done so.  Vaccination is proving highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization, and death from coronavirus.  Vaccination is the single best way to stop this COVID resurgence in its tracks.

Many in the campus community already have gotten vaccinated:

  • More than 80% of University employees
  • Over 70% of University students

Visit http://mychart.med.utah.edu, http://alert.utah.edu/covid/vaccine, or http://vaccines.gov to schedule your vaccination.

Masking

While masks are no longer required outside of Health Sciences facilities, UTA buses and campus shuttles, CDC guidelines now call for everyone to wear face masks indoors.  Check the CDC website periodically for masking updates.  Treat masks like seasonal clothing (i.e., during community surges in COVID transmission, masks are strongly encouraged indoors and in close groups outside).

Testing

If you are not yet vaccinated, get weekly asymptomatic coronavirus tests. This is a helpful way to protect yourself and those around you because asymptomatic individuals can unknowingly spread the coronavirus to others.  Asymptomatic testing centers are open and convenient:

  • Online scheduling
  • Saliva test (no nasal swabs)
  • Free to all students returning to campus (required for students in University housing)
  • Results often within 24 hours
  • Visit https://alert.utah.edu/covid/testing 

Remember: Students must self-report if they test positive for COVID-19 via https://coronavirus.utah.edu.

Student mental health resources

Rates of burnout, anxiety, depression, isolation, and loneliness have noticeably increased during the pandemic.  If you need help, reach out for campus mental health resources, including counseling, trainings and other support.

Consider participating in a Mental Health First Aid or other wellness-themed training provided by our Center for Student Wellness and sharing these opportunities with your peers.