Students are expected to bring their own laptop computers, with software needed to run course exercises loaded ahead of time. In cases where this requirement poses a hardship a limited number of loaner computers may be available (student must contact instructor in advance to request this).
You will be presented with a great deal of material in this course. Some material will be explicitly presented in lectures and lab exercises. Other I expect you to get on your own from suggested additional readings and exercises. My expectation is that you will spend at least 2 outside, self-directed hours on this class for every 1 hour in class.
Class format and preparation
Rather than traditional lecture format, I intend to use class time to review lecture material and to address questions about the examples and statistical programs covered in class. All materials will be available well ahead of class time on the webpage, and students will be expected to have reviewed this material and attempted to run the example analyses on their own before class time.
Class exercises
Each week will have a series of exercises for you to work through as you engage in the labs. I expect you to have worked these ahead of time as part of class preparation. Come prepared to discuss your exercises. I will periodically ask students to give demos of what they did, where they will get help from me and other students. I anticipate that soon you will be showing me some new R tricks!
Grading will also be "non-traditional". Look here to see what I mean.
Cell phones, PDAs and other electronic devices except for laptops when used for class exercises are unnecessary and distracting and their use is not permitted in either lecture or lab. Please keep these devices off or silent. Those not respecting this policy will be asked to leave the classroom.
There is no separate computer lab. Instructional activity will move between lecture and hands-on format, with the expectation that exercises started during class sessions will be finished outside class hours (but with feedback by email as needed). Please refrain from checking email, surfing the web or other activities not directly related to class, especially during lectures.
Academic Honesty
The UGA Academic Policy applies to this course, as it does to all UGA courses. However, please note that this policy does not preclude students from collaborating together on weekly exercises, so long as the individual reports (initial assignment and self-evaluation) are solo endeavors. Students are permitted to share data, methods, and ideas and to co-author the project report if working in a team, as long as the team members are identified ahead of time.
If you are uncertain about whether a contemplated action may be construed as a violation of this policy, please contact me.