Here are some bullet points that will be helpful for our online
communications.
First, remember those rules on the back of the form you filled
out to get your CCIS login? Well, we take them seriously. If you
use your CCIS account for bad things, then bad things WILL happen
to you. If you have any questions about an activity that you are
thinking about, write systems@ccs.neu.edu and ask. In general, they don't bite and
will answer serious questions seriously.
Netiquette refers to all your online communication, not just
those in this class. You may have been communicating online for
your entire life, but it's always good to review the basics of
online conduct. Here is
a useful guide.
We will be using Piazza for the majority of our online communication. Don't
write the instructor or the TA via email unless it is absolutely
necessary. Use Piazza instead. Piazza allows you to create
private messages to the instructor if you want.
Before you post a question, READ THE EXISTING
POSTS. Often your question has already been
answered.
MAKE YOUR SUBJECT LINE DESCRIPTIVE. For example
what if mouse is dragged outside the canvas?
is much more informative than
please help me
TAG YOUR POSTS. I've created standard tags
(called "folders" in Piazza) in
Piazza that will help you (and us) categorize your posts. (For
those of you who know, these replace the "forums" in Blackboard).
These appear under the "Note Tags" box so you can select them with
a click.
module1 ... module14 for the
"modules" or "weeks" in the course. Use these tags to ask
questions about the online or lecture material for the specified
week.
lesson1 ... lesson6 for the individual
lessons in a module.
So a question about module 2, lesson 3 should be tagged module2
lesson3. Please use BOTH tags so we can easily determine
what you are asking about. Please also identify the particular
slide or tab you are asking about as best you can.
#ps1 ... #ps10 for questions about the
problem sets.
#question1 ... #question4 for questions
about a particular question in a problem set. So a post about
problem set 3, question 2 should be tagged as #ps3
#question2.
#systems-problems for inquiries about the various
computer systems we use in class. This is where you can complain
about difficulties with svn, etc.
I've also created #webcasts and
#design-recipe for issues relating to these topics.
FEEL FREE TO RESPOND TO EACH OTHER'S POSTS.
We won't hold it
against you if your response is incorrect-- indeed, this will help us
identify things that the class doesn't understand.
Following these guidelines will get your questions answered more
quickly.