CSCI 241 - Getting Started Checklist

Before the first class on Wednesday, 9/23

1. Log into Canvas and follow the link to the syllabus/course webpage. Read the syllabus carefully. I recommend bookmarking the webpage for easy access to course materials. There will be time in the first class period to address any questions or clarifications on the syllabus.
2. Class meetings will take place in the course Discord server. If you already have a Discord account, you can use your existing account as long as you're willing to set your avatar picture to a photo that includes your face. If you don't already have an account or want a separate one for school work, create an account: go to www.discord.com and click the "Login" button in the top right. Under the "Login" button, click "Register" and fill out the form to create your account. You can choose any username you like here; you will set your "nickname" in our server to be your real (or preferred) name.
3. Although you can use Discord from within a web browser, certain features are not supported in the browser version. For this reason, I highly recommend installing a desktop Discord client. On the main page of www.discord.com you should see a button to download the client.
4. Join our CSCI 241 Discord server by following this link: https://discord.gg/hEB65bf.
5. Set your nickname to your actual name (or whatever you prefer to be called). In the top left of the client, click the server name ("CSCI 241 Fall 2020"). In the drop-down menu that appears, select "Change Nickname" and enter your name.
6. Set your Avatar image to a photo of you that includes your face. I probably don't need to say it, but please make sure that your avatar is appropriate for a classroom setting.
7. Find your team number. You will be spending much of class time working in pre-assigned teams that have been created on Canvas. Teams may switch once or twice later in the quarter, but for now you'll be working with the same team every class. You can find your team number on Canvas either using the "Groups" icon in the left menu bar (underneath "Courses") or by going to our course, visiting the "People" page, and searching for your name.

Next, you'll join your team's channels in Discord and ensure that your microphone and webcam (if you have one) is working. Discord servers have Text channels, which behave like chat rooms, and Voice channels, which are like group voice calls (that also allow you to share your screen and/or webcam video). Our Discord server has one text channel and one voice channel for each team, named "team-#" (text) and "team #" (voice).

8. Join your team's voice channel by clicking on the chaannel name in the channels list on the left (the voice channel is the one with a speaker icon next to it). In the bottom left next to your name, you should see a green message that says "Voice Connected". When you speak, a green circle should surround your name under the channel name - this indicates that your mic is picking up audio. If you don't see this, click the gear icon in the bottom let next to your name and go to Voice & Video settings. Make sure the correct input and output devices are selected and use the Let's Check button to ensure that your audio is getting picked up.
9. If you have a webcam, test it out by clicking Video in the bottom left. Test out Screen Sharing using the Screen button. You can leave the voice channel by clicking the "disconnect" icon to the right of the "Video Connected" text.
10. Join your team's Text channel (with a "#" next to it, under the Text Channels heading). Leave a message in your team's text channel saying hello and indicating that you've tested out voice, screen, and video (if applicable) sharing.
11. To attend each class meeting, log into Discord and join the General text channel and the General audio channel before class begins.

In the first class

Here's what you can expect on the first day of class. Everything you need to do to prepare is covered in the previous section.

• I'll introduce myself and go over the basics of the course, including some highlights from the syllabus. I will not cover everything you need to know from the syllabus; you need to read it yourself.
• We will practice breaking out and reconvening, switching between teamwork channels and the General channels.
• In your teams, you will introduce yourself to your team members, then open the Google Doc pinned in your text channel and collaboratively write a set of norms for your team, including whether you wish to require webcams to be on during class.
• Your team will collaboratively answer a few short questions on information from the syllabus.
• We'll reconvene as a class and answer any questions or clarifications about the syllabus.
• Finally, you'll break out into groups again work on a couple of problems, with the goal of getting used to working together in Discord and trying out some tool or tools for creating diagrams as part of your answers to exercises and problems.

Before class on Friday, 9/25

Friday will be the first day of our usual in-class activities. As a reminder, prior to class you are expected to:

1. Watch the videos linked in the Lecture 1 (9/25) row of the Schedule table on the course webpage.
2. After each video, work through the corresponding Exercises (linked in the E/P column of the Schedule table).
3. Come to class prepared to compare your answers with those of your teammates and write up a common solution set in your Google Doc.

Before class on Monday, 9/27

1. Find "Lab 0" on the course webpage Schedule and complete the steps therein to get set up for working on labs and assignments remotely. There is nothing to hand in for this lab, but I will assume that you are prepared to begin working remotely starting with Lab 1, which is released Monday, 9/28. If you have any trouble with setup, please get in touch with me or a TA and we'll help you troubleshoot.
2. Log into Piazza. By Friday, 9/25 you should have received an email invitation with instructions for how to log in. If you haven't, please let me know as soon as possible so I can get you enrolled.
3. Log into Gradescope. By Friday, 9/25 you should have received an email with instructions on how to set your password (an account has already been created for you). The first quiz will be taken on Gradescope on Friday, 10/2.