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Assignments
Assignment descriptions
Descriptions of individual assignments are
now available through Blackboard on
the Trinity network. If you are a student, researcher or teacher
from another campus who would like to view the assignment descriptions,
please feel
free to contact me.
Top-level overview
There will be two in-class exams, one on March 9th
and one on April 13th/15th. These exams will test material covered
in lectures, readings, and class discussions. The first exam, given
in class, will test material covered in lectures, reading, and class
discussion. The second exam, an applied analytical paper, will be
a take-home assignment. (30% total)
You are expected to spend at least five hours a week in Second
Life.
As you play the game, you should be taking notes about your interactions
with other players and making connections to ideas in class readings.
Throughout the semester, you will record these observations, insights,
and questions in a regularly updated web log. No prior technical knowledge
is required to create this on-line research journal. I will periodically
distribute specific web log assignments, but you should independently
update the journal with your thoughts and observations at least once
a week. (25% total)
Working with four other students, you will design and document a
reasonably sophisticated game that can be played by residents of Second
Life. Our class will be split into three five-person development teams.
During the last two weeks of the semester, each group will have a
chance to present the beta version of their game to the class. On
Tuesday, May 11th, your group will turn in a final version of the
game documentation. On the same day, you will turn in an individual
paper (4-5 pages) that reflects on the development process. (30%)
Participation accounts for fifteen percent of your overall grade.
Late assignments will have their grade reduced by one-third of a
letter grade for each working day that the paper is not received.
If you expect to miss class or arrive late please let me know in advance.
All assignments must be completed in order to receive a passing grade
in this class.
Participation
Attendance
You are expected to regularly attend class
sessions. A total of three absences are permitted. More than
three absences will result in lowering
of your overall grade or dismissal from the course, at the professor’s
discretion. The three absences include excused absences and should
be conserved like "sick leave."
If you are a member of a Trinity University team or organization,
school-sponsored activities may cause you to miss class during the
semester. If this is the case, you should present me with the dates
of the activities in writing prior to the activity. If notice is not
received in advance, the class period will count as an absence.
Discussion
Class discussion is an important part of the
Trinity experience. To receive an excellent grade for participation,
you should arrive
on time and participate in discussion without prompting. An average
grade will be given to those students who only answer questions
when asked. I understand that some people are very shy. If you’re
not comfortable participating verbally in class, there are other
ways of participating. For example, you could bring materials
to class
that would facilitate discussion. Please see me to discuss these
options.
Quizzes
From time to time, quizzes will be given in this course. Quizzes
are more likely to appear if I notice that people are not prepared
to participate in class discussion.
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