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A338/A538 Network Technologies and System Administration.
[Formerly A247/A547 - Network Technologies and Administration.]
"To boldly go where no man has gone before!"
September 8, 1966
- My Office: Luddy Hall 2050 (IF2050).
- Office Hours:
- Luddy Hall 2050 (IF2050) Monday/Wednesday: 8:00 - 9:00am. Appointments also available.
- Office Hour Special NOTES:
- Any changes to my office hours will be posted here.
- Monday, August 26, 2024: First Day of Class.
- Monday, September 2, 2024: Labor Day:
CLASSES WILL NOT MEET.
- Luddy Hall 2050 (IF2050) Office Phone: 855-3974.
- E-mail: jwhitmer@iu.edu.
Meeting Times: (Fall Semester 2024)
- Monday/Wednesday: 9:45am - 11:00am (sections 3257 and 3259)
Luddy Hall 1019 (IF 1019)
"Lab" Times: (Fall Semester 2024)
- F: 9:10 - 10:00am in Luddy Hall 0006 (IF0006) (section 3258 and 3260)
Important Updates for All Students
enrolled in Fall Semester 2024
[LAST UPDATED: 12/17/2024]
- Fall Semester 2024: Active Course Engagement, Final
Averages and Final Grades posted and submitted. Final Grades
are posted on Canvas and have been submitted to the Registrar. They
should be visible to you on One.IU tomorrow, 12/18/24.
VERY IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT CANVAS-CALCULATED FINAL
GRADES: Please be sure you are clear that the averages for
each of the components of your final average and the final average
itself that is displayed on Canvas is correct. I have been able to
modify the final grading scale used by Canvas to match the one
explained below, so all Canvas posted scores are confirmed
correct.
For your Active Course Engagement score, the maximum possible score
was 100, and consistent with my comments early in the course, while
you didn't have to be in constantly asking questions during meetings
or setting up appointments all the time to get a good score here, you
did have to be attentive and engaged during all meetings, use the all
course resources (including active use of all posted resources, follow
course guidelines, and successfully submit all course
work. Those who fell a bit short or a great deal short in any of these
areas were not in a position to do as well on this. As a consequence,
there were a wide range of Active Course Engagement scores, with most
in the 80s and 90s. The class average on Active Course Engagement was
85.00%. It is important to remember, however, that there is no way to
completely separate Engagement from coursework and class
attendance. If you frequently missed assignments or meetings, there is
no way you could be actively engaged.
Please read the following carefully: After careful
consideration, I have made the following adjustment to the original
90-80-70-60 grading scale. I took into account the usual lower
averages on the HW assignments as each student and as the team learned
to write as required because this is part of the learning
experience. I also considered the averages for the course as a whole
in all the other areas. There were also other unexpected circumstances
during the semester that I tried to account for. Finally, I always
have to consider things on some "absolute" scale that truly reflects
passing or satisfactory work from unsatisfactory work. As a result, I
modified the grading scale in the following way. I dropped the entire
grade scale by 10 points to 80.0-70.0-60.0-50.0. This is adjustment is
consistent with what I have made in the past given all the relevant
circumstances, and I should point out that an average below 50% has
never been anything but an "F" in this course. So the lowest A- went
from 90.0% to 80.0%, the lowest B- from 80.0% to 70.0%, and the lowest
C- went from 70% to 60.0%. The upper and lower 2.5% of each range
still determined the +/- grades in each range. As previously noted,
your average is not just adding all the points and dividing by the
total. It used the weighted values you can find on the General
Information page of the website that are accurately calculated by
Canvas as your "Final Average".
NOTE: As already noted, this adjustment in the
grading scale is consistent with adjustments I have made in the past
and that I can justify by the performace of the class overall. No
further adjustments will be made.
ALSO keep in mind these adjustments to the grading scale are based on
two separate considerations. First, I look carefully at how each group
of students performs from term to term. Second, as just noted above, I
have to maintain a connection to some sort of absolute scale of what
constitutes work of acceptable quality. In other words, I do not
merely adjust the grading scale to get a certain "number" of A, B, or
C grades. The adjustments are made and then the grades are
determined. NOTE on "borderline" grades. In this
course, borderline would be from .1% or .2% (tenths of a percent) away
from the next highest grade, not 1% or 2% or 3% (whole percantage
points) away. This is based on the fact the grading scale has already
gone through a very significant adjustment. Every grade was
reconsidered individually by me and anyone who was close to borderline
was rechecked by me at least once, if not twice. If any
one of the major categories upon which you were
evaluated had an average well below that of the next grade level, then
no changes were made. If you had any missing work (especially without
notice or explanation), then the higher grade was not considered. All
other relevant considerations were taken into account when considering
an adjustment.
Consistent with my statements during the first week of class that it
is a huge challenge to get an A in this course but a hard working
consistent student can earn a B. It turns out that this semester, as a
group, you were one right within that range comparable to groups of
students I have had in recent memory. That speaks highly of each of
you and your dedication to doing your best work in this course. The
A338 combined final grade distribution was: 0 A, 1 A-, 1 B+, 1 B, 2
B-, 0 C+, and 1 C. In terms of whole letter grades, that is: 1 A, 4 B, and
1 C. Again, this is consistent with past class-wide performances I have
had in this course.
Thanks to everyone who participated in the course this semester. I
always enjoy doing this class and really appreciate having such a good
group of students. I know this course is a huge amount of work, but I
think you will see that it will pay off in many ways in the future. It
was my goal that each of you found something valuable in what we
worked on together. I hope you enjoy the holiday break,
whatever you may have planned, and best of luck in whatever your
future holds.
- Final Project and Final Assessment Scores posted and
emails sent:
NOTE on A338/A538 Team Assessment Scores You should
have received an email with your Final Project Evaluation and Final
Team Assessment forms attached. The Team Assessment averages were
very, very good overall. Please remember, as noted in my email, your
score is a 50 + 50 composite of the quantitative feedback you got from
your teammates (and self) and my evaluation of the qualitative
feedback you gave your teammates (and self). All the Assessment
scores were in the 90s, and 80s. It was clear you valued each other as
teammates but had some issues within the team as well.
The Team Final Report was an very good submission. Any score in the
80s or 90s shows a clear understanding of more of the relevant
topics. Virtually all major topics were addressed, and most with a
good level of detail and thoroughness that could always be even
better. Some sections were organized very differently than others and
some things in the appendices would have been more useful in the body
of the main paper. Again, a very good job overall!
I will be taking time to consider the Active Course Engagement scores
as well as any adjustments to the final grading scale. That
information to be posted sometime tomorrow (Tuesday) at the same time
that I submit the Final Grades to the Registrar. PLEASE
NOTE: I realize you may be looking at your current average
and have concerns about your Final Grade. Keep in mind what you
currently see on Canvas does not include your Active Course Engagement
score nor does it reflect any adjustments I will make in the final
grading scale. Please be patient and allow me time to consider these
rather than contacting me with concerns that are not well founded at
this point. I appreciate your cooperation with this.
- Course Attendance Averages on Canvas confirmed
accurate:I have posted the final attendance data from
Friday, 12/13/24, and confirmed the Attendance averages on Canvas match
my records. The Attendance average is based on 29 total
Monday/Wednesday meetings and 14 Friday meetings. Note that Canvas
only posts whole number values and rounds up or down. So an 88%
average could actually be 87.51% and a 92% average could actually be
92.49%.
Every one was counted present for any meeting that I was unable to
hold, and as per Course Guidelines, every student was entitled to 3
"undocumented" excused absences and I went through and applied this
policy for everyone who was eligible. Keep in mind this reduces your
total possible Attendance points, so each remaining meeting was worth
a little more. The resulting class average was 87.19 with most
averages above 70%, including 3 100s. Canvas preserves the more
accurate data and that is what I will use when calculating the final
averages.
- CAT 8 scores posted and CAT Averages on Canvas confirmed
accurate: Just a quick note to let everyone know I have
posted the CAT 8 scores and confirmed the CAT averages on Canvas match
my records. The CAT average is based on CAT exercises totally 92
points. The class average was 56.34, which is I think is the lowest
average I have seen on the CATs overall. This appears to be a direct
consequence of several students failing to submit one or more CAT
exercises because they were absent from class. As noted at the
beginning of the course, missing one or two of these small point value
assignments would have minimal impact on your final average, but as
some of the resulting very low averages reveal, some students missed a
substantial number of these assignments which will impact final
averages. There were 2 averages in the 60s, 2 in the 50s, and 2 in the
40s.
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