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

Instructor: Jeff Whitmer

• 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.