Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
Next revisionBoth sides next revision
advice_column [2020/01/05 22:37] – [How to do well in school] jhoeadvice_column [2020/01/06 11:41] – [Don’t Overload!!] edit
Line 34: Line 34:
 =====Don’t Overload!!===== =====Don’t Overload!!=====
  
-Currently, you need [[http://www.ece.cmu.edu/programs-admissions/bachelors/academic-guide/appendix-a.html |379 units for a BS degree in ECE]].+Currently, you need 379 units for a BS degree in ECE (true as off Jan 1, 2020).
  
 Without any AP credits, you should not have to take more than 4 courses per semester for 8 semesters. Most of you have AP units, so this means you could actually take less, or take 4 courses per semester that included other more “well-rounded’ courses beyond the 379 needed to graduate.   Without any AP credits, you should not have to take more than 4 courses per semester for 8 semesters. Most of you have AP units, so this means you could actually take less, or take 4 courses per semester that included other more “well-rounded’ courses beyond the 379 needed to graduate.  
Line 136: Line 136:
  
 =====Study Mechanics Simplified===== =====Study Mechanics Simplified=====
-  * care about what you are studying +  * Care about the subject you are studying 
-  * do the reading assignments before lecture +  * Do the reading assignments before lecture 
-  * attend lectures (and pay attention) +  * Attend lectures (and pay attention) 
-  * ask questions when you don't understand +  * Ask questions when you don't understand 
-  * do homework or lab with intent to learn (not simply to produce something to turn in for points); don't wait until the last minute to start +  * Do homework or lab with intent to learn (not simply to produce something to turn in for points); don't wait until the last minute to start 
-  * have a place where you can work without distraction +  * Have a place where you can work without distraction 
-  * get enough sleep, eat healthy, and exercise+  * Get enough sleep, eat healthy, and exercise
  
 Seems obvious, no?  Easy to follow through? No. Seems obvious, no?  Easy to follow through? No.
Line 180: Line 180:
 For anyone even contemplating cheating, you should understand it is just not worth it.  First of all, cheating cannot fix the fact that you really don't know or aren't able to do what you will need in the subsequent courses and in your later life.  Second, although the chances of getting away with any one isolated instance of cheating is typically quite good, any one incident is also unlikely to have a noticeable positive impact on your semester letter grade.  For that, one has to be cheating systematically, and one will surely get caught for that. Third, think back to when you were little and how your mother could always tell when you lied.  She couldn't read your mind; you were just more obvious than you think.  By watching a student over the course of a semester, we (professors) have a very good sense for what is a student's expected performance and trend.  You will get the grade you worked for. For anyone even contemplating cheating, you should understand it is just not worth it.  First of all, cheating cannot fix the fact that you really don't know or aren't able to do what you will need in the subsequent courses and in your later life.  Second, although the chances of getting away with any one isolated instance of cheating is typically quite good, any one incident is also unlikely to have a noticeable positive impact on your semester letter grade.  For that, one has to be cheating systematically, and one will surely get caught for that. Third, think back to when you were little and how your mother could always tell when you lied.  She couldn't read your mind; you were just more obvious than you think.  By watching a student over the course of a semester, we (professors) have a very good sense for what is a student's expected performance and trend.  You will get the grade you worked for.
  
-For someone who is feeling the pressure to cheat, the wrong thing to do is to succumb (obviously). The right thing to do is to recognize it as the warning sign of a deeper problem.  Some how you have let your study fall behind and out of control. If you continue the same course, your problem will only snowball.  The only way to recover is to identify the problem and to change what you are doing to regain control. Cheating is a poor patch job that does nothing to fix the root of the problem.  I encourage everyone to take at look at [[https://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/ocsi/academic-integrity/prevention.html |this very helpful page]] on how to avoid being caught up in this bad situation in the first place. (Notice their suggested way to address academic integrity is to do better in the first place so there is no reason to consider cheating. I fully agree with this.)+For someone who is feeling the pressure to cheat, the wrong thing to do is to succumb (obviously). The right thing to do is to recognize it as the warning sign of a deeper problem.  Some how you have let your study fall behind and out of control. If you continue the same course, your problem will only snowball.  The only way to recover is to identify the problem and to change what you are doing to regain control. Cheating is a poor patch job that does nothing to fix the root of the problem.  I encourage everyone to take at look at [[https://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/ocsi/students/avoiding/index.html |this very helpful page]] on how to avoid being caught up in this bad situation in the first place. (Notice their suggested way to address academic integrity is to do better in the first place so there is no reason to consider cheating. I fully agree with this.)
  
 I use the following definition in my course syllabus: "To put it plainly, if what you are about to do is not a truthful reflection of your knowledge, ability and effort, you are about to cheat. More importantly, if what you are about to do is going to get you a better grade without helping you learn the course material, you are about to cheat."   I use the following definition in my course syllabus: "To put it plainly, if what you are about to do is not a truthful reflection of your knowledge, ability and effort, you are about to cheat. More importantly, if what you are about to do is going to get you a better grade without helping you learn the course material, you are about to cheat."