CMPUT603 - Fall 2007

1. CMPUT603 - Fall 2007 Topic0: Introduction José Nelson Amaral http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~c603 CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

2. Instructor: Prof. Jose Nelson Amaral amaral@cs.ualberta.ca http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~amaral Office ATH 342 Phone 492-5411 Office Hours: Anytime (appointment suggested but not required) Teaching Assistant: Michael Smit msmit@cs.ualberta.ca http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/~msmit Admin. Information CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

3. Background of the Dept • One of the oldest in Canada • 1964: first M.Sc. • 1973: first 2 Ph.D. • 46 faculty members • 40+ supporting staff members • >200 graduate students • Continuing: 60 M.Sc. --- 71 Ph.D. • New: 36 M.Sc. --- 16 Ph.D. • 25 graduate courses offered this year CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

4. People You Want to Know Steve Sutphen (Faculty Services Officer) Edith Drummond (Grad. Program Coordinator) Karen Berg (Grad. Program Assistant) CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

5. People You Want to Know Jim HooverProfessor/Associate Chair (Undergraduate) Jonathan SchaeferProfessor Department Chair Catherine Descheneau Director of Instructional Laboratories CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

6. Graduate Committee Members • Pawel Gburzynski • Russ Greiner • Janelle Harms • Mario Nascimento • Nilanjan Ray • Lorna Stewart • David Wishart • Ken Wong • Herb Yang • Jia You • Colin Cherry (Graduate Student Representative) • Edith Drummond (Coordinator & Recorder) CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

7. M.Sc. (thesis) • 603 plus 4 graduate courses • Minimum GPA for continuation is 2.7 • Minimum passing grade is C+ or 2.3 • A thesis • Seminar must be given prior to the defense • Oral exam • Research-oriented M.Sc. • Students must demonstrate ability to • master research literature • do innovative work with minimal supervision • Should be complete within 20 months of full-time study CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

8. M.Sc. Thesis (UofA Calendar) • …the thesis should reveal that the candidate is able to work in a scholarly manner and is acquainted with the principal works published on the subject of the thesis. As far as possible, it should be an original contribution…. CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

9. Ph.D. thesisUofA Calendar • A doctoral thesis must embody the results of original investigations and analyses and be of such quality as to merit publication; furthermore, it must constitute a substantial contribution to the knowledge of the candidate’s field of study. CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

10. Ph.D. • Course requirements • With M.Sc.: min. of 3 single-term graduate courses + 603 • Without M.Sc.: min. of 7 single-term graduate courses + 603 • Min. GPA for continuation is 3.3. • student must have a grade of B- or higher in all three best 600-level courses • Min. passing grade is C+ • Breadth requirements (3 areas, 1 course in each area) • Theoretical foundations (theory, applied math, combinatorial computing) • Systems and network (architecture and robotics; systems and network; software and languages) • Applications (graphics, vision and imaging; database systems; AI) • Candidacy exam (thesis proposal) – normally held after the course requirements are completed • 3 seminars • Final oral exam CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

11. Research Dissemination (Publications) • A very important component of the research training • If the work is not published, it will be soon forgotten by all. • Students in all degree programs (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) must be motivated and are encouraged to publish their work CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

12. M.Sc. to Ph.D. • If you • are in the M.Sc. Program • are highly motivated in research • have impressed your supervisor and other faculty members of your research ability (e.g. in projects) • have excelled in courses • are interested in the Ph.D. program • then you may want to consider transferring to the Ph.D. program directly without finishing your M.Sc. CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

13. Supervisor • Important to select one if you do not have one – deadline is March • First determine your area of interest • Then talk to faculty members in the area • Talk to their students • Find one that you can work with and that has a project of interest to you CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

14. Seminars and Talks • Many seminars and talks are scheduled throughout the year (DLS, special lectures, etc) • You should try to attend those of particular interest to you – even if they are not quite in your area • You are welcome to attend any research group meeting in the department: • http://www.cs.ualberta.ca/research/meetings.php • All 603 students must attend all DLS (Distinguished Lecture Series) in the first term CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

15. What is 603? • Teaching and research methods • To provide information and resources on teaching and research methods in computing science • Topics (check web for details: www.cs.ualberta.ca/~c603) • TA, LaTex • Ethics • WebCT – 5 modules on ethics • Research methods • Research result dissemination (talks, writing, reviewing) • Grading: A letter grade will be assigned • Attendance is required • Two main assignments (paper #1 and paper #2) CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

16. Double Dipping and Plagiarism • Double dipping consists of the submission of the same work to obtain credit in more than one class --- It is not allowed. • Plagiarism is not tolerated. The consequences for plagiarism are enormous. CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

17. Plagiarism in CMPUT605Special Rules • Paper #1: • The grade will be affected; • One-on-one discussion with the instructor; • No report to disciplinary officer will be made. • Paper #2: Normal plagiarism rules will apply. • Usual Faculty of Science penalties (depends on severity of case): • Failing grade in the course; and/or • Suspension from the university; or • Expulsion from the university. CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

18. To be a good Teaching Assistant • Support your instructor(s) • Do not set your own agenda or guidelines • UTS (University Teaching Services) • UTP (University Teaching Program) • Be responsible • To the instructor • To the students • Funding continuation as a TA depends on performance CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

19. Pedagogy: • 40-50 hours of formal classroom time • Practicum (Mentoring): • At least two-terms as TA • Two teaching events • Documentation: • Teaching dossier (reflective) http://gradfile.fgsro.ualberta.ca/utp/ CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

20. GSA Awards • Annually, the Graduate Students Association solicit nominations for several awards • Campus wide recognition CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

21. Common Problems • TA and instructor • Student and supervisor • Student and student • Be open and upfront • Resolve the problem before it becomes a major issue • The Department has a collegial environment. Everything can be discussed. Don’t wait until very late to resolve a problem! CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

22. A CSGSA mailing list for technical questions • For technical questions: • What algorithm to use? • What software package? • Problems with code generation • Problems with software configuration • Subscribe/write to: • cstech@mailman.srv.ualberta.ca • For instruction on how to subscribe/use: • http://www.mailman.srv.ualberta.ca CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods

23. 48th Turkey Trot - Sept 22 • In benefit of United Way • CS has participated for 16 years • CS has won for many years • It is fun • It is a good cause • It is for the whole family • Early bird: Sept 14 • CGSA discount: $5 CMPUT 603 - Teaching and Research Methods