Course Syllabus

ATLS 3300

This course follows the standard TAM Course Policies. Additional details are below. 

ATLS 3300 is an introduction to physical computing. Physical computing, in the broadest sense, means building interactive physical systems that can sense and respond to the analog world. This class is an exploration of computing that starts from the perspective that humans are fundamentally physical beings. In this course, we take the human body as a given, and work to design projects that can interact with humans and the physical world. You will learn how a computer converts the changes in energy given off by our bodies (in the form of sound, light, motion, touch, and other forms) into changing electronic signals that it can read and interpret. We will learn about ways to integrate sensors, motors, and simple electronics into interactive objects.

The platform for the class is a microcontroller, a single-chip computer that can fit in your hand. The core technical concepts include digital, analog and serial input and output. Students will have weekly lab exercises to build skills with the microcontroller and related tools, and longer assignments in which they apply the principles from weekly labs in creative applications. Both individual work and group work is required.

Physical computing takes a hands-on approach, which means that you spend a lot of time building circuits, soldering, writing programs, building enclosures to hold sensors and controls, and figuring out how best to make all of these things relate to a person’s physical expression. Although extremely technical, this course is not just about the technology; we will spend time each week discussing interaction design and what it means to incorporate electronic projects into our lives. Core interaction design concepts include user observation, affordances, and converting physical action into digital information.

Although programming is required to successfully complete projects and assignments, we will NOT be spending any time on introductory programming concepts. You should already be comfortable with general programming concepts (variables, loops, data types, etc.).

 

Attendance

Students need to be present in order to create, review, and discuss the work that is being produced. Therefore, individual attendance is essential to the dynamic of the class as a whole. Over the course of the semester, we allow three absences* total between lecture and lab (not applicable to critique days), every absence after that will result in the lowering of the final letter grade by 5%. Tardiness (being late or leaving early) counts as a .333 absence. You are responsible for all material and announcements made in class. 

* ALL absences fall under these three absences. This includes minor illnesses and injuries, oversleeping, vacations, job interviews, ski-days, family obligations and situations, etc., so be mindful about how you use these absences. In extreme situations such as major illnesses, death in the family (or close friends), religious observances (see below), or school related absences, please talk to or email me before your absence.

 

Participation

This is an extremely participatory course. You are expected to participate in discussions and give feedback to other students in class and participate with their projects. Be cognizant of how you interact in class discussions. If you find yourself commenting more frequently than most other people in the class, step back and give others a chance to contribute, even if you have something to say. If you tend to hesitate to join discussions, challenge yourself to jump in. Additionally, I encourage you to utilize the blogs as a way to connect with your classmates and share your ideas.

Critiques are especially important in this course. Even if your project is not fully completed, it is absolutely required that you come to class to give feedback on your classmate’s projects. It will affect your project grade negatively if you do not show up for critique. Work is expected to be completed prior to the critique, do not attempt to finish your project during critique. Have everything you need prepared, tested and ready to present. Student computers will be shut off and full participation is expected when projects are being presented.

 

Lab Assistants

We have an outstanding team of Lab Assistants who will be supporting you in your lab sections. They each demonstrated excellence when they took Object as as student, and they are very well versed in the content of the course. Use them as a resource, but please respect their time outside of scheduled lab time - they all have other schoolwork and responsibilities to attend to. Lab Assistants cannot offer extensions on labs or projects, and any issues with grades or attendance should go directly through your Instructor. 

 

Late Work

Labs are not accepted late. 

Major projects that are turned in late will result in the grade being lowered for that project, one letter grade for each day the project is late. Feedback through the form of critique is also essential; absence from any of the class critiques will result in a drop of one letter grade for that assignment. Especially when working with physical projects, sometimes things break. Even if part of your project isn't working, you should still be present during critique to show what you have. 

 

Quizzes

Quizzes will be given at the beginning of lecture every week.  The quiz topics are listed on the course schedule and will cover readings, videos and lecture material from the previous week. Quizzes cannot be taken late. Be sure to come to class on time (or early!) to be prepared for the weekly quiz. 

 

Labs

The beginning of the semester focuses on technical skill building through hands-on lab activities. These assignments are meant to help you understand the principles discussed in class and become familiar with physical computing technologies in an applied format. Labs will be graded based on their completeness (turned in on time and meets the assignment’s requirements), technical proficiency (works correctly), documentation (posted to your online journal), and creative application (can you apply the technical principles in a creative way).

 

Projects

You will complete one detailed production product over the course of the term. You are expected to push your abilities to produce something that utilizes what you have learned in the class and that is useful in some manner to yourself or the world.

Projects are graded based on their concept, creativity/interactivity, technical sophistication, and implementation.

 

Weekly Resources

Resources will be posted for each weekly topic and will include readings, video content and example projects. This content will elaborate on the content presented in lecture. Be sure to review this content in detail to be prepared for the weekly quizzes.  

 

Grading

All assignments and coursework must be submitted through Canvas. Even though you will be posting all of your work to an online blog, you still need to turn in a url for every assignment.

Students will be assessed on conceptual ideas, technical skills, critical thinking, documentation, participation and attendance. Projects will be evaluated on conceptual thought, creativity, originality and aesthetic qualities, experimentation and use of creative engineering solutions. All labs and projects include a detailed rubric that you can examine when the project is originally assigned. 

Assignments that satisfy all of the requirements given will earn you a B. This is good work, the type of work where you would say I really tried hard. To earn an A you will present extraordinary work that is creative, thought-provoking, interesting, and, most importantly, work that goes above and beyond the requirements of the assignment.

Grades will be based on the following distribution percentage pattern:

Weekly Quizzes (~9)	25%
Labs (5)	40%
Final Project (1)	35%

Letter grades will be assigned based on the following breakdown:

A     94 - 100
A-    90 - 93
B+   87 - 89
B     84 - 86
B-    80 - 83
C+   77 - 79
C      74 - 76
C-     70 - 73
D      60 - 69
F         0 - 50

You are must earn a C letter grade or higher to receive credit towards your TAM degree.

 

Blog & Documentation

You are expected to keep an online journal of your progress in this course. All assignments must be posted to your work-in-progress blog. You are encouraged to read and comment on each other’s posts. Documentation is extremely important in this course, because after you complete the class it will likely be all that remains of your work (physical projects don't always last...). It is also intended to be a resource for YOU. If you pursue a physical computing project in the future, you can look back to your own blog as a reference. 

Here are some helpful guidelines at documentation. 

 

Communication

You must use your colorado.edu email account for this course - all class correspondence must go through this address. Assignment submissions, discussions, and grading will use the Canvas course tools system.

 

Materials

There is no textbook for this course, but you will be required to purchase materials for completing labs and your final project. You will are required to purchase your own microcontroller for the course (approximately $25). You will be provided with all necessary hardware components for lab assignments but you will need to cover the cost of building enclosures for your labs, and whatever you choose to execute for your final project. You are required to bring your materials given to you each class period and if you come to class unprepared without your parts, you will be counted absent. 

It is advised that you budget approximately $200 for this course to account for project expenses. Some projects can be completed for less than $15, others might require components and materials costing as much as $150+. You will have full access to the BTU Lab and you are welcome to use the materials there, but you should not rely on these supplies to produce your major projects.

Microcontroller & Course Supplies

 

BTU Lab

This lab is your maker space! In the second week of the semester we will run an orientation session during your Lab. After completing this orientation, all enrolled Object students will officially become lab members and have 24 hour access to the space. 

For more about the lab visit BTUlab.com.

 

Course Content

This class is held in an academic university setting and due to the inherent nature of the internet and broad range of topics that your project work will explore it is inevitable that we will come across issues dealing with politics and religion. My role during such discussions will be a facilitator, a mediator, and as impartial as humanly possible. All students are encouraged to participate in open discussion and academic discourse.

The instructor of this class reserves the right to show a broad range of course materials, some of which assume the audience to be adult in age and demeanor. Should a student feel offended by something they have seen or heard, it would appreciated, but not required, to stay to be part of the dialogue to offer your perspective. However if the student feels that they cannot stay, they are welcome to leave the classroom as discretely as possible.

 

 

University Policies

Accommodation for Disabilities

If you qualify for accommodations because of a disability, please submit your accommodation letter from Disability Services to your faculty member in a timely manner so that your needs can be addressed.  Accommodations will be honored only after the letter has bee received by your instructor, accommodations cannot be utilized retroactively.  Disability Services determines accommodations based on documented disabilities in the academic environment.  Information on requesting accommodations is located on the Disability Services website. Contact Disability Services at 303-492-8671 or dsinfo@colorado.edu for further assistance.  If you have a temporary medical condition or injury, see Temporary Medical Conditions under the Students tab on the Disability Services website. 

 

Classroom Behavior

Students and faculty each have responsibility for maintaining an appropriate learning environment. Those who fail to adhere to such behavioral standards may be subject to discipline. Professional courtesy and sensitivity are especially important with respect to individuals and topics dealing with race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, political affiliation or political philosophy.  Class rosters are provided to the instructor with the student's legal name. I will gladly honor your request to address you by an alternate name or gender pronoun. Please advise me of this preference early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.  For more information, see the policies on classroom behavior and the Student Code of Conduct.

 

Honor Code

All students enrolled in a University of Colorado Boulder course are responsible for knowing and adhering to the Honor Code. Violations of the policy may include: plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, lying, bribery, threat, unauthorized access to academic materials, clicker fraud, submitting the same or similar work in more than one course without permission from all course instructors involved, and aiding academic dishonesty. All incidents of academic misconduct will be reported to the Honor Code (honor@colorado.edu); 303-492-5550). Students who are found responsible for violating the academic integrity policy will be subject to nonacademic sanctions from the Honor Code as well as academic sanctions from the faculty member. Additional information regarding the Honor Code academic integrity policy can be found at the Honor Code Office website.

 

Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination, Harassment and/or Related Retaliation

The University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is committed to fostering a positive and welcoming learning, working, and living environment. CU Boulder will not tolerate acts of sexual misconduct intimate partner abuse (including dating or domestic violence), stalking, protected-class discrimination or harassment by members of our community. Individuals who believe they have been subject to misconduct or retaliatory actions for reporting a concern should contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC) at 303-492-2127 or cureport@colorado.edu. Information about the OIEC, university policies, anonymous reporting, and the campus resources can be found on the OIEC website.

Please know that faculty and instructors have a responsibility to inform OIEC when made aware of incidents of sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment and/or related retaliation, to ensure that individuals impacted receive information about options for reporting and support resources.

 

Religious Holidays

Campus policy regarding religious observances requires that faculty make every effort to deal reasonably and fairly with all students who, because of religious obligations, have conflicts with scheduled exams, assignments or required attendance.  In this class, if you will be missing any classes in order to observe religious holidays, you must inform your instructor of these dates within the first two weeks of the semester. See the campus policy regarding religious observances for full details.

 

A full list of CU’s academic policies can be found online at colorado.edu/policies