Invite Link - Discord Classroom
--- Quick Intro for New Users ---
Since I highly doubt most students, even the most studious among us, make it a regular habit to stay logged into Canvas, let alone participate in its Discussion forums without some kind of forced participation incentive, I created a Discord classroom for everyone to work in instead. This will be our substitute in lieu of a physical classroom.
As much as I'm not a fan of social media, I find Discord servers to very effective discussion forums that integrate very seamlessly into our computer browsing habits. You can choose to download the app directly to your computer (or mobile device) or just use the web browser version. With some adjusting of the notification settings, they're very useful in creating a community when in-person meetings are impossible. Frequently used by gamers and various fandoms, Discord takes very little computing power and enables text chat, voice chat, and even screen sharing between various users on one server without needing to befriend each other first. Check out this video if you need a walkthrough on how to use Discord.
Given how difficult it can be to learn computer science and how isolating online classes are, this will be our alternative to the in-person classroom. Collaboration and socialization are a big assist when studying difficult subjects! Remember, computer programmers and engineers, contrary to popular belief, are NOT loners! We are often introverts, yes, but that does not mean we're loners. If you want a job in this field, good socialization remains important, as most projects and products are created in teams, even when you work remotely. Even if you find the early assignments easy, the difficulty level moving forward can rise pretty high. When that happens, you'll want to have a classmate around to exchange ideas and techniques with, especially since I know it can be intimidating for many students to approach their instructors. Building rapport with others is a key skill for any job!
--- Join the CS 10A Server! ---
I highly encourage you guys to be active in our classroom Discord server during our class hours. The more people we have coalescing to work on this class at a fixed time slot, the less isolating this class becomes (a huge weakness for all online classes). Outside of this, you may use the Discord server to socialize or discuss assignments and topics in any way you see fit.
Joining the classroom server is entirely optional and will not impact your grade (at least not directly).
By joining our classroom Discord server, you agree to abide by all rules and regulations outlined in SRJC Student Standards of Conduct and Academic Integrity. This Discord will be managed and moderated by myself. Anything you say or do on the server is your responsibility and as such will be treated as material that can be used against you should said material be found in violation of classroom, SRJC, or even Discord rules and terms of services. Initial violations will be let off with a warning, but additional violations will result in expulsion from the server as well as being reported to the SRJC Conduct Administrator.
While you are allowed to share code snippets and examples over Discord for the purposes of explanations and questions, you are not allowed to share fully complete code files and solutions. That being said, screen-sharing is encouraged in the voice chat room and should be used to further facilitate live collaboration between students. In any case, use your best judgement to respect the Academic Integrity of your classmates. The grade you get from my class is less important than the problem-solving skills you walk away with.
I will occasionally be present on the server and can answer quick logistical questions via Discord, but don't expect me to do big tasks like Lab check-offs outside of regular class hours. I will be present on both Zoom and Discord during class hours. Please log onto Zoom for lectures and lab check offs.