Time and Location
Tuesday/Thursday, 4:00pm-5:20 pm 7/6-9/14
Neuberger 396
Instructors
Dr. Laura Bright
FAB 310-24
503-725-2418
Office hours: Thursday 1pm-3pm and by appointment
Bill Howe
FAB 310-C
Office hours: Monday 4pm-6pm and by appointment
Class E-mail
The e-mail list for this class will be scidata@cs.pdx.edu. It will be used for announcements from the instructors. You may send general questions to the class mailing list. You can subscribe to the list at https://webmail.cecs.pdx.edu/mailman/listinfo.cgi/scidata.
Questions on homeworks should be emailed to the instructors. Please include “CS 410” in the subject header of your email. Answers to questions that would interest the whole class will be posted by the instructors to the mailing list.
Class Website
The class website is available at http://www.cs.pdx.edu/~howe/cs410 and contains links to required readings and other resources. You should check the website regularly for updates.
Reading Assignments
There is no required textbook for this course. Most reading assignments are available electronically from the class website. Readings that are not available online will be handed out in class and copies will also be available outside the door of FAB 310-24. You are expected to complete the assigned readings prior to each class.
Grading
10% In-class exercises. In-class exercises require working in groups on problem-solving activities during class and submitting a brief summary of your ideas and solutions at the end of class. You should attend as many classes as possible to maximize this portion of your grade.
10% Study questions. Study questions will be assigned on some of the reading assignments. Their purpose is to make you think carefully about the content of the readings and to promote discussions on the readings in class. You should turn in written answers to the study questions at the beginning of class.
40% Homework assignments (4 assignments, 10% each). Homeworks are individual assignments that require using existing scientific data management tools to solve problems, and may require submitting written answers to questions.
15% Mini-project There will be one individual mini-project involving the Kepler workflow system.
25% Paper (10% for milestones, 15% for final paper) The paper will be 3 pages in length and will require reading two research papers on a given scientific data management topic and comparing/contrasting the solutions presented in the papers. Suggested papers and topics will be made available on the website. Possible topics include scientific workflows, data provenance, Grid computing, and visualization. The grade will depend on the final paper as well as intermediate milestones, such as a summary of your selected papers, an outline, or a draft. Details will be provided in class.
Exams
There will be no exams in this course.
Policies
Homeworks and study questions are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise noted.
Late homeworks will not be accepted without prior approval of the instructors.
General discussions with classmates on homeworks and projects are acceptable, but you should not discuss low level details of the assignments. As a general guideline, if you wouldn't discuss a topic on the class mailing list, you shouldn't discuss it with a classmate. You should do all writing and coding for homework assignments on your own.
Requests for regrading must be submitted to an instructor in writing within one week of the time the graded assignment was made available for pickup. You must be specific in saying why you feel your answer deserves additional credit. A request for regrade may result in a re-evaluation of the entire assignment and your total grade may increase or decrease as a result.
Students with disabilities who are in need of academic accommodations should contact one of the instructors as soon as possible to arrange needed supports. Students are also encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) for additional information on support services and available accommodations at 503 725-4240 or 503 725-4150.
Academic Integrity
[Excerpt from the 2004-2005 PSU Catalog, pages 29-30]
The policies of the University governing the rights, freedoms, responsibilities, and conduct of students are set forth in the Statement of Student Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities, as supplemented and amended by the Portland State University Student Conduct Code, which has been issued by the President under authority of the Administrative Rules of the Oregon State Board of Higher Education. The code governing academic honesty is part of the Student Conduct Code. Students may consult these documents in the Office of Student Affairs, 433 Smith Memorial Student Union or by visiting the OSA Web site. Observance of these rules, policies, and procedures helps the University to operate in a climate of free inquiry and expression and assists it in protecting its academic environment and educational purpose.
Academic honesty: Academic honesty is a cornerstone of any meaningful education and a reflection of each student's maturity and integrity. The Office of Student Affairs is responsible for working with University faculty to address complaints of academic dishonesty. The Student Conduct Code, which applies to all students, prohibits all forms of academic cheating, fraud, and dishonesty. These acts include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, buying and selling of course assignments and research papers, performing academic assignments (including tests and examinations) for other persons, unauthorized disclosure and receipt of academic information, and other practices commonly understood to be academically dishonest. For a copy of the Student Code of Conduct see the OSA Web site. Allegations of academic dishonesty may be addressed by the instructor, may be referred to the Office of Student Affairs for action, or both. Allegations referred to the Office of Student Affairs are investigated following the procedures outlined in the Student Conduct Code. Acts of academic dishonesty may result in one or more of the following sanctions: a failing grade on the exam or assignment for which the dishonesty occurred, disciplinary reprimand, disciplinary probation, loss of privileges, required community service, suspension from the University for a period of up to two years, and/or dismissal from the University. Questions regarding academic honesty should be directed to the Office of Student Affairs, 433 Smith Memorial Student Union.