FAQ

1. How is attendance recorded, and what counts as “attendance”?

Attendance is recorded by having students complete an online quiz question that includes a secret code displayed on the board during the session. To be counted as present, students must attend at least 80% of the session and actively participate when prompted. Brief or partial attendance will not earn attendance credit.

Note: This attendance policy does not apply to Extension School students, who are not required to attend live sessions either in person or via Zoom.

2. Can I earn late days by just showing up briefly to lectures?

No. To ensure fairness, attendance requires meaningful participation. Automated and manual checks will be conducted, and attempts to misrepresent attendance violate the honor code and may result in disciplinary action.

3. What happens if one group member has no late days left but others do?

For group assignments, the total number of late days available to the group must be at least equal to the number of group members multiplied by 4. This ensures sufficient flexibility for the entire team.

If the group’s combined late days do not meet this requirement, the group cannot collectively extend the deadline. We encourage groups to plan accordingly and support all members in managing their late days responsibly.

4. Can I request deadline extensions beyond the late days if I have personal issues?

Extensions beyond late days may be considered in serious and documented circumstances, such as prolonged illness or family emergencies. You must contact the course staff as soon as possible, ideally before the deadline, and provide appropriate documentation.

Please note that extended absences may make it difficult to meet the learning objectives of the course within the semester. Requests made after the deadline without prior notice are less likely to be granted.

5. What constitutes “small portions” of code from external sources that I can use?

Using small snippets (e.g., a few lines) for utility or helper functions is allowed if properly cited. Large-scale copying or wholesale use of external code without attribution is prohibited and considered plagiarism. When in doubt, cite the source or ask course staff.

6. Can I collaborate with classmates on assignments?

Collaboration and discussion are encouraged for learning, but all submitted work must be your own. Avoid dividing tasks that prevent you from understanding the entire assignment. Excessive copying or submitting identical work will be treated as academic dishonesty.

7. What are the policies on using AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) for assignments?

You may use AI tools to augment your understanding and draft code, but all submissions must represent your original work. Clearly document any AI assistance in your code/comments or write-up. Using AI-generated work without disclosure may be considered plagiarism.

8. How are assignments and milestones graded?

Detailed rubrics will be provided for each milestone and assignment. Grades will reflect correctness, completeness, code quality, and adherence to requirements. Clear grading criteria are shared upfront to minimize ambiguity.

9. What happens if parts of my project cannot be evaluated?

All project components must be testable and evaluable by the teaching staff. Submissions with unevaluable or missing parts may receive reduced credit or fail the milestone. Reach out early if you anticipate challenges in evaluation.

10. Can I share course materials on external platforms?

No. Sharing, distributing, or publishing course materials outside official channels without explicit permission is prohibited. Violations may lead to disciplinary actions or legal consequences.

11. How do I request accommodations?

Contact the course administrators as early as possible to discuss any accessibility needs. Late requests may not be accommodated if they impact course requirements. Refer to Harvard’s accessibility services for support.

Reach out to course staff confidentially to discuss any concerns. We prioritize a supportive, respectful environment and will assist you in accessing appropriate resources.

13. Is there a class GitHub repository?

Yes. The class GitHub repository contains code examples, notebooks, and resources used throughout the course. You will receive access details during the semester. [GITHUB URL GOES HERE ]

14. Is it necessary for me to be present for the live lectures?

For on-campus students, attendance is required and contributes to earning late days. Extension School students are not required to attend live lectures or sections.

15. Can I view the video recordings for the course?

Yes. Video recordings of lectures will be made available to Extension School students and others who cannot attend live sessions. On-campus students are encouraged to attend live for maximum engagement.

16. Can I audit this class?

To audit AC215, you must email ac215harvard@gmail.com with your Harvard University ID (HUID) and a brief statement agreeing to the auditing terms.

Important:

  • You must not be currently enrolled in the course; if you are, you must drop it first before requesting to audit.
  • In-person attendance during the first week of class is mandatory; failure to confirm attendance will result in removal.
  • Auditors must adhere to the same academic honesty standards as enrolled students.
  • Auditors cannot submit assignments, participate in projects, or earn credit for this course.
  • Auditors have limited access to course resources and cannot use Ed Discussion forums or attend TF office hours.

Please review the full auditing policy for more details.