Intro to Unix

Tips for Doing Well in this Course

  1. Print the syllabus--it contains key information such as due dates and the URL of course materials at an alternate Web site.
  2. Attend class. In class, I present course materials, explain the assignments, and can answer questions.
  3. Make sure you can login to a Unix account by the second day of this course. For security and administrative reasons, you must use the Unix account supplied to you by the University. Failure to do so will result in your assignment not being graded.
  4. Allocate enough time for this class. Although just one credit, this class is compressed to five weeks in duration--meaning that during this time, it demands the same attention as a three credit class.
  5. Always check your mail for a receipt after turning in your assignment and before the deadline. If you don't check, and you don't get a receipt, you've chosen to get a 0 (or late penalty if you get it in before the next day's deadline) on the assignment--and there is no extra credit or way to make this up!! This means you are 100% responsible to make sure that your assignment got through via email before the deadline--no excuses!
  6. Complete each assignment accurately and by the due date and time listed on the syllabus. Look at the assignment description as a business contract you need to fulfill. I've carefully written down exactly what is required for the assignment, and these assignment descriptions have been used by many students. Be careful to not assume that something I may have said in class implies that you can do the assignment in any way except how it is written. If you don't understand what is required by the assignment, please ask me about it.
  7. Ask questions via email as described on the Asking Questions page.
  8. Familiarize yourself with the online course information and read the lessons. Use the links on the navigation bar on any page of the lessons: Unix Station, Tutor, Demos, Reference, Help, and Books.
  9. Get a Unix book.
  10. When working on your assignments, arrange your computer desktop to facilitate your work. Have a Web brower on the screen showing the assignment description. Have another Web browser on your screen to look at lessons or reference information. Have a Unix window running and try out commands in the lessons.
  11. Get help if you have difficulties. Ask a consultant in the computer lab if you are having problems getting a machine to work or logging in to your account.
  12. Be patient and persistent in working with a computer. Realize that struggling a bit with hardware and computer commands is a part of the learning process. These same issues exist in the "real" world. Develop an attitude of solving problems by trying different ways to accomplish a task. In most cases, there may be hundreds of ways to accomplish the same thing. Find one that works. Realize that effective use of Unix (or any computer system) requires an attitude as well as knowledge of syntax--consider some troubleshooting tips.
  13. Identify and test out an alternative place to do your work other than campus or your home. Use Web-based mail and telnet to accomplish your assignment from any Internet-connected computer in the world. Know a branch of a library or a cybercafe that has publicly-accessible Internet-connected computers. In Milwaukee, check out this list of cafes for those that have net access available.
  14. Test out sending the assignment to yourself before turning it in.
  15. Complete the assignments early.
  16. Study for the test by preparing your sheet of notes. Write down what you needed to know for the assignments, study the definitions of terms, the operation of commands, and symbols.
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2023-06-01 · John December · Terms © johndecember.com