Embedded Systems Class Question

In March, I'll be teaching a class called Embedded Systems.
The text (which I don't have yet) will use the PIC18???? chip and a
free windows IDE that uses the C language.
I'd like my students to be required to subscribe to and participate in
related groups.
Besided here, what other groups would be appropriate?

Richard wrote:
> In March, I'll be teaching a class called Embedded Systems.
> The text (which I don't have yet) will use the PIC18???? chip and a
> free windows IDE that uses the C language.
> I'd like my students to be required to subscribe to and participate in
> related groups.
> Besided here, what other groups would be appropriate?

I hope participation doesn't mean "how do I do
my project".  I suggest you stress to your students
that they should use the groups' archives before
posting questions that have already been answered
a dozen times.

On Jan 8, 1:06 pm, Richard <richardvan...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

> I'd like my students to be required to subscribe to and participate in
> related groups.
> Besided here, what other groups would be appropriate?

Unless your goal is to teach the students about what it's like to be
flamed on Usenet, this is probably not the best forum. While well-
asked questions are entirely appropriate here, rare is the student who
asks such a question. Unleashing an entire classload of homework
questions on c.a.e is like adding another "MI5 Persecution" to the
group.

Start by Googling "electrical engineering student forum".

On Tue, 08 Jan 2008 10:06:24 -0800, Richard wrote:

> In March, I'll be teaching a class called Embedded Systems. The text
> (which I don't have yet) will use the PIC18???? chip and a free windows
> IDE that uses the C language. I'd like my students to be required to
> subscribe to and participate in related groups.
> Besided here, what other groups would be appropriate?

Oh gawd.  Does this mean I have to stop reading it for 4-1/2 months?

"I need to get my final project in by next Tuesday; send me code now and 
make sure it's well formatted and thoroughly commented!"

Perhaps if you grade them _up_ for asking unique, penetrating questions, 
but _down_ for asking questions that they could answer with a well-done 
web search, by reading the book, by looking at the FAQ, or by looking 
through the archives.

Or better, have them participate not by _asking_ questions, but by 
selecting questions that they can answer (and answer well), and doing 
so.  Be sure to grade them up for decent grammar: txt msg englsh is 2 hrd 
2 read 4 old flks.

-- 
Tim Wescott
Control systems and communications consulting
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Need to learn how to apply control theory in your embedded system?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" by Tim Wescott
Elsevier/Newnes, http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

On Tue, 8 Jan 2008 10:06:24 -0800 (PST), I said, "Pick a card, any
card" and Richard <richardvannoy@sbcglobal.net> instead replied:

>In March, I'll be teaching a class called Embedded Systems.
>The text (which I don't have yet) will use the PIC18???? chip and a
>free windows IDE that uses the C language.
>I'd like my students to be required to subscribe to and participate in
>related groups.
>Besided here, what other groups would be appropriate?

The best option is to start your own forum among your students. It
gives them a place outside the classroom to discuss things. Also,
some may stay on after this course and assist with your next one.

Two points. First, make sure you invite volunteer mentors; perhaps
some from the hallowed halls of this very newsgroup.

Secondly, be sure to make yourself available to answer questions.
Turning them over to this lot on the newsgroup will be abdicating
your own responsibility to them and allowing people of all skill
levels to give them advice of unknown quality.

There are numerous places where forums can be hosted free including
your teaching institution. Do a Google search on the terms Free
Forum Hosting and see what comes up. Select one that allows private
forums. Some don't.

Having your own forum gives you the best control over what they
learn and who teaches them. To a student, bad advice can sometimes
look as plausible as good advice.
--
Ray

Richard wrote:
> In March, I'll be teaching a class called Embedded Systems.
> The text (which I don't have yet) will use the PIC18???? chip and a
> free windows IDE that uses the C language.
> I'd like my students to be required to subscribe to and participate in
> related groups.

Could you please keep the stupidents away from here. Why not creating 
the forum of your own?

> Besided here, what other groups would be appropriate?

alt.stupid.idiots
alt.morons
alt.clueless
alt.help.with.homework


VLV

Richard wrote:

> In March, I'll be teaching a class called Embedded Systems.
<snip>
> I'd like my students to be required to subscribe to and participate in
> related groups.
> Besided here, what other groups would be appropriate?

I suspect the O.P.may have confused this Usenet N.G. with a 'Google Group'
considering his post was made from Google Groups and he called c.a.e. a
'group'.  His request would likely be met with more sympathy if made from
his institution's network using an NNTP client. Also to the O.P.: please
review this N.G.'s archive to understand the distaste that is engendered
by clueless (often non-U.S.) student posts in order to avoid acrimony.

Regards,

Michael

Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com> wrote:
> 
> Perhaps if you grade them _up_ for asking unique, penetrating questions, 

...and not using "plz", "u", "thx", etc.? ;)

pete
-- 
pete@fenelon.com "irk the purists - if you've never then you ought."

Pete Fenelon wrote:
> Tim Wescott <tim@seemywebsite.com> wrote:
>> Perhaps if you grade them _up_ for asking unique, penetrating questions, 
> 
> ...and not using "plz", "u", "thx", etc.? ;)
> 

... and for not using absurd pseudonyms - real names only.

msg wrote:
> Richard wrote:
> 
>> In March, I'll be teaching a class called Embedded Systems.
> <snip>
>> I'd like my students to be required to subscribe to and participate in
>> related groups.
>> Besided here, what other groups would be appropriate?
> 
> I suspect the O.P.may have confused this Usenet N.G. with a 'Google Group'
> considering his post was made from Google Groups and he called c.a.e. a
> 'group'.  His request would likely be met with more sympathy if made from
> his institution's network using an NNTP client. Also to the O.P.: please
> review this N.G.'s archive to understand the distaste that is engendered
> by clueless (often non-U.S.) student posts in order to avoid acrimony.
> 

I think your "often non-U.S." remark is a bit out of line.  The world is 
a lot bigger than your little country, you know.  It is certainly a 
problem that people from some parts of the world make totally 
nonsensical posts because they have little grasp of the topic at hand, 
and even less grasp of the English language used in this newsgroup, but 
please don't generalise like that.

With that remark omitted, I agree with you.  It makes sense in a 
university course to teach students about how to find answers and how to 
learn more about their field - but it is wholly out of place to simply 
tell them to ask in comp.arch.embedded (or any other discussion 
community).  The OP should teach the students to search newsgroup 
archives (after learning it himself!), as well as how to ask appropriate 
questions, and how to contribute back to the newsgroup.