CS72 Spring 2007

Artificial Intelligence

Instructor: Geoffrey Towell

email
gtowell at cs.brynmawr.edu (try this first)
gtowell at avaya.com (weekdays this will get to me faster)
phone
610-785-6127 (I much prefer email contact)

Course Details

TextBook
Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, second edition Russell and Norvig, Prentice Hall
Grading
The grade will consist of the following 3 parts:
Class Schedule
Class will meet once a week on Tuesdays for about about 2 hours starting at 6pm.
Office Hours:
I will be in my office 5pm to 6pm before class and for an unlimited time immediately after class. I am unlikely to be on campus at other times. I recognize that these times are not particularly useful arround due dates. So, if you need to talk to me -- and email is not enough and the times will not work -- send email and suggest some times that you will be free and at what phone number. I will pick one, let you know and call you. (Also note that programming assignments will typically be due on Thursday, so that you can better take advantage of the times I am on campus.)
Some thoughts on my organization of the class
Programming assignments
  • may be done with 1 partner or solo. I will not assign partners.
  • must be electronically submitted.
  • must be handed in so that they are executable. (For Java this means an executable jar file, for python or perl if you have any special startup requirements you should supply a shell script.) If you do not follow this requirement you will loose 10% credit for annoying me.
  • Frequently I will ask for extra work of programming teams. I will always expect higher quality work from a team than from an individual.
  • You may change partners on each assignment
  • Except when I specify a programming language, you may choose whatever programming language you prefer.
  • Programming assignments will typically be due on Thursday at 11:59pm. This is to give you an opportunity to ask questions before or after class soon before the program is due.
  • Unless you clear it with me at least 2 days before the deadline, late programming assignments will be assessed a 10% per day penalty.
  • To get an extension I will need to be convinced that you have been working hard.
  • I will not answer questions about programming projects in the 24 hours before they are due.
  • There will be a project in lieu of a final.
Written Responses:
  • are due prior to the start of class.
  • will typically consist of 2 questions, one from the class just finished and one from the class to come.
  • must be electronically submitted.
  • must be in pdf or text. Other formats will get a 10% penalty for annoying me.
  • If you choose to hand in you assignment in PDF, please do not include your name in the document. I will post at least one response per week (anonymously) on the web site.
  • Will be assigned approximately weekly. They will typically be both on the reading for the next week but may also go to some point that was discussed in class.
  • Written assignments will be posted by 11:59PM Thursday and will be due before the beginning of class.
  • Twice during the semester you may choose to not do a written assignment. If you hand them all in I will pick the best N-2. While not required, an email saying that you are choosing not to hand in this week's written assignment would be good.
Midterm
  • The midterm will be take home, open book. It will be of limited duration e.g., from the time you open the envelope you will have 3 hours.
  • Will be in late March or early April when I will miss one class, more details to follow.
Class Participation
  • Ask questions, I will.
  • Speak up, I do.
  • While not formally a part of the grade, I will occasionally slip bonus points for class participation onto written responses grades.
  • Silence is not golden; it is leaden.