Computing@Carnegie Mellon (C@CM) is a 3-unit, pass/fail mini course that will help you develop foundational computing and information literacy skills, focusing on the tools and technologies that are specific to Carnegie Mellon so you can be successful in your other academic courses. All undergraduate students are required to take the course.
All incoming, first-year students are automatically registered for C@CM. Upperclassmen can register via SIO. Contact your academic advisor if you need help registering.
The course is comprised of four primary units. A description of what's included in each unit is below. While you may have been exposed to some of these topics in the past, the curriculum is specific to the CMU environment making it highly unlikely that you have sufficient prior knowledge, particularly to the depth and complexity that is required for collegiate-level work.
Responsible Computing
Identify the computing privileges and responsibilities that apply to you as a member of the CMU community, including specific issues involved with protecting information and resources and the associated penalties/impact if you fail to do so.
Effective Computing
Learn about the most commonly used electronic tools and services that the university offers. Regardless of major, every student will need to complete work that requires specialized software and hardware, printing services and online file storage/sharing/collaboration.
Information Literacy
Whether it's writing a paper, preparing for a role or conducting an experiment, you'll do some sort of research while at the university. In this unit, you'll learn how to define the information that you need, how to locate the best sources and how to appropriately use the information in your work. The unit also presents critical information on academic integrity issues related to finding and using information.
Safe Computing
Recognize online threats that can compromise your own and the broader community's information and resources, along with protective measures you can take to prevent such attacks and what you need to do should a compromise occur.
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C@CM is structured in a flipped classroom model, meaning that the traditional elements of lecture and homework are flipped or reversed. You'll complete the lecture portion of the course online – where readings and practice scenarios will introduce the various concepts – and then you'll attend class to reflect on and review what you've learned, get clarification on challenging concepts and explore the concepts in greater depth. This approach enables you to work through the online material at your own pace, removes the constraints of a conventional in-class lecture and allows your TA to focus on your individual needs during the limited time you have face-to-face. C@CM offers you a great deal of flexibility, but this means that you have more responsibility for directing your own learning. In order to truly maximize the time you spend in class and get the most out of the course, you need to complete the required coursework on time and in a meaningful way. Without insight into how you're performing on the assignments, your TA cannot customize their instruction to support your learning.
Communication
We will use Canvas for all course-related communication and it will serve as the central landing page for C@CM. Here you'll find important announcements, a link to the online course materials housed in OLI and your official course grades. We'll also use email frequently as a means of distributing pertinent information to you all. It is your responsibility to check Canvas and email no less than once per week.
Professional Conduct
Class time will be focused on concepts you were unable to learn on your own, so you need to be prepared and willing to participate in discussion and other learning activities. We expect you to be respectful of your fellow classmates, your TA and your own learning by avoiding any distractions and disruptions that you can (arriving late, leaving early, working on non-C@CM coursework, texting, etc.).
Attendance
To best utilize class time, your timely presence and participation are necessary. If you can't attend class, please inform your TA in advance via email and include documentation for your university-approved absence.
Academic Integrity
You are encouraged to work with others to complete the inline learning activities and when reviewing the explanatory content. Collaboration is NOT permitted on the Pre-Assessments, Exam-Readiness Quizzes or the Final Exam. If you are found to be collaborating or consulting outside materials on the Pre-Assessments, Exam-Readiness Quizzes or the Final Exam, you will be subject to academic discipline. Supplying and/or using answer keys from previous course offerings, whether your own or another students', is expressly prohibited. Please see the university's standards on
Academic Integrity for more details.
Support for Learning & Well-Being
Universities are in general vibrant communities, places of tremendous vitality and richness that offer abundant opportunities for meaningful work and play. This abundance brings with it the challenge of maintaining a healthy, balanced life – a life characterized by productive tension among such competing needs as work and play, sleep and wakefulness, solitude and sociability. Exercising two skills – (1) avoiding imbalance through careful planning and (2) managing and containing imbalance when it occurs – can help you achieve this balance.
As a student, you may experience a range of challenges that can interfere with learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, substance use, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may diminish your academic performance and/or reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. CMU services are available, and treatment does work. We all care about you and are committed to connecting you to many of the helpful resources available on campus. All of us benefit from support and guidance during times of struggle. An important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. We encourage you to take the time to learn about all that’s available and to take advantage of it.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to the C@CM staff if your course work is the source of your stress. Recognize that problems with relationships, family worries, loss, or a personal struggle or crisis can also contribute to decreased academic performance. It is not our intention to know the details of what might be bothering you, but simply to let you know we are concerned and that help, if needed, is available. Getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do -- for yourself and for those who care about you.
Students with Disabilities
Our community values diversity and seeks to promote meaningful access to educational opportunities for all students. If you believe that you need accommodations for a disability, please notify your teaching assistant at the start of the semester, and we will work together to ensure that you have the correct access to resources on campus to assist you through your coursework and time at CMU.
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