Thu, 27 Aug 2009

   A student writes:

    
   Hello Dr. Patt

       This is *********, one of your many EE306 students. So my
       question.... I was looking at the blackboard and I noticed a
       Programming Lab due on August 28 at 2:00 am, Does that mean we need
       to turn it in August 27? Or will we learn about this in our discussion?


Dear Student,

We would not do this to you.  It turns out one of my TAs was testing the
blackboard system and made that entry which was only there for a few minutes.
As luck would have it, you and two other students happened to check out
"blackboard" during that small window.

Sorry to have caused you unnessary anguish.  There is no assignment due on
August 28.  In fact, ALL assignments and due dates are listed on the Course
Outline we went over in class yesterday.

I told the TA he should have chosen a due date of March 10, 2084, so you
would have known that it was a test message.  Again, I am sorry to have
unnecessarily alarmed you.


       Question #2: I remember in class that you talked about an mini
       autobiography with our pictures, where can I find more information
       on this?


That will be clearly spelled out in the first problem set, which will be
posted before the end of the weekend at the latest.


       Thanks for you time


My pleasure.


         Sincerely,

         <<  name withheld to protect one of three students who decided to
         check out blackboard at exactly the wrong time  >>

       P.S.: Loved your way of teaching us!


Thanks.  I hope you still feel that way in December!

Good luck with EE 306.

Yale Patt