Tue, 4 Oct 2011, 03:01

A student writes:

> Will we need to use laptops in class? I have an old laptop that can't even
> last for an hour on battery.
> 
> <<name withheld to protect the student with a museum piece>>

No, you will not need to use laptops in class.  Unfortunately, we do not have
enough class time for us to have you write programs during class, nor do we
have enough TAs to adequately check your work during class time.  So, I will
jealously use class time to try to explain concepts, perhaps even (with your
help) write programs on the board.  Today, for example, we wrote a four 
instruction program to subtract two numbers, since the LC-3 does not have
a Subtract opcode.  Wednesday, I hope to (again, with your help) write a 
program to add a column of numbers that will show you first hand how to use
the data movement instructions and the most common of the control instructions.

However, you will need to use computers OUTSIDE OF class.  And, sometimes you
will need help from me or one of the TAs.  It makes it much easier to help you
if we can look at the current state of the program that you are trying to write.
We can hook your program up to the Simulator/Debugger and Single Step it.  
We can set breakpoints, etc.  The point is we can look at the program with you 
and try to help you see what you are doing incorrectly.  ...and that means 
bringing your laptop to a TA's office hours.

I understand that not all of you have laptops, and that could put some of you
at a disadvantage.  I am trying to figure out what to do about it, and my
first step is to find out how many of you do not have laptops.  Ergo, my
email to you all last night.

See you in class on Wednesday.

Yale Patt

ps. Again, I want to congratulate most of you on an outstanding job on the
midterm.  As I said in class, if you did well, it is okay to look in the
mirror today and congratulate yourself.  But by tomorrow, you should move
beyond it and continue to work hard.  The course will continue to be
challenging.  This is no time to coast.  If you did not do well, it is okay
to beat yourself up a little bit.  But by tomorrow you too need to move beyond
it and continue to work hard.  I told you last week everyone in the course
can still earn an A.  I meant it.

Also, I realize that in high school, 50 on an exam was a disaster.  That is not
the case here.  If you earned a 50 on this exam, you did not fail the exam.
You made a C.  So, take a deep breath and get to work!