Editing Online Communities and Crowds (Spring 2025) (section)

=== Policies ===
==== General course policies ====

[[User:Aaronshaw/Classroom_policies|General policies]] (including links to Northwestern's recommended policies) on a wide variety of topics including classroom equity, attendance, academic integrity, accommodations, late assignments, generative AI, and more are provided [[User:Aaronshaw/Classroom_policies|on Aaron's class policies page]]. Below are some policy statements that may be specific to this course and quarter.

==== Expectations for class sessions ====

The following are some baseline expectations. Please feel free to ask questions, suggest changes, or raise concerns during the quarter. I welcome all input. Also, if you feel that I can do anything to support these expectations more effectively, please let me know.
* All members of the class are expected to contribute to creating a supportive, welcoming, and respectful environment.
* All members of the class are expected to take reasonable steps to create an effective teaching/learning environment for themselves and others.

==== In-class discussion ====

Discussions are meant to provide you with an opportunity to confront, challenge, and explore the major themes of each week in a safe, respectful environment. Your active participation is indispensable, so come prepared, ready to test out ideas and hypotheses. Please keep in mind that participation is about more than who speaks the most. It is also about demonstrating a willingness to think through your own and others’ ideas. Some ground rules:
* Respect others’ rights to hold opinions and beliefs different from yours. If you disagree, challenge the idea, not the person.
* Listen carefully to what others are saying even when you disagree. Comments that you make (asking for clarification, sharing critiques, expanding on a point, etc.) should reflect that you have paid attention to the speaker’s comments.
* Be courteous. Don’t interrupt or engage in private conversations while others are speaking.
* Support your statements. Use evidence and provide a rationale for your points.
* Allow everyone the chance to talk. If you have spoken a lot already, try to hold back a bit; if you are hesitant to speak, look for opportunities to contribute to the discussion.

==== Academic freedom, speech, and expression ====

I welcome and support the expression and exchange of diverse perspectives in my classes. As such, I do not grant permission for any recording, sharing, observation, reporting, posting, or republication of any statements made (by me or others) in the context of a class for the purpose of wider dissemination or for any purpose not expressly permitted under applicable Northwestern rules and policies.

I am also committed to supporting student speech and engagement in social and political activity beyond the classroom. Ongoing federal investigations of Northwestern University and its personnel; deportations, visa revocations, and disciplinary actions targeting students, faculty, and staff on the basis of their speech; as well as other recent events have not altered my commitments in this regard.

==== Syllabus revisions ====

This syllabus will be a dynamic document that will evolve throughout the quarter. Although the core expectations are fixed, the details will shift. As a result, please keep in mind the following:

# '''Assignments and readings are ''frozen'' 1 week before they are due.''' I will not add readings or assignments less than one week before they are due. If I forget to add something or fill in a "To Be Determined" less than one week before it's due, it is dropped. If you plan to read or work more than one week ahead, contact me first.
# '''Substantial changes to the syllabus or course materials will be announced.''' Please monitor your email for Canvas messages about changes. Also, whenever I make changes, these changes will be recorded in [https://wiki.communitydata.science/index.php?title=Online_Communities_and_Crowds_(Spring_2025)&action=history  the edit history of this page] in case you want to track what has changed.
# '''Changes will usually reduce/change work, only rarely augment.''' I tend to be a little over-ambitious with my syllabus content and then dial that back as I sort out what can be tossed overboard.
# '''The course design may adapt throughout the quarter.''' As usual (for me at least), I may iterate and prototype course design elements rapidly along the way. To this end, I will ask you for voluntary feedback—especially toward the beginning of the quarter. Please let me know what is working and what can be improved. In the past, I have made many adjustments based on this feedback and I expect to do so again.