ECE 264 Advanced C Programming, Fall 2020

Be healthy and safe. 

The github repository for this course is https://github.com/PurdueECE264/2020FallProblems-Lu

Frequently Asked Questions

Video Lectures

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is each lectures divided into many short videos?

A: Research on education and learning has concluded that learning becomes less effective after listening for more than 15 minutes. It is better to break a 75-minute lecture into short video so that students have time to think between different videos.

Q: If learning is more effective in 15 minutes intervals, why is each lecture 75 minutes?

A: When lectures are physical, time is spent moving around classrooms. Thus, short lectures are inefficient. Online lectures do not have the restrictions.

Q: Why is the lecture time not added to 75 minutes.

A: It is intended to give students time to think and digest. After watching each video, please spend some time to think and understand. Listening without understanding is not learning. In physical lectures, instructors often pause to give students time to think, discuss, and ask questions. Instructors do not talk for 75 minutes non-stop. Also, students are encouraged to communicate with the instructors, the teaching assistants, and the classmates. 

Q: Why do the lectures have different total lengths of videos?

A: Some topics are more complex and need more time to digest time. Thus, some lectures are shorter because the instructor expects students to have more questions.  Some topics need to be explained together so that students get the whole idea. The instructor designs the lectures for students to learn better.

Q: During physical lectures, instructors often give practice questions during lectures. Are there practice questions?

A: Yes. Each lecture is accompanied with practice questions in Brightspace.

Q: How is the audio generated?

A: In other to make sure the scripts and the audio match, the audio is generated by using a voice synthesis program.

Q: Why do the script contain grammatical errors or have some "strange" things (such as additional periods)?

A:The scripts are used to generate the sound files. The additional periods are used to add silence. Some words are written in specific ways to guide the synthesis programs for correct pronunciation.

Q: Why do the video lectures disallow comments on Youtube?

A: The class has published lecture videos before and some inappropriate comments were posted (not sure whether they were Purdue students or not).The inappropriate comments interfere with the education purposes.

Q: If I find mistakes in the video or have suggestions, what should I do?

A: Post in Piazza.

Q: In classrooms, students can discuss and learn from each other. Are students allowed to talk in this class?

A: Of course. You are encouraged to talk to your classmates and learn from each other.

Q: Will students be penalized for cheating if they talk to each other?

A: Talking will not produce answers with excessive degrees of similarity. If you do not share homework or exam answers, you do not need to worry. If you are unsure, please talk to the instructor for clarification.