Physics307L:Assignments/Assignment 1--Notebook setup: Difference between revisions

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This is due before Monday August 31.  The point of this assignment is to get comfortable with basic wiki editing so you can use it effectively during the lab sessions.  If you have trouble, email Koch, or post a message on the [[Physics307L:Interactions]] page!
This assignment is due before September 5, 2011.  In order to "turn in" the assignment, you must email me with a link to your online notebook--whatever option you choose (Google Docs, OpenWetWare, or other option).  Here are the goals you must achieve (these will be clarified during lecture, August 29, 2011):


Except for a few steps, most of these can be achieved by copying text from some other wiki page and then modifying it for your specific needs.  That's a good thing!  The easiest way to learn how to do something on the wiki is to browse around to other pages, and then click the "edit" button to see how the page was created.
* You must sign up for a service (such as Google Docs or OpenWetWare) that allows you to record information during Junior Lab, and allows you to post the information publicly.  You must be able to send links to the notebook entries via email, and embedding links in other notebook entries.


# Request an account on OWW (most of you have already done this).  To request an account, click here: [[OpenWetWare:How_to_join]]
* You must create a demonstration notebook entry that shows your notebook is suitable for online use in Junior Lab.  You can use the oscilloscope lab notes as your demonstration.
# After your account has been approved, log in to OWW and edit your user page.  The link for your user page is on the top right of the screen.  The purpose here is to get some experience editing the wiki as well as to provide a little background information about yourself (for Koch and others in the class).
 
# Change your wiki preferences so that you receive email updates when pages on your watchlist are changed
You have a lot of freedom in this assignment.  In years past, I was more specific with the assignment, but I think that misses a main point: one skill you will develop in Junior Lab is the ability to adapt to the rapidly evolving online and social networking landscape.  It's not enough to learn how to use the current tools (such as Google Docs), because these won't be the tools you'll need to use 5 years from now. Below are some suggestions:
## Click on "my preferences" link on the top right of the page.
 
## Under the email sections, choose the checkbox for the "E-mail me when a page on my watchlist is changed" option.
==Option 1--Last year's method==
## You can "watch" pages by clicking on the "watch" link at the top of any page.  Also, any pages you create should be on your watchlist by default unless you change your preferences.
You are free to follow the detailed instructions on how to setup an online notebook using OpenWetWare.  It is a system that works very well, but may not be the best option for you later in your career. Here is a link to the instructions:
# Create your e-lab notebook.
 
## [[Help:Notebook/One_Click_Setup|Go to one-click setup]]
* [http://openwetware.org/wiki/Physics307L:Assignments/Assignment_1--Notebook_setup/Old_wiki_assignment Last year's wiki notebook assignment]
## Choose "User" in the drop-down menu
 
## Choose a name for your lab notebook.  Something that indicates Junior Lab or Physics 307L would be good.
==Option 2--Google Docs==
## Click the "submit" button
I think Google Docs (word processing + spreadsheet) will be a good option for your online notebook, and will also be a useful thing to learn how to use.  Because it's a new option, it's not as easy to do as the OWW option above.  But it's the option I'm encouraging going forward.  Part of this option is exploring how to use Google Docs, and what the best way for creating a publicly-shared notebook is.  An advantage of Google Docs is that we can be reasonably sure that the service will remain available for at least several years.  Furthermore, it is likely to not have downtime due to server outages, etc., like some other services might.
## After clicking submit, you will get a "success!" message.  Follow the link to the new notebook page.
 
## '''Create a link to your notebook on your user page before you forget where it is!'''
==Option 3--Surprise me!==
# Update the [[Physics307L:People]] page
The overwhelming odds are that the first two options are not the best way to have an online notebook.  So, if you have the confidence and desire to explore on your own, I encourage you to try something else.  For example, a blog, or Evernote.  There are hundreds of options.  If you do choose option 3, I will, however, have to make sure that it's a sufficient option for this course. If you choose a site that isn't reliable, or may disappear soon, that will not work well for us and I'll have to have you switch to something else.  You will still get credit for completing the assignment, you just may have to switch to option 1 or option 2.
## Move your photo to the correct lab day (when you click "edit" you will see how others have done it)
## Change the text directly under your photo to have a link to:
### Your user page (of the form <nowiki>[[User:Your Name]]</nowiki>)
### A link to your "personal course page".  Look at my photo to see how this is done. Use a link like <nowiki>[[/LastName|LastName's page for the course]]</nowiki>
# After completing the last step, the [[Physics307L:People]] page will have a red link to "your course page".  Click on this link to create the new page (this is one easy way to create a new wiki page: just create a link to it and then click and edit).
## Add text to your course page, especially to your lab notebook.  See [[Physics307L:People/Koch|Koch's page]] for an example.
# And the final part of this assignment:
## Do some kind of wiki editing '''''other than what I've assigned'''''.  For example, make an edit on [http://en.wikipedia.org wikipedia], post a message on the [[Physics307L:Interactions|Junior Lab Interactions Page]], or put something fancy on your user page.  The point is to just test your wiki skills out by doing something outside the assignment.
## After doing this, send me an email to let me know you're done!

Latest revision as of 10:41, 29 August 2011

This assignment is due before September 5, 2011. In order to "turn in" the assignment, you must email me with a link to your online notebook--whatever option you choose (Google Docs, OpenWetWare, or other option). Here are the goals you must achieve (these will be clarified during lecture, August 29, 2011):

  • You must sign up for a service (such as Google Docs or OpenWetWare) that allows you to record information during Junior Lab, and allows you to post the information publicly. You must be able to send links to the notebook entries via email, and embedding links in other notebook entries.
  • You must create a demonstration notebook entry that shows your notebook is suitable for online use in Junior Lab. You can use the oscilloscope lab notes as your demonstration.

You have a lot of freedom in this assignment. In years past, I was more specific with the assignment, but I think that misses a main point: one skill you will develop in Junior Lab is the ability to adapt to the rapidly evolving online and social networking landscape. It's not enough to learn how to use the current tools (such as Google Docs), because these won't be the tools you'll need to use 5 years from now. Below are some suggestions:

Option 1--Last year's method

You are free to follow the detailed instructions on how to setup an online notebook using OpenWetWare. It is a system that works very well, but may not be the best option for you later in your career. Here is a link to the instructions:

Option 2--Google Docs

I think Google Docs (word processing + spreadsheet) will be a good option for your online notebook, and will also be a useful thing to learn how to use. Because it's a new option, it's not as easy to do as the OWW option above. But it's the option I'm encouraging going forward. Part of this option is exploring how to use Google Docs, and what the best way for creating a publicly-shared notebook is. An advantage of Google Docs is that we can be reasonably sure that the service will remain available for at least several years. Furthermore, it is likely to not have downtime due to server outages, etc., like some other services might.

Option 3--Surprise me!

The overwhelming odds are that the first two options are not the best way to have an online notebook. So, if you have the confidence and desire to explore on your own, I encourage you to try something else. For example, a blog, or Evernote. There are hundreds of options. If you do choose option 3, I will, however, have to make sure that it's a sufficient option for this course. If you choose a site that isn't reliable, or may disappear soon, that will not work well for us and I'll have to have you switch to something else. You will still get credit for completing the assignment, you just may have to switch to option 1 or option 2.

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