UMW Students

If you’re a UMW student (seeking credit in CPSC 106 and currently enrolled in that course) then success probably means getting a good grade. Getting a good grade in DS106 means working hard and working consistently. You need to commit to spend a little time every day (and some days you may need to spend a lot of time) on completing assignments, commenting on your classmates’ work, and, generally, exploring the community of DS106.

DS106 is a course that is meant to foster and explore creative expression, so we expect you to be creative. BUT, that doesn’t mean we expect you to be perfect. We understand that creative work is HARD work. So, we’re just as interested in you telling us about the process you went through to complete an assignment as we are in you handing in a precious, perfect product. (We love great work, but we also love self-reflection and commitment). So, if you find yourself struggling to do the assignments, don’t despair. Write a blog post anyway. Share what you’ve done so far. Talk about the problems you’ve been having and how you’ve tried to address them. Ask for help.

One thing you don’t want to do in DS106 is wait until the last minute. Lots of people are here to help, but they may not be able to help you if you wait until the 11th hour. Start your work early, narrate your process as you go, ask for help when you need it. That’s a great formula for success.

And don’t forget to have fun!! DS106 is a lot of work, but it’s also a lot of FUN work. When you get to choose assignments, pick ones that appeal to you. When you get an assignment where you get to pick the focus, focus on something you care about!

Open, Online Students

For you guys, success is really all up to you. What do you want to get out of this experience? Is there a particular genre of storytelling you’re interested in exploring? Are you looking to connect with colleagues at other institutions who care about the same stuff as you? Are you just looking for a creative outlet to blow off a little steam? These are all fine goals for DS106. If you want to share them on your blog, that will help the whole community to support you.

We like to say to open, online students that DS106 means never having to say your sorry. We know you’re doing this on top of your job, other classes, and the rest of your life. You’re opting into this experience, which means you get to decide how much you put into and take away from it. We’re just happy to have you along for as much of the ride as you want to take.

In the end, you won’t have credit, but we hope you’ll still have learned something. 🙂 See more at the ds106 mothership…