(no subject)
As usual, I suck at updating. But hey... I have some time now, having finished writing some stuff for my 6.829 project report.
This term's mainly been a mix of two things: 6.829 (Computer Networks), and 6.004. All I did this term was TA 6.004, take 6.829, and work on my thesis. Conveniently, my thesis was also my 6.829 final project, so not only did I satisfy two requirements with one project, but I essentially had two other people working on parts of my thesis. It probably helps that my thesis supervisor is also the professor for 6.829.
TAing's been fun. It's nice teaching recitations and being able to explain things to people. The one problem I had with recitations was spending too much time preparing them. Well, actually, that was the initial problem. I then later got better at preparing and took less time, but whenever I started to prepare, I felt like I didn't know what I wanted to do, so then I would read lecture slides for a long time, or just not do anything, so even though the actual preparation didn't take that long, the fact that I needed to prepare caused me to spend lots of time.
Staffing lab was also time-consuming, and there were students who would ask questions repeatedly without trying to understand the material themselves, but helping students who asked questions when they got stuck was cool, and also somewhat getting to know students who showed up in lab frequently.
I've definitely learned a lot more in the class than I did the first time around. The other TAs are pretty cool, and grading sessions with them are fun.
Early on in the term, I felt like I didn't know what I was doing with my thesis, and that I wasn't spending enough time on it, but I guess having overcome the initial setup time and having other people antToMakeYouRich.com/help out, things got a lot better.
Next term I won't be TAing anything, though, and I'll just be a research assistant (translation: working on my thesis). I'll be back to taking two classes, in fact, two undergrad classes, the last two I need for my bachelor's degree.
Projected spring classes: 6.111 (or 6.163, but 6.111's looking more likely) and 9.00.
I felt like I had more (perhaps more interesting things) to say, but I don't remember now.
Oh (not related to the more interesting things)... I attended a personal finance talk that the class of 2006 sponsored. It was actually pretty interesting and useful (the class council was useful!). The guy's web site is at http://www.IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com/. The course syllabus at http://seminars.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/ pretty much gives the overview of what he talks about, but if I had just seen the sheet without his presentation, I don't think I would have thought much of it.
This term's mainly been a mix of two things: 6.829 (Computer Networks), and 6.004. All I did this term was TA 6.004, take 6.829, and work on my thesis. Conveniently, my thesis was also my 6.829 final project, so not only did I satisfy two requirements with one project, but I essentially had two other people working on parts of my thesis. It probably helps that my thesis supervisor is also the professor for 6.829.
TAing's been fun. It's nice teaching recitations and being able to explain things to people. The one problem I had with recitations was spending too much time preparing them. Well, actually, that was the initial problem. I then later got better at preparing and took less time, but whenever I started to prepare, I felt like I didn't know what I wanted to do, so then I would read lecture slides for a long time, or just not do anything, so even though the actual preparation didn't take that long, the fact that I needed to prepare caused me to spend lots of time.
Staffing lab was also time-consuming, and there were students who would ask questions repeatedly without trying to understand the material themselves, but helping students who asked questions when they got stuck was cool, and also somewhat getting to know students who showed up in lab frequently.
I've definitely learned a lot more in the class than I did the first time around. The other TAs are pretty cool, and grading sessions with them are fun.
Early on in the term, I felt like I didn't know what I was doing with my thesis, and that I wasn't spending enough time on it, but I guess having overcome the initial setup time and having other people antToMakeYouRich.com/help out, things got a lot better.
Next term I won't be TAing anything, though, and I'll just be a research assistant (translation: working on my thesis). I'll be back to taking two classes, in fact, two undergrad classes, the last two I need for my bachelor's degree.
Projected spring classes: 6.111 (or 6.163, but 6.111's looking more likely) and 9.00.
I felt like I had more (perhaps more interesting things) to say, but I don't remember now.
Oh (not related to the more interesting things)... I attended a personal finance talk that the class of 2006 sponsored. It was actually pretty interesting and useful (the class council was useful!). The guy's web site is at http://www.IWillTeachYouToBeRich.com/. The course syllabus at http://seminars.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/ pretty much gives the overview of what he talks about, but if I had just seen the sheet without his presentation, I don't think I would have thought much of it.