polling

[bluetooth]

[Mark]

[dyeatman]

Apparently the rules of whatever competition they are in forbid getting outside help without paying a fee. However, at this point it may be moot since the capitol latters "CR" have been notified and they are apparently going to be "outted" (??) (better than gutted I guess but it still sounds pretty serious!) from the contest.

[Humberto]

According to the Competition Rules:

[Clive]

I have been running this module for several years now and I've got to say, that there is a lot that a simple websearch can reveal about my students. In addition, every year I tend to receive several emails from students giving me URLs to places like this.

You should really have used the labs, mr. Kent... They are there for people to sort out their problems.

This module is designed to allow fair competition. And asking online for help with your code instead of doing it in the allocated laboratory sessions where assistance is provided by members of staff makes one wonder just exactly how much of that code is written by you.

I will see how you fair in your presentation and races and take all the information submitted to me into consideration when marking your report.

[Guest]

I'm confused here. Is this a joke or something? He said he was getting help for a self teaching Univ. lab project. Now it's a compitition? Who ever heard of putting limits on stuff like this? If these are the rules, I would think that he would be (as anyone trying to cheat) more careful about covering up his identity and his anything about his project.

Fair is that everone has the same access to the same information and resource. This forum if free and available to anyone really. Not sure if I get this whole pay a fee thing either. Is this supposed to be a real life project? Well, in the real life people come to these forums.

Were we helping he be a slacker or something?

[Mark]

I hope Clive is not serious. The guy wrote his own code and was just asking for an explanation for some odd behavior. Why didn't he disguise himself, probably cause he didn't think he was doing anything wrong. Many people come here for help. We do not complete projects for students. We just point them in the right direction. Now why did he come here instead of the lab, we did you explicitly tell him not to use the web? If so, then shame on you. People learn by example. One person can build upon that you come up with new ideas. If you dock the guy any points, I wish I could give ya an evaluation. You wouldn't pass . Maybe he came here because he knew we are better at this than the lab instructors. I had many lab instructors that didn't know squat and even taught my assembly instructor how to program in assembly!

[bluetooth]

It would be interesting to see the actual rules - if they were violated, then shouldn't there be consequences

[newguy]

Clive, I'm a teacher too. A prof, to be exact. If a student goes to someone other than their instructor for help, it means that their instructor is....I'm not sure if the rules of this site allow me to use the word I want to use. I'm sure you get the picture.

The kid didn't get us to write code for him (unlike some very regular posters here). He just asked us for help in explaining some odd behaviour. Don't punish him just because another student decided to tattle when he did nothing wrong.

And while I'm at it......IF you're going to punish him, for god's sake, DON'T POST IT HERE!!! If you want to make an example of him, do it in a less global forum. You're an instructor, act like one and show some professionalism. What were you thinking by posting "aha, I caught another one here"? Like this is an opium den or something! Geez!

[spudtheimpaler]

I have managed not to read this post for a few days... and wow have i missed some crackers.

First of all, thank you for all of you for sticking up for me. I don't think i have done anything wrong, everyone has done web research and i cant fathom for a second that others haven't used a forum before. Also, thank you for your help. It has been _invaluable_ - and i'm talking long term rather than this project. For example the info on the power up timer has had no effect on how fast my robot moves, but it is information i didn't know and will use in the field if i ever get there.

Secondly... Don't have a go at Clive - He is a genuinly nice guy. He's been my personal tutor for two years and I have no qualms that he will be nothing but fair and discreet.

Thirdly. Clive... Welcome back. Good to see we're keeping you on your toes... Firstly I came to this post with erratic code only to find out that it wasn't code that was erratic, but the behaviour of the PIC. (the pull down resistors) once i found out about this i could have found the help from many of the hundreds of websites, it just so happens they got here first. Secondly regarding the labs: Bob and Neville are marvelous guys, but neither know squat about programming. I know this because i have asked them. Speak to Neville. He and I had a good half hour chat as to what the problem could be, with a fella whos name i dont know (Red overalls, works in RF mostly). Also speak to Phil Atkins - I have sent emails and tried to arrange a number of meetings to no avail. Paul... I'm pretty sure his name is Paul. He's a nice guy, but if you can EVER get a straight answer out of him then you are obviously his boss.

I HAVE been to the assistants and they have helped as best they can, but CCS C is a programming language and all i was asking for was a possible explanation of missed syntax or alike.

The project specs state:

[spudtheimpaler]

P.S.

We had a Final report to hand in over the weekend . I REFERENCED THIS WEBSITE in the report...

Either
A) I didn't think for a second i was doing anything wrong.
B) I'm just really... really stupid.

With regards to A) I don't know what the rules are regarding cheating when you dont realise your cheating, i spose its quite a fuzzy area. I still believe, however, that using any resource available to everyone can never be cheating.

[Clive Roberts]

I am a bit confused.... a student sent me some web links to this site and said I ought to have a look and then almost immediately I received an e-mail from Mitch. I had not visited the site before, and did not add the previous postings which have my name against them - as somebody previous mentioned this would be unprofessional.

This posting is purely to redress the situation....

I don't really see what the fuss is about, Mitch asked for some advice, there is nothing wrong with this. I have read through the postings and I am not at all concerned - I am glad someone was able to help and Mitch has learnt something. I would be concerned if someone else had written the code in the first place, but this is clearly not the case.

If you are interested in our annual competition and the results from previous years, please see http://www.bbc.co.uk/[spam]/students/2003/03/robots.shtml

I hope that sets the record straight.

Clive Roberts, Lecturer, University of [spam], UK

[spudtheimpaler]

Just so you all know, I have since seen Clive and the second post is valid. What a horah. Also I'd like to let 'Clive' know that impersonating lecturers is possibly the DUMBEST thing i have ever heard of. You've had your kick. Well done.

I'm sure I'll post again soon - the robot still isn't going :( ;)

Mitch.

[bluetooth]

Sounds to me like the imposter(s) is (are) SCARED and are trying "guerilla" tactics to gain an advantage

[spudtheimpaler]