Hurricane Break–Turn in A4 and Start A5

Due to hurricane Sandy Drexel will be shut on Monday and Tuesday (at least) as you undoubtedly know.

I’m not changing the due date of A4.  I’d like you to contact your new team members and start thinking about A5, coming to Drexel prepared on Wednesday to talk about that assignment.

You cam send email to your teammates from within “My Groups” fairly easily, or you can look them up in Drexel search.

To get you started I’ve assigned the systems I’ve added a column to the A5-Teams page giving each team a “Major System” to analyze.  In addition to that each team should analyze a “minor” system – we’ll define and identify these in class on Wednesday.

A4 Grading Criteria Updated

I have updated the grading criteria for A4 (Structural Selection) to be in line with what I emphasized in class.  Now it should be clear that you are first to address the most general case for the summary of structural systems and the criteria and only afterwards consider these in the context of your building.

I urge you to read the contents of the A4 criteria soon.

Grader's Comments - A3

I found myself often having to take away points because you simply misunderstood the rubric. Please carefully read and understand what it is requiring. For example, “Limitations” does not mean “disadvantages,” and “typical uses” does not mean “examples.” Furthermore, don’t forget to comment on your pictures and diagrams. You placed them on the site for a reason, explain it to me. I don’t want to see a page full of diagrams.

Finally, don’t forget there is a rubric for the team assessment. I know it seems a trivial assignment, but you still have to include what it requires: Team # and team member names; contribution and performance of all. Many of you stop at contribution, explaining only how you broke up the work. Give me at least a few sentences on how the different members did at accomplishing their tasks, working with others, communicating, etc

Sketchup Info

As most of you have probably discovered, Sketchup is no longer part of Google.  They’ve spun it off/out to Trimble.  So far as I’m aware the fundamental approach and the filetype have not changed.  Here are some useful links:

• Trimble – Home
• How To Find and Download Models from the Warehouse
• Sketchup Downloads

We have not put the “Pro” version on our machines for cost reasons.  it would cost us about $1000/year to do so.  If you think it’s important to have it please let me know – no promises.

Jim Mitchell