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<h2>
CS 470 Syllabus<br>
Fall 2010
</h2>
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<hr>

<h2>Textbook</h2>

Multiagent Systems: Algorithmic, Game-Theoretic, and Logical Foundations by Yoav Shoham and Kevin Leyton-Brown, Cambridge University Press, 2009, ISBN-13: 9780521899437. Also available in Adobe eBook found at http://www.masfoundations.org/download.html.

The Evolution of Cooperation by Robert Axelrod, Basic Books, 1984, ISBN 0-465-02121-2

We will also be reading portions of another book, but this book is available for free in an electronic version through the BYU bookstore. This book is called The Stag Hunt and the Evolution of Social Structure by Brian Skyrms, Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Finally, I have a large collection of online notes (see notes from prior semesters) that we will use liberally. <hr>

<h2> Pedagogy </h2> This class will use a Problem-based Learning pedagogy. The first week of the semester will be spent selecting a problem that we will try to “solve” during the semester. You will organized into groups, decide what you need to learn to solve the problem, and we will start learning it together.

The pedagogy will not be completely free form, but will instead use modules from the textbooks and lectures of previous semesters. I anticipate that we will study all but one or two of the following modules:

• Distributed optimization, search, coherence, and consensus
• Game theory
• Repeated play
• Evolutionary games
• Social choice and mechanism design
• Market-based mechanisms
• Multi-agent learning
• Organizations: roles, tokens, topologies, synergies, and process losses

Adding to the structure imposed by the modules, I have an extensive collection of homework problems, both written and programming-based, that should help your learning. The order of the modules and the assigned set of homework problems will be driven by the problems that you are facing.

Although all groups will set out to solve the same problem, differences will evolve over the semester. In addition to the shared learning modules and homework assignments, each group will work with me to define more involved learning experiences that will be key components of their solution. We'll call these learning experiences laboratories and you'll turn in a written technical report that will be graded as described below.

One mid-term exam will be given.

<h2>Homework</h2> This semester, all homework will be submitted on paper. <ul>

 Format
Each problem you submit will include a description of the problem along with the solution. You must show all work to receive full credit.
 Deadline

Homework will be turned in to me in class. Homework is due at the beginning of class.

<h4> Late Homework </h4> Please talk to me if you have a problem that will prevent you from turning in homework on time. Talking to me before the due date is always better than after the due date.

 Homework Groups
Please work in groups, but do not simply copy homework answers from others. Copying work from current or previous CS 670 students is considered cheating even if you are only copying a small portion.
 Homework Discussions on the class wiki.
You are encouraged to discuss the homework on the class wiki.

</ul> <p><br> </p> <hr> <h2>Quizzes</h2> I don't anticipate giving quizzes this semester unless the class has a problem doing assigned reading or getting to class on time.

<hr> <h2>Labs</h2>

 Groups
You may work in teams of up to three students on each lab. I suggest that you do labs as a team, but please be equally yoked. Each student in the group should contribute to each lab. In your lab submissions, I require you to give a breakdown of the time each team member spent on the lab; if the hours are greatly out of balance, I reserve the right to change one or more partner's grades. I have done this before, so make sure that you both work equally hard. Additionally, please share ideas with other teams, but do not be unethical and submit two copies of a program developed by two or more teams or copy code segments from another team.&nbsp; <br>
 Late Days
For each school day your lab is late the score will be reduced by 20. Labs are worth 100 points. This means that if you earn 85 <font
color="#000000">points
but you are one day late, you will instead receive 65 points, but if you are 2 days late, you will receive 45 points.</font> The last lab has no late days and MUST be turned in on the day it is due. Don't be Late! Go ahead, start working on the labs early. It won't hurt.
 I realize that problems sometimes arise during the semester which
prevent you from turning a lab in on time. To deal with this and to encourage people to submit labs early, we will use the following “pay-it-forward” policy.&nbsp; For every two days you submit a lab early, you can earn a late day. &nbsp; For example, if you turn in lab 3 two days late but lab 4 four days early, then no penalty will be assessed to lab 3.

If you turn in lab 3 two days late and lab 4 three days early, you will be assessed a “one-day late” penalty unless other labs are submitted early.

<h2>Exams</h2> There will be two exams given during the semester: a mid-term and a final. Both will be oral exams taken in my office. This sounds a bit frightening to some students, but I gave these kinds of exams in 2009 and all of the students told me that they ended up preferring them. We'll discuss the exam format about a week before it is given. <hr>

<h2>Grading</h2> Assignments and exams given throughout the semester are categorized and weighted according to the following schedule: <center> <table border=“0” cellspacing=“2” cellpadding=“2”>



     Category
Weight

Homework and Quizzes

10%


Labs (I anticipate 4 Labs)

36%
(9% each)


Final Project

14%



Midterm

20%

Final Exam

20%



</table> </center>



A
95 - 100%
B-
     80 - 81.9%

A-
91 - 94.9%
C+
76 - 79.9%


B+
87 - 90.9%
C
72 - 75.9%


B
82 - 86.9%
C-
68 - 71.9%



</table> </center> <h4> Class Participation</h4> Throughout the semester, I will record class participation. At the end of the semester this will be used to help students who are on the border between grades. For example, if your score is on the border between a B and a B+ and if you participated in class then you will receive a B+. By contrast, if your score is on the same border and you have not participated in class then you will receive a B. In past semesters in my grad classes, this participation credit has typically been around 0.5%. <p>To receive class participation, you must actively participate in class (answer questions, show an example on the board, etc.), or make a substantial contribution to the course (correct several webpage errors, suggest a major improvement to a lab, help me learn something new, etc.).&nbsp; <font

color="#000000">For the fall 2009 semester, you may be able to get
participation credit for being a subject in experiments we are running in the HCMI research lab.&nbsp; Please contact me for details.</font> <br> &nbsp; </p> <h4>Online Grades</h4>

Your grades are available online from blackboard.&nbsp; We will do our best to get things recorded correctly, but if something is not correct it is your responsibility to point this out to us.&nbsp; All corrections to grades must be made <b><i>within two weeks</i></b> after the score is posted, so check the scores regularly. <p> No assignments or labs will be accepted during or after reading days. </p>

<hr> <h2>Cheating, Harassment, and Other Ethical Considerations</h2>

<h4> Cheating</h4> I encourage you to work with others to accomplish the homework assignments and laboratory exercises. Working together, however, does not mean dividing up the problems or labs and then sharing answers afterwards. You should never turn in any work that is not your own; this applies to both code and to homework. It is far better to do poorly on an exam than to compromise your integrity. <p>I consider it unethical to use, borrow, study, or distribute old exams, homework, or lab materials (other than those provided). The work in this class should be your own and not simply a copy of someone else's. If you use any material from earlier semesters of this course you may receive a failing grade. If you have taken the course before please come and talk with me about this policy. </p> <h4>Harassment</h4> The following is BYU's statement on preventing sexual harassment. <blockquote>


Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds. The act is intended to eliminate sex discrimination in education and pertains to admissions, academic and athletic programs, and university-sponsored activities. Title IX also prohibits sexual harassment of students by university employees, other students, and visitors to campus. If you encounter sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination, please talk to your professor; contact the Equal Employment Office at 801-422-5895 or 1-888-238-1062 (24-hours), or http://www.ethicspoint.com; or contact the Honor Code Office at 801-422-2847. </p>

</blockquote> I believe that everyone should be able to participate in my class without the fear of harassment, and I am committed to the university's policy.<br> <br> Moreover, please remember that just because a behavior is not technically harassment, it may still be inappropriate.&nbsp; Be sure to treat all students with respect regardless of age, gender, or race.<br> &nbsp; <h4>Computer Abuse</h4> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Accounts on Computer Science Department computers are privileges to be used in conjunction with and in <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; support of various related Computer Science classes. Abuse in any form will result in immediate <br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; suspension of your account(s). If an abuse involves a violation of the honor code, you will be referred to <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; University Standards. If an abuse involves illegal activity, appropriate authorities will be notified. In either <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; case, you will be immediately dropped from all Computer Science Classes you are enrolled in. Some <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; violations are punishable by expulsion from the University. Your keystrokes may be monitored and saved. <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Examples of abuse of your account include: <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1.Transfer or storage of pornographic or illegally duplicated material. <br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2.Use of your account to probe or crack security systems, including passwords, or to intercept <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; information intended only for others. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3.Sending mass, commercial, obscene, or harassing email or usenet news posts. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 4.Sharing your account or account password with anyone. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 5.Misusing your lab privileges, including game playing, and especially actions which could cause damage, <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; such as rebooting a workstation.

<br> </p> <h4>Disabilities</h4> The following is BYU's statement on students with disabilities. <blockquote style=“font-style: italic;”>BYU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities.&nbsp;

 If you have any disability that may adversely
affect your success in this course, please contact the University Accessibility Center at 422-2767.&nbsp; Services deemed appropriate will be coordinated with the student and instructor by that office.</blockquote> I am committed to working with students with disabilities and have successfully worked with the Accessibility Center in previous semesters.<br> <hr> <h2>Internet Resources</h2>

As much as possible, this class will be conducted electronically. Class announcements, homework and laboratory assignments will be made available either through a class email or through the wiki. It is your responsibility to keep current.

 Blackboard
Blackboard will only be used for two things: to record grades and to post copyrighted material subject to copyright laws.
 Electronic Mail
Make sure that your RouteY account has a current email address. I frequently send email to the class — especially when I need to correct a mistake made in class or when an urgent announcement must be passed to all students.
 Class Wiki
The class is a great place to ask and answer questions about labs.&nbsp; Students used the wiki very effectively in previous semesters, and I'd encourage you to use it this semester too. The wiki can be an especially useful tool given the problem-driven pedagogy that we will be using this semester, but it's up to you to decide if and how to use it in your learning.<br>