This document provides an overview of the summer projects we have available for Grinnell students and the expectations we have of our summer students.
This page may be found online at
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/~rebelsky/Department/statsgames-summer-2009.html.
Sam Rebelsky's application guidelines can be found online at
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/~rebelsky/Department/glimmer-app-2009.pdf.
Shonda Kuiper may have additional application guidelines. Please contact her for more details.
Contents
In this project, we are developing Java applets that present simple, configurable, games that can be used by statistics students for developing experiments.
As an example, the first two games designed as part of the StatsGames project are Glimon (a variant of Simon in which you can change the number of buttons, colors, labels, and more) and Glimperfection (a variant of perfection in which you can change the number of pieces, the relationship between pieces and their destinations, and such).
Because these are used as the basic for statistical analysis, the games must record appropriate settings and results to a database. We also provide a variety of ways to gather data from that database.
Students will use Java to build the StatsGames applets. We expect students to have taken at least on Java course (e.g., CSC 152 or CSC 207).
Students should have some basic understanding of statistics.
Students will need to learn how to build applets in Java. Applets require Java's applet library, Java's GUI library, and more.
Students will use SQL and a MySQL database to store results. While prior SQL knowledge is not required, it would be beneficial.
We will use SVN to manage our code repository. We do not expect that students will know how to use SVN, but we do expect them to learn quickly.
Much of this schedule mimics the schedule officially approved by the division. However, we will certainly understand if students accept a position with me and then later choose to take a position elsewhere. In that casewe will notify students on my waiting list. The particular ten weeks we use for summer research are currently under discussion. The schedule may move up or back a week.
We have very high expectations of my summer research students. Among other
things, we expect my students to begin their summer
research during
spring semester and continue their summer
research into fall
semester (and sometimes beyond). By applying for summer research you
are agreeing to meet these expectations if we take you on as a research
student. You are unlikely to receive explicit credit or compensation
for work in the spring and fall.
As some students from the past may have reported, we expect our students to be self-reliant. While we do our best to be around, we expect you to be able to do many things on your own or with a small group.
During the summer, you are expected to work full-time on the project (40-50 hours per week for ten weeks). This work will include scheduled daily group meetings.
the state of the artin whatever project you've decided to undertake. You should prepare a short survey paper. On the first day of the second week, you will give a public presentation of your work.
Applicants should fill out the divisional summer research application,
which is available from the science division office and at
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/~rebelsky/Department/Sci_Div_Summer_2009_Res_App.pdf and
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/~rebelsky/Department/Sci_Div_Summer_2009_Res_App.doc.
In addition, applicants must prepare responses to
the Glimmer application form, available at
http://www.cs.grinnell.edu/~rebelsky/Department/glimmer-app-2009.pdf.
Applicants should check with Professor Kuiper to see if she wants additional materials.
Finally, applicants must meet with Professor Rebelsky and and with Professor Kuiper (separately) for a fifteen minute interview with each.
