IAP Independent Activities Period
overview participate organize offerings calendar  
for-credit subjects non-credit activities by category non-credit activities by sponsor non-credit activities by date

IAP 2008 Subjects

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

6.090
Special Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Building Programming Experience in Python: A Lead-In to 6.01
Leslie Kaelbling
Mon-Fri, Jan 22-25, 28-1, 02-03:30pm, 32-044

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
No listeners
Prereq: Permission of instructor
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

Intended for students with some elementary programming background (e.g., at the level of IAP 6.189, but in any programming language), and who feel they would benefit from additional practice in program design, implementation, and debugging. The course is programming-intensive, conducted primarily in the form of supervised programming labs with a few lectures.
Prior to enrolling, students must submit the self-diagnostic test at
http://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.01/spring08/diagnostic/test.html
Web: http://web.mit.edu/6.090/www/
Contact: Waseem Daher, 6.090@mit.edu

6.091
Special Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Hands-On Introduction to EE Lab Skills
Gim Hom
Mon Jan 14, Wed Jan 16, Tue Jan 22, Thu Jan 24, 03-04:30pm, 34-302, lab in 38-601

Selection by departmental lottery. Do not pre-register on WebSIS.
Enter lottery by: 07-Dec-2007
Limited to 45 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: None
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

See website for lab times.

Introduction to basic electrical engineering concepts, components and laboratory techniques, covering resistors, capacitors, inductors, analog integrated circuits, power supplies and digital circuits. Five lab exercises with heavy emphasis on hands-on experience constructing projects using multi-meters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers and other tools. Geared to freshmen and non-Course VI majors.

To register for lottery, please email gim at mit.edu.

Day 1: Intro to Safety; Electronic Components and Theory
Day 2: Use of Measurement Equipment: Multi-Meters & Oscilloscopes; Construction & Debugging of Simple Electronic Circuits
Day 3: Integrated Circuits: Timers, voltage Regulators, Digital ICs & Op Amps
Day 4: Digital Circuits
Day 5: Video, AD & DA conversion, motors
Web: http://mit.edu/6.091
Contact: Gim Hom, g i m@mit.edu

6.092
Special Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Introduction to Software Engineering in Java: CLASS IS FULL
Evan Jones, Olivier Koch
Tue, Thu, Jan 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31, 12-02:00pm, 2-135, 2-136

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 60 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: No prior Java programming experience preferred
Level: U 3 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

An introduction to software engineering, using the Java programming language. Covers concepts useful to 6.005. The focus is on developing high quality, working software that solves real problems. Students will learn the fundamentals of Java, and how to use 3rd party libraries to get more done with less work. The class is designed for students with some programming experience, but if you have none and are motivated you will do fine. Students who have taken 6.170 or 6.005 should not take this course. One hour of lecture and one hour of assisted lab work. Short labs assigned with each lecture.

Bring charged laptops with Java to class. Email us if you don't have a laptop and one will be provided.
Web: http://people.csail.mit.edu/evanj/java/
Contact: Evan Jones, evanj@mit.edu

6.094
Special Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Introduction to MATLAB
Sourav Dey, Danilo Scepanovic
Tue Jan 22 thru Fri Jan 25, 10am-02:00pm, 32-141

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 40 participants.
Listeners allowed, space permitting
Prereq: ability to program in any language; 18.03; linear algebra &
Level: U 3 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

Basic undergraduate subjects not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult Department to learn of offerings for a particular term. Registration by permission of instructor.
An aggressively gentle introduction to MATLAB, to give students fluency, including popular toolboxes. Interactive lectures with computers running MATLAB for each student. Problem-based MATLAB assignments. To pass, a student must complete all assignments. Students are encouraged to bring their own laptops with MATLAB installed; for those without, laptops will be provided.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/6.094/www
Contact: Sourav Dey, sdey@mit.edu

6.095
Special Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Humanoid Robotics Competition
Russ Tedrake
Mon-Fri, Jan 7-11, 14-18, 22-25, 28-1, 01-05:00pm, 36-112, Final 1/30, 5-9pm, 37-212

Selection by departmental lottery. Do not pre-register on WebSIS.
Enter lottery by: 03-Dec-2007
Limited to 12 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: C/C++ or other programming experience
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

Each team of two students is given its own partially assembled robot. The goal is to complete the assembly by connecting and mounting the hardware on the robot and to program it for competition. In the spirit of the Robo-One competition in Japan, most of IAP will be spent designing control systems for tasks like walking, climbing stairs, running and fighting. The robots are not autonomous; teams will be provided with wireless controllers to command their robots. The challenge is to produce the fastest running gaits and the deadliest fighting motions to compete against the other robots at a deathmatch. Presentations provide brief reviews of the state of the art in humanoid robot control techniques, much like those of Honda's Asimo.

Students form their own teams. Please have no other major IAP commitments.
Web: http://courses.csail.mit.edu/6.095
Contact: Olivier Chatot, robo-one@mit.edu

6.096
Special Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Lottery is Closed! Introduction to C++
Viktor Simjanoski, Rostislav Rumenov, Utkarsh Sinha
Mon-Fri, Jan 14-18, 22-25, 04-06:00pm, 4-145

Selection by departmental lottery. Do not pre-register on WebSIS.
Enter lottery by: 18-Dec-2007
Limited to 50 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: No prior C++ programming experience
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

For undergraduate and graduate students in Science, Social Sciences and Engineering programs who need to learn fundamental programming skills quickly but not in great depth. Ideal for UROPs or summer jobs requiring C++. NOT a class for experienced programmers in C++! Student with NO programming background are welcome.

Topics include functions, classes, objects, and simple algorithms for common tasks. Each session will be two hours, one hour of lecture followed by one hour of lab work. We will assign three problems per lecture to be completed in lab or at home, which will lead to a final project. No final exam. Students are encouraged to bring their own laptops, but contact us if you don't have one.

Co-sponsored by Tau Beta Pi.
Contact: Viktor Simjanoski, tbp-cpp@mit.edu

6.097
Special Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Review of Signals and Systems
Shirin Farrahi, Vincent Tan
Mon, Wed, Fri, Jan 14, 16, 18, 23, 25, 28, 30, 1, 05-07:00pm, 2-147

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 30 participants.
Listeners allowed, space permitting
Prereq: 6.003
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

A review of 6.003 Signals and Systems in preparation for 6.011 and course 6 TQE. A primer for 6.011 focusing on several key concepts including LTI systems, convolution, CT and DT Fourier series & transforms, filtering, sampling, modulation, Laplace & z-transforms, and feedback. Four problem sets spread over three weeks.

Listeners welcome!
Please email tbp-linear-systems@mit.edu if questions.
Cosponsored by Tau Beta Pi.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mespence/6.097/
Contact: Shirin Farrahi, tbp-linear-systems@mit.edu

6.098
Special Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Introduction to Circuit Analysis
Philip Godoy, Matthew Spencer
Mon-Fri, Jan 14-18, 22-25, 01-03:00pm, 34-303

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 30 participants.
Listeners allowed, space permitting
Prereq: 8.02, 18.03 or equivalents
Level: U 3 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

Brief overview of 6.002 intended for students who wish to review the course or get a head start on it. Fundamentals of the lumped circuit abstraction. Resistive elements and networks; independent and dependent sources; switches and MOS devices; digital abstraction; amplifiers; and energy storage elements. Dynamics of first- and second-order networks; design in the time and frequency domains; analog and digital circuits and applications.
Four required homework assignments.
Web: http://www.mit.edu/~godoy/tbpcircuits.html
Contact: Philip Godoy, tbp-circuits@mit.edu

6.099
Special Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Street-Fighting Mathematics
Sanjoy Mahajan
Mon, Wed, Fri, Jan 7, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 23, 25, 28, 30, 1, 01-02:00pm, 4-231

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 57 participants.
Listeners allowed, space permitting
Prereq: 18.01/equivalent; instructor permission NOT required
Level: U 3 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

Basic undergraduate subjects not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult department to learn of offerings for a particular term. Registration by permission of instructor.
The art of guessing results and solving problems without doing a proof or an exact calculation. Techniques include extreme-cases reasoning, dimensional analysis, successive approximation, discretization, generalization, and pictorial analysis. Application to mental calculation, solid geometry, musical intervals, logarithms, integration, infinite series, solitaire, and differential equations. (No epsilons or deltas are harmed by taking this course.)

Same subjects as 18.098.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/18.098/www/
Contact: Sanjoy Mahajan, sanjoy@mit.edu

6.185
Special Laboratory Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
"6.270 Autonomous Robot Design Competition"
6.270 Organizers, Bin Ni
Mon Jan 7, 10-11:00am, 34-101, Final Comp 1/31, 26-`100, 6

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 180 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: Permission of instructor readiness to work hard and have fun
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   
Fee: 150.00 for each team to reserve place and defray cost of kit

Groups of two or three design, build, and program robots (made of LEGO and various sensors) for the annual final contest at the end of IAP. This student-taught class is open only to MIT students; freshmen are strongly encouraged to participate. No experience is necessary; you'll learn how to play with LEGO, basic programming and soldering. It's time (and fun) intensive, running from the start of IAP, at ludicrous speed to the exciting public final competition at the end. Participants can't have other major time commitments. Class has six edps.

Important: Register at our website as well as on-line by
December 14th.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/6.270/www/
Contact: 6.270 Organizers, 6.270-organizers@mit.edu

6.186
Special Laboratory Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
MASLab - Mobile Autonomous Systems Laboratory:
Prof. Leslie Kaelbling
Mon Jan 7, 10am-12:00pm, 32-141, Final Competition 2/1, 26-100

Selection by departmental lottery. Do not pre-register on WebSIS.
Enter lottery by: 28-Oct-2007
Limited to 60 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: Permission of instructor Programming Experience
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   
Fee: 200.00 for team fee to defray the cost of materials

MASLab/6.186 is an advanced autonomous robotics contest emphasizing technical AI, vision, mapping, and navigation from a mounted camera, with few restrictions on materials, sensor, or actuators, enabling students to build robots very creatively. Teams should have 3-4 members, and be prepared to devote the bulk of IAP to creating their robot. The majority of the team should have basic programming experience. Friendly competition in 26-100 Feb. 1 will start with an Open House at 5 and contests at 5:30. 6 EDPs.
Web: http://maslab.lcs.mit.edu
Contact: Benjamin Charrow, maslab-2008-staff@mit.edu

6.187
Special Laboratory Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
6.370: The BattleCode Programming Competition
Michael Ernst, Amrik Kochhar, Oleg Kozhushnyan, Jasper Lin, Joel Stein, Yang Yang
Mon-Fri, Jan 7-11, 14-18, 04-05:00pm, 32-155, Final Competition: 2/1, Kresge

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Listeners allowed, space permitting
Prereq: Permission of instructor Programming Experience
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

6.370 is an artificial intelligence programming contest. Students will work in teams of 1-4, programming virtual robots to play BattleCode, a real-time strategy game. The competition will culminate in a live BattleCode tournament held publicly on Feb. 1. The top teams will receive cash prizes. 6 Engineering Design Points. Students must preregister both on WebSIS, for 6.187, AND on the BattleCode website by January 4. Only mandatory on-campus event is the final competition.
Web: http://battlecode.mit.edu/
Contact: Joel Stein, 6.370-chair@mit.edu

6.188
Special Laboratory Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
6.470 Web Programming Competition
Robert Miller
Mon-Fri, Jan 7-11, 14-18, 02-04:00pm, 32-155, Competition 1/30, 6pm, 6-120

Selection by departmental lottery. Do not pre-register on WebSIS.
Enter lottery by: 07-Dec-2007
Limited to 30 participants.
Listeners allowed, space permitting
Prereq: Permission of instructor some programming
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

What makes a rock star web programmer? HTML, DOM, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, PHP, JSON, and AJAX. 6.470 teaches all these and more, in-depth and hands-on. Lectures cover all the key topics and technologies. Teams of 1-3 compete to build database-backed web sites; the sites will be judged by a panel of experts, and winners announced at an awards ceremony and demo at the end of IAP. Beginners and experienced web programmers welcome, but previous programming experience recommended. 6 EDPs
Web: http://6.470.scripts.mit.edu/
Contact: Lydia Chilton, 6.470-chair@mit.edu

6.189
Special Laboratory Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
A Gentle Introduction to Programming Using Python
Mihir Kedia
Mon-Fri, Jan 7-11, 14-18, 01:30-04:30pm, 32-044

Selection by departmental lottery. Do not pre-register on WebSIS.
Enter lottery by: 15-Dec-2007
Limited to 30 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: Permission of instructor little or no programming experience
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

Laboratory subjects not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult department to learn offerings for a particular term.
This course will provide a gentle introduction to programming using Python for highly motivated students with little or no prior experience in programming computers. The course will focus on planning and organizing programs, as well as the grammar of the Python programming language. Lectures will be interactive featuring in-class exercises with lots of support from the course staff. Lectures will be reinforced through required problem sets featuring programming exercises and a graded quiz at the end of the course. (IAP 6.090 is a natural follow-on to this subject.)
Web: http://www.mit.edu/~mihirk/6.189/
Contact: Mihir Kedia, 6.189-staff@mit.edu

6.197
Special Laboratory Subjects in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Cancelled! Software Engineering Project
Daniel Jackson
Schedule: TBD
Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
No listeners
Prereq: 6.005
Level: U 3 units Standard A - F Grading Can be repeated for credit   

Laboratory subjects not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult department to learn offerings for a particular term. Registration by permission of instructor.
This subject is cancelled since students in the old curriculum may substitute 6.005 for 6.170 without any additional work.

Software engineering project intended for students who have taken 6.005 and want to receive 6.170-equivalent credit. Students will work in teams of 3-4 students on a small software development, involving specification, design, implementation and testing. No official class times; teams will meet weekly with mentors.
Web: http://stellar.mit.edu/S/course/6/fa07/6.005
Contact: Daniel Jackson, dnj@csail.mit.edu

6.911
Special Studies in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Transcribing Prosodic Structure of Spoken Utterances with ToBI
Stefanie Shattuck-Hufnagel, Nanette Veilleux, Alejna Brugos
Tue, Thu, Jan 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31, 11am-01:00pm, 32-044

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 30 participants.
Listeners allowed, space permitting
Prereq: Permission of instructor Linguistics, phonology, phonetics, cognitive psychology, spe
Level: U 3 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

Training in the ToBI system (for 'To'nes and 'B'reak 'I'ndices) to transcribe the prosodic structure of spoken utterances in American English. 8 sessions will combine new ToBI tutorial presentation with extensive practice and discussion; opportunities to practice labelling outside of class. Participants are encouraged to submit sample utterances of particular interest to them, for general discussion. Class is appropriate for undergrad or grad students with background in linguistics (phonology or phonetics), cognitive psychology (psycholinguistics), speech acoustics or music, who wish to learn about the prosody of speech, i.e. the intonation, rhythm, grouping and prominence patterns of spoken utterances, prosodic differences that signal meaning & phonetic implementation.
Web: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Electrical-Engineering-and-Computer-Science/6-911January--IAP--2006/CourseHome/
Contact: Stefanie Shattuck-Hufnagel, stef@speech.mit.edu

6.912
Special Studies in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Review of Probabilistic Systems Analysis
Urs Niesen
Mon-Wed, Fri, Jan 22-23, 25, 28, 30, 1, 10-11:30am, 36-153

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 30 participants.
Listeners allowed, space permitting
Prereq: Permission of instructor 18.02 or equivalent
Level: U 3 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

A review of 6.041/6.431 (Probabilistic Systems Analysis and Applied Probability) in preparation for 6.011 and EECS TQE.
This course will review key concepts of probability theory.
Two required problem sets, no final exam.

Cosponsored by Tau Beta Pi.
Contact: Urs Niesen, tbp-prob@mit.edu

6.913
Special Studies in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Linear Algebra and Differential Equations Review for Intermediate/Advanced Classes
Pavitra Krishnaswamy, Yi-Chieh Wu
Mon-Thu, Jan 14-17, 22-24, 28-30, 10am-12:00pm, 36-112

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 30 participants.
Listeners allowed, space permitting
Prereq: Permission of instructor 18.03 and 18.06, or equivalents
Level: U 6 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

A broad-based review of 18.03 (Differential Equations) and 18.06 (Linear Algebra) in preparation for higher-level math-intensive courses. Students should be familiar with the basic concepts of derivatives, integrals, vector spaces, and matrices. The course will cover matrix decomposition, solving ODE's, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, among other topics. There will be four required problem sets taking two to three hours each.

Cosponsored by Tau Beta Pi.
Contact: Pavitra Krishnaswamy, tbp-math@mit.edu

6.914
Special Studies in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Programming in Processing: Java-Based Art
Mish Madsen
Tue, Thu, Jan 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31, 07-09:00pm, 56-191

Pre-register on WebSIS and attend first class.
Limited to 15 participants.
No listeners
Prereq: Permission of instructor -- no programming experience expected
Level: U 3 units Graded P/D/F Can be repeated for credit   

Advanced undergraduate subjects not offered in the regular curriculum. Consult Department to learn of offerings for a particular term. Registration by permission of instructor.
Learn how to program in Processing, an MIT-developed JAVA-based language that is heavily graphics-oriented and ideal for user interface design or interactive digital art. Covers the basics of object-oriented programming: variables, if statements, for loops, arrays, methods, and classes. The basics of design in Processing: looping, text, shapes, lines, color, and mouse input. May also cover keyboard input, file I/O, 3D graphics, and/or mathematical visualizations. There will be seven short homework assignments.

Bring a charged laptop to class; if you don't have one, please contact the instructor for assistance.
Web: http://web.mit.edu/mish/processing/
Contact: Mish Madsen, mish@mit.edu


MIT  
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Home | Overview | Participate | Organize | Offerings | Calendar | Search
Comments and questions to: iap-www@mit.edu Academic Resource Center, Room 7-104, 617-253-1668
Last update: 30 September 2004