CPSC 035: Slack Guide

This page details how Slack will be used in Data Structures and Algorithms in Fall 2020.

About Slack

Slack is a free-to-use chat service for establishing closed collaboration groups. In this way, it is similar to other chat services such as Discord. When you join a Slack organization (such as the CS35 Slack organization), you gain access to several chat channels as well as the ability to send direct messages to other organization members.

Joining Slack

By the beginning of the semester, you will receive an invitation in your Swarthmore e-mail inbox to join the Fall 2020 CS35 Slack organization. If you haven’t received this e-mail, please contact one of the course instructors. You can either use Slack within your web browser or download a desktop client.

Using Slack

A Slack channel is a place to post messages on a particular topic. You can view posts in the channel by clicking ont he channel name in the sidebar. You can post in the channel by typing your message at the bottom of the window or react to other messages by hovering over the message clicking the emoji icon. The CS35 Slack organization gives you access to the following channels:

• #course-discussion: This channel will be used for discussion about the course. This can include questions about material (that conform to the Academic Integrity Policy), administrative questions, or other course business (like asking if one of your classmates would like to switch lab sections with you).
• #chat: This channel is used for off-topic discussion and social conversations. You’re welcome to chat about whatever you like.
• #help: This channel is used during office hours and ninja sessions to ask for help. The course staff will post here to announce when help sessions start and end. Students should only post “raised hand” emojis here to ask for help.
• #lab-X: There are six of these channels representing labs A through F. You will only see the channel for the lab in which you are enrolled. If you don’t see your lab channel (or if you see the wrong one), please contact your instructor to get into the correct channel. Like #help, this channel is used for questions during lab and students should only post “raised hand” emojis to ask for help. These channels are separate because some labs overlap with others.

Asking for Help on Slack

If you need help with your lab assignment or have questions about the course material, please make sure to reach out to us! You can get help during lab using the appropriate #lab-X channel or during a ninja session or office hours using the #help channel. We will post in those channels when we are available to help.

To ask for help in the #help and #lab-X channels, simply post a “raised hand” emoji. One way to do this is simply to type :raised_hand: into the chat. Partway through typing, you will be presented with a dialog box to select an emoji. You can either select the emoji by clicking or type its full name and press enter.

After you have posted the emoji, a member of the course staff will send you a direct message to offer help. From there, you can set up a video call or just chat through Slack (depending on what works best for you). The course staff will add the :eyes emoji while helping you and a :heavy_check_mark: when you’re finished talking. If you are waiting for help, you can keep an eye out for this in order to figure out your place in line.

Accessibility in Slack

The course staff is committed to making all course material accessible to you. To access Slack’s accessibility settings, start by clicking on the workspace name “CS35-F20” at the top of the navigation pane on a laptop or desktop. Choose the “Preferences” option from the menu and then choose “Accessibility” from the navigation bar on the left.

Slack’s accessibility options include

• Content magnification (“zoom”): This allows you to enlarge content shown in Slack.
• Animation: Please uncheck this box if you are sensitive to animated images.
• Keyboard: This section permits you to use non-mouse navigation in some places in Slack.

If you need any assistance accessing Slack or other course materials, please make sure to contact your course instructors or to reach out to the Office of Student Disability Services as described on the Policies page.

Your Conduct in Slack

The CS35 Slack workspace is accessed by a wide variety of people all working in different environments and timezones. We ask that you be respectful of the staff as well as your fellow students. We expect you to follow these general rules:

• Do not use Slack to harass faculty, staff, or other students.
• Do not spam any channels or direct messages with garbage. Try to make posts in academic channels concise.
• Follow channel guidelines. Idle conversations belong in #chat, for instance, and not in #course-discussion.