"Introduction to Agricultural Informatics Course" by Ankita Raturi, Purdue University is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
A Course in Progress: this course evolves with every annual offering. Relevant changes to this course will be posted to this Github repository. New materials will be shared here each week. Major updates will be announced in class and/or via email/Slack.
We will overview current and emerging digital technologies with applications in agriculture, environment, and food systems. This course is a gentle introduction computing concepts to students across the College of Agriculture and beyond. Prospective students are expected to have a minimal computing and/or programming background, and those with no programming background should contact the instructor for guidance. Through 2-week modules involving hands-on course activities, you will incrementally learn user-centered technology design skills, computational thinking skills to evaluate, design, conceptualize, and implement informatics solutions to data-driven challenges. You will gain programming skills in current data science and web development technology stacks (Python, HTML, CSS, SQL, Django), and design an informatics solution to problem in their own area of interest. This course supports professional development for students in pursuit of careers in digital product design or data-driven research.
The audience for this course is undergraduate and graduate students looking to gain experience with digital technologies. This course is not just for students who eventually want to become domain-specific data scientists or software developers but is meant to provide digital novices with a gentle on-ramp to learn digital agriculture skills so that they can better understand how technology works and is built. By the end of this course, students should have both the vocabulary and experience to be able to identify more advance courses across the university for in-depth learning.
This course has been taken by students interested in digital agriculture and data science related minors and certificate programs. It can also be substituted to meet meet data, technology or elective requirements common to current programs.
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate core skills in user-centered technology design, exploratory data analysis, and programming for the web.
- Formulate a data science problem and implement a data science solution through collecting, integrating, analyzing, and synthesizing publicly available data.
- Critique and experiment with informatics approaches to solving data-driven challenges in disciplines related agriculture, environment, and food systems
- Design and develop a web application through application of new knowledge on data modeling, user interface design, and programming.
- Design and conceptualize a novel informatics solution, applying design thinking and computational skills, to solve an open problem related to agriculture, environment, and food systems.
Who are we and how are we here to support your learning?
Ankita Raturi is an asst. professor in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and is the primary instructor of this course. She has designed this course, will deliver lectures, and is available for technical and general support for any aspect of the course.
Steven Doyle is the Teaching Assistant (TA) for this course. He will lead all labs, grade all submitted materials, and will be available in-person for technical support, troubleshooting for code, and discussion of individual assignment grades.
Thirawat "Tam" Bureetees is providing course content support. He is working with Ankita to update labs and technical content and will be available online if you are looking for specific resources. He will be most active in the FORUM, so if you need help finding a resource, post on Github in Q&A.
| Call me | slack | github | ask me about | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankita (she/her) | @ankita | @sudokita | ankita@purdue.edu | anything re: course! |
| Steve (he/his) | @Steven Doyle | @StevenDoylePurdue | doyle110@purdue.edu | labs & grades |
| Tam (he/his) | @Tam Bureetes | @tame0001 | N/A | finding resources |
Lectures: ABE 1164. Tue & Thurs @ 11.30-12.20pm
Labs: ABE 2098. Thursdays, 1.30pm - 3.20pm
Other:
- Course credit hours: 3
- CRN: 25712 (Lecture), 25713 (Lab)
- Instructional Modality: Face-to-Face
GET MATERIALS: This GITHUB repository will contain all course module content, including lectures, labs, and other materials** This Github repository will contain links to all slides, labs, etc. I will release a new module every two weeks.
SUBMIT WORK & GET GRADES: Use BRIGHTSPACE to submit all labs, quizzes, and projects. You can view all submission deadlines, view rubrics, and get your grades via Brightspace.
COURSE CHAT Join the Slack Channel. For quick, everyday discussion, use the course slack channel (#fall2023) to chat with the instructors and students.
COURSE DISCUSSION & FEEDBACK We're going to try out the Github discussion forum feature for more public/open discussion regarding the course. This forum is specific to our course only, but will be publicly visible for past and future students.
- General: For discussion on general topics related to ag informatics, sharing resources with the community, and other banter, use the General forum section.
- Q&A: Looking for a specific resource or help with a bug? Post in the Q&A section.
- Ideas: Have an idea for future improvements to the course? Post in the Ideas section.
- Show & Tell: Did something cool you'd like to share with us? Post in the Show & Tell section.
MEET for 1-1 SUPPORT You can request office hour appointments, i.e., a consultation for support with the instructor, Ankita, and the TA, Steve.
- Want to meet for course support? Send us a Slack direct message for quick questions and to request meeting appointments. In case we can't meet in person, we will use Zoom for a video-call meeting. We will try to provide in-person appointments within 2 working days of your request. We aim to respond to slack messages in approx 1 working day and provide meetings within 2 working days.
- Grades, personal matters, and long/complex communication? Use email, for grades, personal matters, and other matters influenced by FERPA policies. If in doubt, contact us via email/in-person. Put [ASM 591 AGINF] in the email "SUBJECT" for better indexing. Reserve use of email for long and/or complex communications. We aim to respond to emails in less than 3 working days.
This course is divided into seven 2 week modules. Each module consists of 4 lectures, 1 lab assignment that you work on over 2 lab sessions, and 1 quiz that you do online. As the course progresses, you can click on each module below to view materials. Specific due dates are all on Brightspace. Submissions are required via Brightspace
| Module | Weeks | What's due? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 - Web Design & Dev | Week 1 & 2 | Quiz 1 |
| 2 - Data Exploration | Week 3 & 4 | Quiz 2, Submit Lab 1 |
| 3 - Web Applications | Week 5 & 6 | Quiz 3, Submit Lab 2, Submit Project Part 1 |
| 4 - Data Management | Week 7 & 8 | Quiz 4, Submit Lab 3 |
| 5 - User Interfaces | Week 9 & 10 | Quiz 5, Submit Lab 4, Submit Project Part 2 |
| 6 - Geometric Processing | Week 11 & 12 | Quiz 6, Submit Lab 5 |
| 7 - Future of Ag Tech | Week 13 & 14 | Quiz 7, Submit Lab 6 |
| 8 - Wrap Up | Week 15 & 16 | Submit Lab 7, Present + Submit Project Part 3 |
Late Policy: You can have three "late days" where you submit work one weekday late with no questions asked. You can use these for quizzes, labs, and projects part 1 & 2. After that, you will be penalized 5% per day late. The moment you have any issues, please contact me, and we can discuss options. See attendance policy for details
| Assessment | Description | Due Dates | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | Available on Brightspace. Quizzes are multiple choice/short answer, and will be auto graded. These are intended to serve as "participation" checks, and hopefully help you evaluate how you're coping with the course. | Due Monday @ 11.59pm in Week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 | 5% total, (your lowest score is dropped) |
| Labs | Available in each module on Github. Each lab is due at the start of the next 2 week module. Each lab will come with submission instructions, but I will generally expect a timestamp of no later than 5pm the day it is due. There will be a 5 hour no-penalty grace period in case you have technical difficulties with submission. | Due Monday @ 11.59pm in Week 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 | 5% x 5 labs, Lab 4 & 5 are 10% |
| Project Part 1 | Concept motivation: select 3 papers and write a combined reflection on an agricultural informatics problem | Due Week 6, Friday @ 11.59pm | 5% |
| Project Part 2 | Concept proposal: a short proposal of a research/development concept | Due Week 10, Friday @ 11.59pm | 15% |
| Project Part 3.1 | Concept presentation of your proposed approach/solution in class during lecture and lab time. | Week 15/16: in class + lab presentation | 10% |
| Project Part 3.2 | Concept write-up to be submitted online | Due Week 16, Monday @ 11.59pm | 20% |
This is the third offering of this "special topics" course, which means components are actively under development and there may be bugs! I would love to hear about your experience, get feedback on the course materials, and generally learn more about where and how this course fails/succeeds to meet your needs. No need to wait till the end!
Reporting issues and ideas in Github: Found a bug in the code, slides, syllabus, or other materials? Submit an "issue" to this repository! Have a suggestion for how to improve this course? Submit a discussion "idea". Alternatively, send a message slack or come chat.
Course Evaluation: We have an external evaluator who will reach out to your during the course if you are interested in improving contributing to our research on how to make this course better. I also encourage you to submit the standard course evaluation form as well. This will be very helpful in helping refine and revise this course to deliver a better student experience!
In this class, grades reflect the sum of your achievement of learning outcomes throughout the semester. You will accumulate points as described in the assignments portion above, with each assignment graded according to a rubric. At the end of the semester, final grades will be calculated by adding the total points earned and translating those numbers into grades based on the following percentage brackets:
| Letter | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A+ | 97 and above |
| A | 94 to 96.99 |
| A- | 90 to 93.99 |
| B+ | 87 to 89.99 |
| B | 84.00 to 86.99 |
| B- | 80.00 to 83.99 |
| C+ | 77.00 to 79.99 |
| C | 74.00 to 76.99 |
| C- | 70.00 to 73.99 |
| D+ | 67.00 to 69.99 |
| D | 64.00 to 66.99 |
| D- | 60.00 to 63.99 |
| F | 59.00 and below |
Academic integrity is one of the highest values that Purdue University holds. Individuals are encouraged to alert university officials to potential breaches of this value by either emailing integrity@purdue.edu or by calling 765-494-8778. While information may be submitted anonymously, the more information is submitted the greater the opportunity for the university to investigate the concern. More details are available on our course Brightspace under University Policies and Statements.
Make sure your lab Github repositories are "private" for the duration of the course, to prevent others from simply copying your code. I trust that you will work independently, and will evaluate your work based on your "commit" history (i.e., you should NOT just commit the ENTIRE lab 5 minutes before the deadline). In general, writing code with the help of the internet is permissible, i.e., you can ask questions on Stack Overflow, discuss the problems with each other on Slack. Ultimately, I have a policy in which I trust that you are doing the right thing, unless I see evidence to the contrary.
Purdue University strives to make learning experiences accessible to all participants. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, you are welcome to let me know so that we can discuss options. You are also encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center at: drc@purdue.edu or by phone at 765-494-1247. Learn more at at the DRC website.
This course follows the University Academic Regulations regarding class attendance, which state that students are expected to be present for every meeting of the classes in which they are enrolled. I will not take attendance. We may sometimes meet remotely if (a) we have a guest speaker that is presenting virtually or (b) in case of instructor inability to provide in-person lecture due to illness, travel, or personal conflicts. You can likewise request remote attendance of a lecture, and if possible, we will make accommodations. When conflicts or absences can be anticipated, such as for many University-sponsored activities and religious observations, you should inform me of the situation as far in advance as possible. For unanticipated or emergency absences when advance notification to is not possible, contact me as soon as possible by email or phone. For absences that do not fall under excused absence regulations (see below), this course follows the following procedures:
- Do not come to class if you are feeling ill, but DO email me at ankita@purdue.edu, with the subject line: "Class absence". I do not need details about your symptoms. Just let me know you are feeling ill and cannot come to class. If it is an emergency situation, please follow the University regulations on emergent medical care (see below).
- Unless it falls under the University excused absence regulations (see below), any work due should be submitted on time via our course Brightspace.
- If that day's class involves assessed work such as a presentation, you and I will plan if and how you can make up the work, following the assignment guidelines. This plan must be done before the next class period, so again, email me immediately when you know that you will miss class.
- The most important consideration in any absence is how it will affect your achievement of the assignment objectives and the course learning outcomes.
For cases that fall under excused absence regulations, you or your representative should contact or go to the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS) to complete appropriate forms for instructor notification. Under academic regulations, excused absences may be granted by ODOS for cases of grief/bereavement, military service, jury duty, parenting leave, or emergent medical care. The processes are detailed, so plan ahead.
That said, life is complicated, and you can contact me if you have any challenges/concerns.
Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Students for support. There is no appointment needed and Student Support Services is available to serve students 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances beyond the instructor's control. Relevant changes to this course will be posted onto the course website or can be obtained by contacting the instructors or TAs via email or phone. You are expected to read your @purdue.edu email on a frequent basis.
A link to Purdue’s Information on Emergency Preparation and Planning is located on our Brightspace under “University Policies and Statements.” This website covers topics such as Severe Weather Guidance, Emergency Plans, and a place to sign up for the Emergency Warning Notification System. I encourage you to download and review the Emergency Preparedness for Classrooms document.
The first day of class, I will review the Emergency Preparedness plan for our specific classroom, following Purdue’s required Emergency Preparedness Briefing. Please make note of items like:
- The location to where we will proceed after evacuating the building if we hear a fire alarm.
- The location of our Shelter in Place in the event of a tornado warning.
- The location of our Shelter in Place in the event of an active threat such as a shooting.
If you find yourself beginning to feel some stress, anxiety and/or feeling slightly overwhelmed, try WellTrack. Sign in and find information and tools at your fingertips, available to you at any time.
If you need support and information about options and resources, please contact or see the Office of the Dean of Students. Call 765-494-1747. Hours of operation are M-F, 8 am-5pm.
If you find yourself struggling to find a healthy balance between academics, social life, stress, etc. sign up for free one-on-one virtual or in-person sessions with a Purdue Wellness Coach at RecWell. Student coaches can help you navigate through barriers and challenges toward your goals throughout the semester. Sign up is completely free and can be done on BoilerConnect.
If you’re struggling and need mental health services: Purdue University is committed to advancing the mental health and well-being of its students. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and/or in need of mental health support, services are available. For help, such individuals should contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at 765-494-6995 during and after hours, on weekends and holidays, or by going to the CAPS office on the second floor of the Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH) during business hours. The CAPS website also offers resources specific to situations such as COVID-19.
Purdue University is committed to maintaining a community that recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among its members; and encourages each individual to strive to reach his or her potential. In pursuit of its goal of academic excellence, the University seeks to develop and nurture diversity. The University believes that diversity among its many members strengthens the institution, stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches campus life. A hyperlink to Purdue’s full Nondiscrimination Policy Statement is included in our course Brightspace under University Policies and Statements.
Some of the generic statements and links to further information are provided via the Purdue Syllabus Template. We have tweaked them for applicability to this course, in some cases, adding course-specific language.