Dear STA 447/2006 students,				(March 18, 2020)

This is a follow-up to my previous announcements of March 14 and 15:
     http://probability.ca/sta447/CourseChanges.txt
     http://probability.ca/sta447/midterm2info.txt

First of all, the class vote was a strong YES (117 to 18, i.e. 87% Yes).
So, we will proceed with the plan to cancel the final exam, and base the
course grade on just the two midterms.  Thanks to all of you who voted.
My sincere apologies to those of you who voted no; hopefully everything
will work out okay and you will be sufficiently satisfied in the end.

More importantly, MIDTERM #2 is tomorrow (Thursday) evening, from 6:00 to
9:00 PM, and will be held ONLINE on Quercus (under the "Quizzes" tab).

Here is some final information about it:

 * The midterm will be OPEN-BOOK, i.e. you can consult your textbook and
notes during the test.  However, it must be done INDIVIDUALLY -- you are
*NOT ALLOWED* to communicate with anyone at all (besides the instructor or
TA) in any way during the test.  ALL modes of communication with others
are STRICTLY FORBIDDEN, including in-person, phone, text, chat, e-mail,
discussion board, etc.  Any such communication would SERIOUSLY VIOLATE the
university's Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters.

 * On the online test, you can choose one of THREE different ways to input
your answers.  You can EITHER:

  (a) TYPE YOUR ANSWERS directly into Quercus's text boxes, in Questions
1-8, using their "Rich Text Editor".  You can type plain text, or use the
buttons at the top to make subscripts, superscripts, embed images, etc.
If you wish, you can even click on the "squareroot of x" icon to switch
into "Math Mode", and then type equations with special math symbols.  In
fact, from Math Mode you can even switch to "Advanced" and then use
LaTeX-style commands, too.  There is also an "HTML Editor" option if you
wish to use HTML syntax.  In short, there are lots of options available
for typing into the text boxes.  But just plain text is okay too.  It's
your choice, as long as you make your answers as CLEAR as possible.

  OR (b) Create your answer to each question in a SEPARATE FILE, and then
UPLOAD that file instead, in Questions 9-16 (where the Question 9 upload
is for the solution to Midterm Q1, etc).  (Any standard file format is
okay: pdf, jpeg, png, doc, etc.  And, these questions will say they are
worth "0 points", but don't worry -- they still count just the same as if
you had entered your solution in the corresponding textbox.)

  OR (c) Create ALL of your answers in a SINGLE FILE, and then UPLOAD that
file all at once in Question 17 instead.  (But if you do this, then please
make SURE you upload your file before 9:00, so it isn't all lost.)

Whichever way you choose, please do your best to make everything as CLEAR
as possible under the circumstances, so that the grader can clearly
understand what you are trying to say.

(Note that some questions have multiple parts a/b/etc; those multiple
parts are all grouped together to be answered in the same box.)

 * Remember that you can PRACTICE the Quercus interface using the "Pretend
Test" that I have already set up on Quercus (also under "Quizzes").

 * In addition, I have now uploaded MIDTERM #2 as an item in the Quercus
"Quizzes" tab, too!  It does not yet include the actual QUESTIONS, so you
cannot start working on the midterm yet.  But you can look at the
interface now, to see how it works and get familiar.  If it is not working
for you, or you have any questions, then please email me.

 * The midterm questions will be added by 6:00 PM on Thursday, as a pdf
file link near the beginning of the Quercus quiz MIDTERM #2.  If you have
any trouble viewing it then, then please email me right away.

 * During the test, if you have questions or problems then EMAIL me at
j.rosenthal@math.toronto.edu, and I will try to reply right away.  (Please
only email if it is IMPORTANT; for minor issues just use your judgement.)

 * In case any significant CORRECTIONS arise during the test (I hope not),
I will post ANNOUNCEMENTS to Quercus, so PLEASE WATCH FOR THOSE.

 * Despite all these changes, one thing remains the same: It is still very
important for you to EXPLAIN all of your solutions very clearly.

 * Once you have input all your solutions and are FINISHED the midterm,
click the "Submit Quiz" button at the bottom.  (Note: After you submit,
you might not be able to view your answers again until they are graded.
But we will still receive them, and will grade them as soon as we can.)

 * Hopefully the Quercus interface will work fine.  But just in case, if
the interface does not work for you, then as a LAST RESORT you can instead
EMAIL YOUR ANSWERS directly to:  ali.al.aradi@utoronto.ca

 * AFTER the midterm is over:  (1) I will post SOLUTIONS on the course web
page the next day.  (2) The midterm will be GRADED as soon as possible,
and the grades will be posted to Quercus.  (3) In a few days, I will send
a separate announcement about plans for the class's FINAL TWO WEEKS.

 * Also, a reminder that we are holding various ONLINE OFFICE HOURS this
week, on the Quercus "Bb Collaborate" page.  I will be online today (Wed)
from 2:10 to 4:00 -- I've never tried this before but I will do my best.
Plus the TAs have online office hours scheduled today at 10:00-12:00, and
tomorrow (Thursday) at 10:00-12:00 and 12:00-2:00, too.  Check them out!

 * On a different note, the online STUDENT COURSE EVALUATION period has
now opened.  So, please do provide course feedback for us -- thank you!

Thank you for your understanding, and GOOD LUCK to you all on the midterm,
and ALL BEST WISHES for the challenges of the coming weeks and months.

Yours sincerely, Professor Rosenthal