Rules of Engagement
- Devote your best effort to each and every problem before you. Honestly report your efforts. Admit to false paths.
- Do NOT refer to outside sources until after you have completed an exercise completely. No Google, no books, no nothing. The obvious exception to this rule is a problem which requires you to obtain more data.
- If you have seen a problem before, admit it immediately. For a homework assignment, you can be given an alternative. For an in-class assignment, you can learn a tremendous amount by helping to teach the problem and watching how others struggle with it.
- Once you think you have solved a problem in a group situation, simply state as much. Do not reveal or even hint at your solution right away. Give others the opportunity to wrestle with the problem. This is both a courtesy and an opportunity to witness alternatives to your own approaches.
- Immediately and vociferously shut up anyone attempting to spoil your problem solving experience by prematurely revealing a solution.