1. Install R and R Studio

Follow [these course notes] to download and install R and R Studio. There are specific settings and additional packages and settings that you will need to configure, so just a base installation of R and R Studio won’t be sufficient.

2. Join Discord & introduce yourself

Join our Discord channel. This is a student led support platform where student office hours will be held and personalized channels can be made. This is the defacto method of communication for this class.

  1. Download the Desktop app. You should not rely on remembering to log in using the web version. Chances are very high that you will miss out on important announcements and bonus activities. There also is a Discord phone app that you may want to consider.
  2. You are welcome to have any username you choose as long as it’s suitable for school.
  3. Post an introduction in the #introductions channel. Include the following:
    • major
    • Any pets (include pics!)
    • what fictional family would you like to belong to?
    • your biggest concern about the class


Tweet from Kara Woo saying Onboarding step 1: Find the slack channels where people post pet pictures

3. Connect to Poll Everywhere

Poll Everywhere is a web-based student response system. During class I will display an activity on-screen and you respond with their devices.

I have already registered you for Poll Everywhere by connecting it to Blackboard. Use your student email to log in and use the password reset link to create a new password. Let me know if you can’t get registered. You do not need to create more than one PollEverywhere account

Test out your connection by going to [this link] and answering a question.

Need additional support? Wildcat Computing Support link: https://www.csuchico.edu/wcs/polleverywhere.shtml

4. Buy the course packet

Chico Packet Pro is located above 230 Salem Street and the entrance is on the city parking lot side of the building. They accept cash, debit, credit, apple and android pay. Cost is $17

Check their website for their hours: https://www.chicopacketpro.com/. You can purchase online, but it will be shipped to you (which could take a week). You may want to consider walking in to purchase your packet.

This will come as a 3-hole punch packet of papers. If you do not have a binder to put it in and obtaining one is prohibitive please let me know. You need to be able to keep these papers together, and with you for every class.

5. Join Gradescope

6. Student hours preferences

Help me find the best time to hold student hours. This will be my time to dedicate to help you you all. These are your hours to get time with me 1:1, to ask additional questions, to get extra help, to just shoot the breeze and hang out.

Fill out this form to share with me your availability: https://forms.gle/v4anqiJLwB2WEBqX8

7. Start the first LearnR tutorial

Watch [this video] on how to work through and submit the LearnR tutorials.