Q.What is LaRC?
A.LaRC stands for "Laboratory for Recreational Computing".
Our purpose is:
- to provide students with practical experience in the creation of recreational software,
- to enhance the educational experience of undergraduates in ECECS at the University of Cincinnati by providing a place where students can integrate and apply knowledge from courses in the major,
- to foster a nontraditional educational environment where students participate in goal-oriented group learning activities,
- to bring Computer Science students together with students who are talented artists and musicians to form professional multi-talented software production teams, and
- to cultivate an exceptional group of students and help them to realize their full potential. Note: This group is not a professional group promoting entry into the Computer Entertainment Industry. This is strictly a hobbyist group, where good programming is taught.
Many students, who enter the majors of computer science / engineering, are drawn in by pop-culture movies and computer games. Because of this, they do not realize the amount of math and general science required to actually create neat programs that they use to entertain themselves on a day to day basis. And consequently, we find that computer science has poor retention of freshmen and sophomores. However, our motive for LaRC is to keep the sparks of excitement alive in students by providing these students with the tools and the knowledge for creating computer programs with graphics and music.
Q.How will the meetings be run?
A.Since this is a project oriented group, we will reserve time to
discuss ongoing project advancement, proposals for future projects,
and resources needed to be obtained for the benefit of particular
projects or LARC as a whole.
Instruction or Lecture will be welcome as long as it was scheduled
for that meeting. Lecturers can be students/professors relaying
experience or topics of interest relating to recreational computing.
Organizational affairs will be discussed and performed. Elections,
votes, induction of new members.
Demos will be set up when projects get completed during meeting times.
Q.How do projects get started and acknowledged by LaRC?
A.Projects will be proposed during a meeting. A small
presentation/proposal will be made to LaRC member body to recruit
participants. No participant may be formally part of more than one
project, however, this does not have to inhibit any help from members
of different projects.
LaRC executive board will provide what resources are possible and
logical and will make propositions for resources from undergraduate
organizational funding as are appropriate.
Goals will be set up by the group to insure advancement of the
project. Limited advancement is welcome in the smallest degree,
however, if the LaRC Executive Board deems a project has become idle
for more than a month, it will be dissipated from LaRC; it will have
to be re-proposed to regain LaRC support.
Q.Are All members allowed to participate in any project?
A.
Projects will have a senior team of no more than five individuals. Junior team membership is unlimited.
Senior team members are responsible for documenting the project advancement and reporting to the executive board on the topics of project needs and deadlines.
The idea for a junior team/senior team relationship will hopefully act as a mentorship program between levels of experience in computer programming.
All senior members are expected to invite or take on at least one interested junior member.
Q.Technical Issues and Legal Issues.
A.
All program code is property of the author. No rights will be demanded by LaRC. LaRC will accept any rights offered to it by the software author.
If any project team is interested in commercializing their software, they are permitted to. However, they must make sure to provide Credit to UC LaRC as a resource and to any LaRC member who helped with the software creation.
Any money gained from the sale of LaRC-supported software is intended for use in the LaRC organization but not demanded.