:* '''It is very important to stay up-to-date with the coursework''', and to practice until you have confidently mastered each task.

:* '''All of the software used in this course is ''open source'' software, so you are free to use, modify, and redistribute it'''. This means that you can install it as many times as you want on as many different computers as you would like. It also means that you can tinker with it -- you can take it apart, see how it works, and put it back together in the same or a different way, limited only by your time and ambition. '''You are encouraged to experiment and question liberally'''.

:* '''The notes that you make during the labs and assignments are your reference material for the quizzes, tests, and assignments'''. Take really good notes, and if you have questions, experiment and consult with your professor.