OS Exploration Project

In this course, I hope you can learn by teaching and exploring based on your interest.

Starting after the midterm, every team will work on an Exploration Project. Each team will pick a topic. By the end of the semester, each team will make a short video (3-5 minutes) to share with your classmates. The goal is not to repeat what we’ve already taught, but to dig deeper into the “why” behind the topics, and connect them to real-world problems.

This project is your chance to ask your own questions, explain concepts in your own words, and make sense of complex ideas through your own exploration.

What kind of projects can you do?

We will annouce a list of topics and papers for you to choose from before midterm. But you are also welcome to propose your own ideas if you have something you’re curious about. Your project can take one of these directions:

1. Topic

Pick a topic, research it very thoroughly, and produce a short video that teaches this topic to your classmates. Please make it very fun and educational to watch. You can also teach about common misconceptions, or parts that confused you at first, and helps your audience go through it.

2. Paper

We will give you a list of research papers on OS topics. But instead of focusing on the methods and results, your task is to explain the background and motivation of the paper. Why was this problem important? Which textbook concept does it relate to? What was missing from the traditional approach? Your video should help your classmates understand why this paper needed to be written.

How to Start?

  • After the midterm, you’ll see a list of suggested topics and papers.
  • Each topic is available to one team only. Topic is chosen First-come-first-serve (先搶先贏).
  • Your team will need to submit a simple proposal: What’s your topic? What’s your approach? Who will do what?
  • If you have an idea outside of the suggested list, propose it! We’re open to creative projects as long as they connect to OS concepts.

Submission

  • Final videos are due at 23:59, Dec. 23.
  • All videos will be showcased on our course website — your classmates will watch and learn from your work.
  • You’ll also provide feedback to other teams’ videos through a simple peer review form.

Each project will be graded out of 10 points based on these aspects:

1. Clarity of Explanation (2 points)
Can you explain the concept in a way that others (students or non-CS audience) can easily follow? Are technical terms introduced and clarified well?

2. Depth of Understanding (3 points)
Did you show that you understand not just the “what”, but the “why” behind the concept or problem? Did you connect it to textbook materials or real-world scenarios?

3. Structure and Presentation (2 points)
Is the video well-structured, with a logical flow? Is it visually engaging, with clear narration and visuals that support understanding?

4. Team Collaboration (2 points)
Did all team members contribute meaningfully? Are multiple voices or roles evident in the video production?

5. Creativity and Insight (Bonus +1 point)
Exceptional creativity in presentation or particularly insightful explanations will be awarded an extra point.

The scores will be a combination of TA assessment and peer feedback. Peer feedback will not directly give points, but thoughtful comments from peers will help you gain participation credit.

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