Participation requirements differ by section. Hybrid students engage primarily through in-person attendance, live discussions, and support of their classmates’ presentations, while online students meet their participation requirements through asynchronous forums and structured peer feedback. Use the guidelines below to make sure you are on pace for the full 15% Hybrid participation grade.

1. Class Attendance (8%): Attend the ten scheduled in-person meetings. You may miss up to two sessions without penalty. Additional absences reduce the attendance portion of the participation grade according to the following scale.
   • 3 absences: -0.5% penalty (7.5% earned)
   • 4 absences: -2% penalty (6% earned)
   • 5 absences: -5% penalty (3% earned)
   • 6+ absences: -8% penalty (0% earned)

   Reminder: Attendance is logged automatically. The two-absence buffer covers illness, travel, and unexpected conflicts—no additional excused absences will be issued, and emails requesting exceptions will not be accepted.

2. Presentation Engagement (3%): During peers’ portfolio presentations, ask thoughtful questions or provide constructive comments. Plan for at least two contributions per presentation session (four total across both project events). If you cannot attend a presentation session, you must post two substantive questions or comments on Yellowdig within one week of the missed meeting to earn credit.
3. Discussion on Yellowdig (4%): Contribute four substantive posts on Yellowdig across the semester. Two peer comments can substitute for one post (2:1 ratio). Examples of posts imclude:
   • Reflections on weekly assignments, readings, or lecture demonstrations.
   • Current news stories or real-world applications that illustrate GIS decision making.
   • Interesting datasets, tools, or techniques you have tested.
   • Questions about analytical methods, visualization choices, or data management.
   • Connections between GIS skills and your professional experiences.
   Your introduction post counts toward the total.