"Research & Practice in Agricultural Informatics" by Ankita Raturi, Purdue University is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
A Course in Progress: this course is currently being developed as it is offered for the first time. Relevant changes to this course will be posted to this Github repository. New materials will be shared here each week. Major updates will be announced in class and/or via email/Slack.
This course invites critical discussion about the role of digital technologies in food systems and agriculture. It provides a structured experience for you to workshop your dissertation research (paper, prototype, or ideas!). We will collectively choose the topics to cover for the semester in Weeks 1 & 2. Two lecture formats are used: The first lecture format will be discussion-based meetings where students will evaluate, assess, and critique research papers and software in digital agriculture, engaging in critical assessment of topics of our collective choosing e.g., data ethics, open source, sensing across scales, algorithmic bias, design justice, etc. We will dig into informatics research and consider how it influences the design of technologies for food and agricultural systems. Students will engage in one research/development project in which you either a) write a research article, or b) implement an informatics project in the domain of food systems and agriculture. Thus, the second lecture format will be workshop-style meetings in which students will report on their project process and challenges, provide peer-feedback and review, or simply use the space to get input on their work.
Requirement: Bring a project that you are already working on, or have a specific topic are that you are exploring as part of your graduate work. Reach out if you have questions!
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify, describe, and explain fundamental digital technologies and their applicability to key informatics challenges in food and agricultural systems.
- Discuss and analyze the state of the art of research and practice in agricultural informatics.
- Demonstrate critical and computational thinking skills for agricultural informatics research and development.
- Conceptualize or prototype an agricultural informatics solution an open food system or agricultural challenge.
We will switch between two types of lectures, the "Discussion Format" and the "Workshop Format":
Discussion Format: I will assign a selection of readings, videos, and other materials for the week. One student will be assigned to be the "Moderator" for each discussion - this person will lead the group in discussion, bringing critical questions and notes, supplemental materials as relevant, and will write the "Topic Brief" as a post-discussion activity. Each person is expected to be a moderator once during the semester. Everybody else is expected to engage with the materials in a manner that is productive for you, e.g.: write a summary analysis of topics, replicate the code in a paper, try out a method on the topic. At minimum, I expect a "topic analysis" that is a 1-page written reflection on the materials, but this is a choose your own adventure course, so we can discuss other options each week.
Workshop Format: Each student is expected to conduct a research or development project over the course of the semester. Each student is expected to share their work once during the semester, sending the class a draft paper, prototoype or other materials that you would like feedback on. Each student will be expected to provide "Peer Feedback" for everyone's projects.
Proposed Schedule/Topics: This section will be updated as we assign moderators and adjust topics. Note: 3 classes are listed as "1hr classes" becuase I have a College of Agriculture meeting that I cannot move!
| Week | Topic | Moderator | What's happening? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Overview | Ankita | Schedule a meeting with the instructor to discuss your project. |
| 2 | Topic 1: Digital Agriculture & Software Overview | Ankita | Submit your topic analysis. |
| 3 | Topic 2: User Centered Design | Ankita | Submit topic analysis. |
| 4 | Topic 3: Robotics Part 1 | Upinder | Submit project contract. |
| 5 | Topic 3: Robotics Part 2 | Upinder | Submit your topic analysis |
| 6 | Topic 4: Modeling | Ankita | No submission. |
| 7 | Topic 5: Computer Vision | Upinder | Submit your topic analysis. |
| 8 | Topic 6: Coding Methods. 1-1 Meetings | Ankita | Submit code analysis. |
| 9 | Topic 7: Intro to AI | Upinder | Submit your topic analysis |
| 10 | Spring Break | No class | |
| 11 | Topic 8: Data Lifecycle | Work in Progress Presentations. Guest Speaker: Ag Data Services | Submit work in progress update online. |
| 12 | Class Room Conflict | ||
| 13 | Topic 10: Entrepreneurship | Guest Speaker: Christian Butzke | |
| 14 | Topic 11: Cyberphysical Systems | Upinder | Submit your topic analysis |
| 15 | Topic 12: Designing AI Systems | Ankita | Submit your topic analysis |
| 16 | Topic 9: Foundation Models | Upinder | Submit your final project report only. |
Please note: If I make any errors keeping this up to date, follow the dates on Brightspace. Thank you!
| Assessment | Due Dates | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Project Contract | Monday @ 11.59pm, Week 4 | -5% penalty on final project for no submission |
| Topic Analysis | Fridays @ 11.59pm, Due the night before class | 45% total (even split among topics) |
| Project Work-in-progress Update | Monday @ 11.59pm, Due Monday before class | 10% |
| Project Final Report | Week 16 Friday @ 11.59pm | 25% |
The final weights may change based on total enrollment in the course.
Late Policy: You can have three "late days" where you submit work one business day late with no questions asked. After that, you will be penalised 5% per day late. The moment you have any issues, please contact me, and we can discuss options.
Lectures: ABE 1164. Wednesdays @ 1.30-3.20pm.
Course Materials: This github repository will contain links to all slides, readings. They will be released on a weekly basis.
Course Discussion: Join the Slack Channel
Student Consultations: Make appointments with me via email or slack.
Slack: Contact @sudokita via Slack direct message for quick general discussion about the course. If it's a question/comment others can benefit from, consider using the more general channels. I will try to respond within 1 working day to Slack messages. We cannot discuss grades, personal matters, and so on via Slack due to FERPA policies. If in doubt, contact me via email/in-person.
Email: Contact ankita@purdue.edu with the email subject: [AGINF] for better indexing. Reserve use of email for long and/or complex communications. I will try to respond to email within 2 working days.
Office: ABE Building, Room 4031K. For in-person consultations, make an appointment first. In case we can't meet in person, we will use WebEx for a video-call meeting, as agreed upon via email. I willy try to provide in-person appointments within 2 working days of your request.
In this class grades reflect the sum of your achievement throughout the semester. Grades cutoffs are as follows:
| Letter | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A+ | 97 and above |
| A | 94 to 96.99 |
| A- | 90 to 93.99 |
| B+ | 87 to 89.99 |
| B | 84.00 to 86.99 |
| B- | 80.00 to 83.99 |
| C+ | 77.00 to 79.99 |
| C | 74.00 to 76.99 |
| C- | 70.00 to 73.99 |
| D+ | 67.00 to 69.99 |
| D | 64.00 to 66.99 |
| D- | 60.00 to 63.99 |
| F | 59.00 and below |
This is the inaugural offering of this "special topics" course, which means components are actively under development and there may be bugs! I would love to hear about your experience, get feedback on the course materials, and generally learn more about where and how this course fails/succeeds to meet your needs. No need to wait till the end!
Reporting issues in Github: Found a bug in the code, slides, syllabus, or other materials? Have a suggestion for how to improve this course? Submit an "issue" to this repository! Alternatively, send a message on the "issues" slack channel.
Course Evaluation: During the last two weeks of the semester, you will be provided with an opportunity to give feedback on this course and your instructor. Purdue uses an online course evaluation system. You will receive an official email from evaluation administrators with a link to the online evaluation site. You will have up to 13 days to complete this evaluation. Your participation is an integral part of this course, and your feedback is vital to improving education at Purdue University. I strongly urge you to participate in the evaluation system. This will be very helpful in helping refine and revise this course to deliver a better student experience!
This course is designed in a hybrid model, with some face-to-face meetings and others completed remotely. University policy states that students are expected to be present for every meeting of the classes in which they are enrolled. For the purposes of this course, being “present” means participating in-person or remotely as described in the course structure and completing work assigned for days when we do not meet face-to-face. This work is required to help you meet the course learning outcomes. These times count toward the course contact hours and your course grade.
That said, this has been a complicated few years, and you can contact me if you have any challenges/concerns with attending classes in-person. Guidance on class attendance related to COVID-19 are outlined in the Protect Purdue Pledge for Spring 2022 on the Protect Purdue website.
Your health and safety is important. If you must miss class at any point in time during the semester, please reach out to me via email so that we can communicate about how you can maintain your academic progress. If you find yourself too sick to progress in the course, notify your adviser and notify me via email or Brightspace. We will make arrangements based on your particular situation.
Any student who has substantial reason to believe that another person is threatening the safety of others by not complying with Protect Purdue protocols is encouraged to report the behavior to and discuss the next steps with their instructor. Students also have the option of reporting the behavior to the Office of the Student Rights and Responsibilities. See also Purdue University Bill of Student Rights and the Violent Behavior Policy under University Resources in Brightspace.
Purdue University is committed to making learning experiences accessible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability, you are welcome to let me know so that we can discuss options. You are also encouraged to contact the Disability Resource Center at: drc@purdue.edu or by phone: 765-494-1247.
Academic integrity is one of the highest values that Purdue University holds. Individuals are encouraged to alert university officials to potential breaches of this value by either emailing integrity@purdue.edu or by calling 765-494-8778. While information may be submitted anonymously, the more information is submitted the greater the opportunity for the university to investigate the concern. More details are available on our course Brightspace table of contents, under University Policies.
Purdue University is committed to maintaining a community that recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect among its members; and encourages each individual to strive to reach his or her potential. In pursuit of its goal of academic excellence, the University seeks to develop and nurture diversity. The University believes that diversity among its many members strengthens the institution, stimulates creativity, promotes the exchange of ideas, and enriches campus life. A hyperlink to Purdue’s full Nondiscrimination Policy Statement is included in our course Brightspace under University Policies.
If you find yourself beginning to feel some stress, anxiety and/or feeling slightly overwhelmed, try WellTrack. Sign in and find information and tools at your fingertips, available to you at any time.
If you need support and information about options and resources, please contact or see the Office of the Dean of Students. Call 765-494-1747. Hours of operation are M-F, 8 am- 5 pm.
If you find yourself struggling to find a healthy balance between academics, social life, stress, etc., sign up for free one-on-one virtual or in-person sessions with a Purdue Wellness Coach at RecWell. Student coaches can help you navigate through barriers and challenges toward your goals throughout the semester. Sign up is completely free and can be done on BoilerConnect. If you have any questions, please contact Purdue Wellness at evans240@purdue.edu.
If you’re struggling and need mental health services: Purdue University is committed to advancing the mental health and well-being of its students. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, depressed, and/or in need of mental health support, services are available. For help, such individuals should contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)at 765-494-6995 during and after hours, on weekends and holidays, or by going to the CAPS office on the second floor of the Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH) during business hours.
CAPS also offers resources specific to COVID-19 on its website. Topics range from “Adjusting to the New Normal” to “How to Talk with Professors about Personal Matters.”
Any student who faces challenges securing their food or housing and believes this may affect their performance in the course is urged to contact the Dean of Students for support. There is no appointment needed and Student Support Services is available to serve students 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Considering the significant disruptions caused by the current global crisis as it relates to COVID-19, students may submit requests for emergency assistance from the Critical Needs Fund.
In the event of a major campus emergency, course requirements, deadlines and grading percentages are subject to changes that may be necessitated by a revised semester calendar or other circumstances beyond the instructor’s control. Relevant changes to this course will be posted onto the course website or can be obtained by contacting the instructors or TAs via email or phone. You are expected to read your @purdue.edu email on a frequent basis.
Some of the generic statements and links to further infromation are provided via the Purdue Syllabus Template. We have tweaked them for applicability to this course, in some cases, adding coure-specific language.
This syllabus is subject to change. You will be notified of any changes as far in advance as possible via an announcement on Brightspace. Monitor your Purdue email daily for updates.