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How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

forrestbrazeal.com

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Re: How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

#41

Post by forrestbrazeal »

timberburn wrote: post #36
DawkinsGawd wrote: post #9

Disappointed. I thought the article was going to focus on why a computer isn't even necessary for a computer science degree. In other words - how a computer science degree is mostly just a degree in mathematics, and a lot of the coding that you do (algorithm work, obviously not a software engineering or programming intensive course) should be done with pencil. I have been seeing a lot of articles claiming that a barr…

Along with all the other reasons why this is terrible, I would despise this because I just can't write as fast as I type. Having to use paper/pencil for the SAT was troublesome enough.

At least for me, as I explained in the article, this was a primary benefit of writing out notes. Having less time forced me to summarize and synthesize, rather than transcribe.

Re: How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

#42

Post by unit91 »

foiejapofijw wrote: post #37

Misleading title and limited content aside, one sentence stood out to me: "This wasn’t such a big deal when I was actually doing computer programming homework, since people who can code at typing speed are pretty rare." How does everyone else feel about the "rareness"?

If by "people" he means "undergraduate students" then yes, they're probably pretty rare. On the other hand, if he means "an average programmer with 5+ years experience", probably not rare at all. Given the scope of the article, I'd assume he means the former.

Re: How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

#44

Post by acbabis »

foiejapofijw wrote: post #37

Misleading title and limited content aside, one sentence stood out to me: "This wasn’t such a big deal when I was actually doing computer programming homework, since people who can code at typing speed are pretty rare." How does everyone else feel about the "rareness"?

Planning your code is part of coding. To truly "code at typing speed", you would have to do no prep-work or research and type your program beginning to end with no bugs (see: http://www.hackertyper.com/). I'd say that's pretty rare.

Re: How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

#45

Post by timberburn »

forrestbrazeal wrote: post #41
timberburn wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Along with all the other reasons why this is terrible, I would despise this because I just can't write as fast as I type. Having to use paper/pencil for the SAT was troublesome enough.

At least for me, as I explained in the article, this was a primary benefit of writing out notes. Having less time forced me to summarize and synthesize, rather than transcribe.

Thanks for the downvote - I was referring to actual coding. And with regard to note taking, I never had the problem of transcribing instead of summarizing because I was typing.

Re: How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

#46

Post by LyndsySimon »

I took up penmanship as a hobby about a year ago, and now carry fountain pens and write down most everything I would have previously typed.

It's actually a well-known thing in the fountain pen community that writing notes instead of typing them aides in comprehension.

Re: How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

#47

Post by yodsanklai »

jwdunne wrote: post #2

Interesting article. I can touch type but I prefer pen and paper for to do lists, mind maps, exploring problems and note taking. It's always seemed more "effective" than using a computer or my phone - even crossing off a task feels better. I always assumed this was because I engage more areas of the brain. I'm excited to find the real reason so the research is now on my to-read list.

> I always assumed this was because I engage more areas of the brain

Or could it be just because it's still hard to draw things and write formulas using a computer.

Re: How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

#48

Post by randycupertino »

LyndsySimon wrote: post #46

I took up penmanship as a hobby about a year ago, and now carry fountain pens and write down most everything I would have previously typed. It's actually a well-known thing in the fountain pen community that writing notes instead of typing them aides in comprehension.

That is awesome. I love that there is a fountain pen community!

Re: How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

#49

Post by forrestbrazeal »

timberburn wrote: post #45
forrestbrazeal wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At least for me, as I explained in the article, this was a primary benefit of writing out notes. Having less time forced me to summarize and synthesize, rather than transcribe.

Thanks for the downvote - I was referring to actual coding. And with regard to note taking, I never had the problem of transcribing instead of summarizing because I was typing.

I didn't downvote you.

Re: How I got a CS degree with pen and paper and why I'm doing it again

#50

Post by randycupertino »

jwdunne wrote: post #2

Interesting article. I can touch type but I prefer pen and paper for to do lists, mind maps, exploring problems and note taking. It's always seemed more "effective" than using a computer or my phone - even crossing off a task feels better. I always assumed this was because I engage more areas of the brain. I'm excited to find the real reason so the research is now on my to-read list.

I just went back to school for some professional certificate classes and none of the younger students use a pen and paper. I certainly felt like "the old dude" behind the times taking notes with pen and paper. I got a 4.0 though, so it was working. Also some of the young bucks were also always asking me for copies of my notes, so I took it as a compliment!
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