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Computer Science Education

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Re: Computer Science Education

#61

Post by piyush_soni »

Spare_account wrote: post #23
xiaoma wrote: post #16

Are they offering anything on the site for people who want CS education? From clicking around a bit it seemed like it was focused entirely on people teaching and learning in physical classrooms. I was pretty excited at first, thinking this was something like a Google-sponsored version of EdX or OpenCourseware that was laser focused on CS.

From the linked page there is a section titled "Learn Computer Science" which contains a section titled "Student Learning" which contains a variety of learning resources that can be experienced through the browser. https://www.google.com/edu/cs/learn/student.html

The 'CS First' link on this page was not discriminatory though, and anyone anywhere can do that : https://www.cs-first.com/en/home

Re: Computer Science Education

#62

Post by torrent-of-ions »

lineindc wrote: post #2

Instead of applauding this (oh, they are spreading knowledge), I'm going to point out that they just want cheaper labour.

I was wondering what their motivation is. Maybe this is it. It's so strange how so many programmers seem to want other people to learn to program. Why is this? I accepted a long time ago that probably less than 1% of the population have the ability to be a good programmer. And even if more had the ability, do we really need that many programmers?

I can't imagine any other industry doing this. I don't go on to the website of 3M, for example, and see stuff teaching me how to make my own glue. When I speak to a lawyer they don't try to teach me how to be a lawyer. Why do so many programmers feel the need to do this?

Re: Computer Science Education

#63

Post by eru »

Chris2048 wrote: post #19
eru wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd get symmetric situation if someone sues a biased employer who only hires gingers, and the guy decide to shut shop instead---don't you?

Arbitrarily discriminating against gingers isn't the same as not doing extra work to make the videos more accessible. Further more, the right to run a business, and participate in a particular economy, is regulated in many ways - these videos were given away for free to everyone, possibly at cost. I don't think a free educational resource should have to meet this burden.

I'm not sure whether it makes a difference, but in my example the biased employer was arbitrarily discriminating in favour of gingers.

Re: Computer Science Education

#64

Post by emiliobumachar »

wfunction wrote: post #14
Mayzie wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The issue was that people with disabilities across the country (i.e. non-Berkeley-students) were suing Berkeley for not making their videos disabled-friendly. What the f#$k? Suing because their videos are not "disabled-friendly"? What does that even mean? God, the lawsuit trigger-happiness of some people...

> Suing because their videos are not "disabled-friendly"? What does that even mean? Sorry, bad wording on my part (had other things on my mind and wasn't Englishing properly). Meant to say the content was not accessible; see edit.

Specifically, it means subtitled. So that deaf people can acess them.

Re: Computer Science Education

#65

Post by emiliobumachar »

0xFFC wrote: post #26
atmosx wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would like you to make an AMA or a blog post about your story with details. It is pretty inspiring.

I will, let me to finish next phase of my plan before writing any blog post or AMA.(next phase : starting to work for big company or starting a successful startup)

Take your time, but keep in mind that getting your story out there could help your next phase.

Re: Computer Science Education

#66

Post by mrwebmaster »

bruceb wrote: post #22

We replicated a CS degree path which you can fill with free MOOCs: https://www.coursebuffet.com/degree Admittedly we have left our course list dormant for a while but we will be pushing an update in a few weeks.

I like the idea. I want to start studying Software Design (economist here) and did some research and found the BEng Software Engineering from Edinburgh. I am currently trying to replicate it. If I had know about your page before, maybe I would have taken your suggested path.

I've just started, but I can say that some courses (from this particular degree) are not available in a MOOC version, like "Functional Programming with Haskell" (1st semester) and "Computational Logic" (1st semester). But for CSCI particularly, I'm sure there are more MOOC courses available.

In the "Math Segment" of your path, I would include "Linear Algebra". There is a good MOOC version in edX called "Linear Algebra Foundations to Frontiers" from U. of Austin TX.

Re: Computer Science Education

#67

Post by pliptvo »

pdyck wrote: post #49
hdctambien wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why ... are large companies such as Google deliberately targeting specific groups? Large companies are judged by the diversity of their employees. They want to hire more women. In order to hire more women, there needs to be more qualified women applying for jobs. In order for there to be more qualified women applying for jobs, there needs to be more qualified women. In order for there to be more qualified women we…

> can sometimes (seem) abrasive and uninviting Well that's just discriminating against nerds

> Well that's just discriminating against nerds

This is exactly the problem. You've assumed that 'nerds' -- people who are skilled and passionate about tech things -- are male. It's that kind of assumption which enforces a massive mental barrier for women to be able to consider themselves legitimately passionate and skilled about tech, and also for men to recognise them as such too.

Until the association of nerds with masculinity is broken up, boys and men will dominate tech at the expense of others. And until that that point, programs like Google's which foster different ('minoritean') associations with being passionate and skilled with tech will be needed.

Re: Computer Science Education

#68

Post by jhanschoo »

dotancohen wrote: post #28
m0nty wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looks great if you're Indian, Irish or female. Edit: Or AU/NZ, missed that one.

I don't see why this rather insightful post is downvoted. The site specifically targets these groups by name. Why in the age of a _World_ Wide Web and "post-discrimination" are large companies such as Google deliberately targeting specific groups? What will be in the girls-only code program that might be inappropriate for boys?

From the piecemeal nature of these programs it seems to me most likely that they were resources from past initiatives by their local offices that this website just aggregated.

Re: Computer Science Education

#69

Post by bruceb »

mrwebmaster wrote: post #66
bruceb wrote: post #22

We replicated a CS degree path which you can fill with free MOOCs: https://www.coursebuffet.com/degree Admittedly we have left our course list dormant for a while but we will be pushing an update in a few weeks.

I like the idea. I want to start studying Software Design (economist here) and did some research and found the BEng Software Engineering from Edinburgh. I am currently trying to replicate it. If I had know about your page before, maybe I would have taken your suggested path. I've just started, but I can say that some courses (from this particular degree) are not available in a MOOC version, like "Functional Programmi…

Thanks for feedback. We looked at the CS and management degrees/minors offered by a lot of universities. We did our best to craft a path that reflects requirements most have.

That being said there are courses that might be required that we don't have in our requirements. Later we may add a public section were users can add in suggestions for courses to include in a learning path.

We also need a major update in courses listings. That is coming.

Re: Computer Science Education

#70

Post by cardiffguy »

m0nty wrote: post #24
Spare_account wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From the linked page there is a section titled "Learn Computer Science" which contains a section titled "Student Learning" which contains a variety of learning resources that can be experienced through the browser. https://www.google.com/edu/cs/learn/student.html

Looks great if you're Indian, Irish or female. Edit: Or AU/NZ, missed that one.

I wonder if I'd qualify. I have dyslexia and dyspraxia but always feel like "learning difficulties" put you in the camp of "not disabled enough". I managed to get a first class degree in compsci and recieved the standard disability grant from the uni.
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