Comments on: Excelling in Computer Science: It’s up to you http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/ Programming, Education, Computer Science Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:08:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Clayton http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-14755 Clayton Mon, 23 Apr 2007 13:41:44 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-14755 That's quite alright Bashar, just don't let it happen again :P That’s quite alright Bashar, just don’t let it happen again :P

]]> By: Bashar http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-14741 Bashar Mon, 23 Apr 2007 11:51:08 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-14741 Well apology Clayton. It's with my eyes not your interface :) I jumped to the conclusion it's Tony's posts. Well apology Clayton. It’s with my eyes not your interface :)

I jumped to the conclusion it’s Tony’s posts.

]]> By: Tony http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-14596 Tony Sun, 22 Apr 2007 19:02:04 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-14596 @Bashar - I should point out that this particular article was written by <a href="http://compsci.ca/blog/blogging-along-with-clayton-shier/" title="Blogging along with Clayton Shier" rel="nofollow">Clayton</a>. Perhaps I should update the layout to make his posts more obvious.. Though absolutely, you've got to do what you love. That's too bad about the lack of innovation in your work environment. Good luck with finding a new place where you can enjoy yourself and what you do! @Bashar – I should point out that this particular article was written by Clayton. Perhaps I should update the layout to make his posts more obvious..

Though absolutely, you’ve got to do what you love.

That’s too bad about the lack of innovation in your work environment. Good luck with finding a new place where you can enjoy yourself and what you do!

]]> By: Bashar http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-14592 Bashar Sun, 22 Apr 2007 18:49:36 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-14592 You are pointing here to a very important point Tony. I'm not a student anymore, but when I was. My first year was a declining GPA until my parents lost all faith in my graduation. 2nd year I had my first programming course, C Language. From that moment, I was inspired and loved the subject. I started becoming a nerd, and what they call curve breaker. I didn't care about the grades as much as I cared about challenging my self to the limit, and challenging other more brilliant students, see how I can learn from them. I ended up the only one from my department graduating in 4 years. A friend of mine told me later, Bashar we used to laugh at you how you go after learning the topics you like (computer) and we were concerned about our GPAs. Good luck for us now, you did the right thing. At work these days, I've lost interest because of the work environment, and sadly, this is killing all innovation. I'm trying to find some where else for a fresh start. You are pointing here to a very important point Tony. I’m not a student anymore, but when I was. My first year was a declining GPA until my parents lost all faith in my graduation. 2nd year I had my first programming course, C Language. From that moment, I was inspired and loved the subject. I started becoming a nerd, and what they call curve breaker. I didn’t care about the grades as much as I cared about challenging my self to the limit, and challenging other more brilliant students, see how I can learn from them. I ended up the only one from my department graduating in 4 years.

A friend of mine told me later, Bashar we used to laugh at you how you go after learning the topics you like (computer) and we were concerned about our GPAs. Good luck for us now, you did the right thing. At work these days, I’ve lost interest because of the work environment, and sadly, this is killing all innovation. I’m trying to find some where else for a fresh start.

]]> By: Tony http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-13884 Tony Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:24:45 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-13884 That actually turned into a good post Mike, well done! That actually turned into a good post Mike, well done!

]]> By: Mike Minutillo http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-13869 Mike Minutillo Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:08:58 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-13869 I started writing a comment and about 45 minutes later I realized that it had turned into a post on it's own. And it was off-topic. You can read it here: http://wolfbyte-net.blogspot.com/2007/04/broaden-your-horizons.html It's basically a call to action. I agree that people studying CS should do whatever they can to broaden their horizons, but I also think that people who work in the industry need to do that as well. I've seen too many Java "Lifers" I'm not picking on Java I just didn't want to start a holy war bewteen C# and VB.NET. I've seen and heard too much of that crud this week. I started writing a comment and about 45 minutes later I realized that it had turned into a post on it’s own. And it was off-topic. You can read it here:

http://wolfbyte-net.blogspot.com/2007/04/broaden-your-horizons.html

It’s basically a call to action. I agree that people studying CS should do whatever they can to broaden their horizons, but I also think that people who work in the industry need to do that as well. I’ve seen too many Java “Lifers”

I’m not picking on Java I just didn’t want to start a holy war bewteen C# and VB.NET. I’ve seen and heard too much of that crud this week.

]]> By: Tony http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-13767 Tony Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:42:57 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-13767 thx Andrew, I'm sure that I'll find myself much better off in CS. One thing I didn't like in Engineering is that it was all theory, and I wasn't getting to do anything practical until the 4th year that allowed for technical electives. @Clayton - yeah, I'm fairly broad in there. There are always exceptions. I already told you to skip grade 12 and go straight to UW ;) @Paul - you could address such off topic questions through my <a href="http://compsci.ca/blog/contact/" title="Contact Tony" rel="nofollow">contact form</a>, but since you've asked anyways, I'll let you know - it's a sponsored link, it helps to pay for the expenses around here. thx Andrew, I’m sure that I’ll find myself much better off in CS. One thing I didn’t like in Engineering is that it was all theory, and I wasn’t getting to do anything practical until the 4th year that allowed for technical electives.

@Clayton – yeah, I’m fairly broad in there. There are always exceptions. I already told you to skip grade 12 and go straight to UW ;)

@Paul – you could address such off topic questions through my contact form, but since you’ve asked anyways, I’ll let you know – it’s a sponsored link, it helps to pay for the expenses around here.

]]> By: Paul Butler http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-13755 Paul Butler Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:50:24 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-13755 Sorry for being off topic, but Tony, what's with the link to "Cement Industry Environment Consortium"? Sorry for being off topic, but Tony, what’s with the link to “Cement Industry Environment Consortium”?

]]> By: Clayton http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-13752 Clayton Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:41:38 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-13752 <blockquote>Unfortunately, I don’t think that high school students would have such level of attention span available, to sit through pure theory.</blockquote> You're being fairly broad there Tony ;) But in general, I would have to agree that yes, very few high school CS students want to sit through a full lecture of theory. Many of my classmates can't stand being at a desk for 5 minutes to review stacks and queues before they can jump on the computer.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that high school students would have such level of attention span available, to sit through pure theory.

You’re being fairly broad there Tony ;)

But in general, I would have to agree that yes, very few high school CS students want to sit through a full lecture of theory. Many of my classmates can’t stand being at a desk for 5 minutes to review stacks and queues before they can jump on the computer.

]]> By: Andrew http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/comment-page-1/#comment-13744 Andrew Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:14:47 +0000 http://compsci.ca/blog/excelling-in-computer-science-its-up-to-you/#comment-13744 Thanks for the reply Tony. I'm glad you chose CS. We need more people in the program who love both the math and programming aspects, which it sounds like you do. The great thing about CS is that it's usually not just pure theory, they teach you the theory and you get to apply it during the assignments, many times by programming as well. Although, there are a few classes that do teach specific language stuff, but they're necessary and important for jobs ;). Each term of the program I find more and more stuff I like. Hope you have a great time in the program as well. Great job with this blog, best of luck with finals. Thanks for the reply Tony.

I’m glad you chose CS. We need more people in the program who love both the math and programming aspects, which it sounds like you do. The great thing about CS is that it’s usually not just pure theory, they teach you the theory and you get to apply it during the assignments, many times by programming as well. Although, there are a few classes that do teach specific language stuff, but they’re necessary and important for jobs ;) .

Each term of the program I find more and more stuff I like. Hope you have a great time in the program as well.

Great job with this blog, best of luck with finals.

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