Ever since I was in college I've been frustrated with what most people consider a Computer Science education to be: training for "real world" software development a.k.a. writing CRUD web applications. People just want to learn "practical" things so they can get a job rather than abstract, theoretical things that elevate their understanding of computation. The nature of computing is independent of the hardware we happen to be using to get stuff done right now, and thus a CS curriculum shouldn't be a thinly veiled vocational program.
This rant brought to you by http://matt.might.net/articles/what-cs-majors-should-know/
This rant brought to you by http://matt.might.net/articles/what-cs-majors-should-know/
Elinvention, Jason Self, Charles Stanhope, rsd likes this.
If taught correctly, Lisp liberates. -- M. Might
Unfortunately "computer science" is the only way you can learn about computers or anything approaching programming at most colleges. As a result, people who have no interest in the field of Computer Science end up joining the major.
coming from a background of electronics and radio going back to childhood ..
of course its related to engineering! .. isn't that obvious? ..
-
ok maybe not for those trying to turn places of learning and discovery into depressing interview candidate lotteries where all that matters is boring sales blurbs that don't get to the point and some kind of rather dreary points scoring game ..
that sort of thing just destroys any passion a student might have had for anything! - and if that passion is gone so is anything that anyone might call "motivation"
I never understood all the fuss about points scoring and competition
even "winning" looks pretty boring when compared to exploring the universe!
Re: "practical experience"
think of something you want or think might be a good idea or looks interesting or fun...
then dive in and "make it so"
think is to dive in and start making something you want!
it doesn't have to be part of a course - just make it something you *really* want
(the more you want it the better)
and dive in!
it will probably help in any related course too - your mind will naturally zoom in on anything that might look like a possible way to do something you want to do!
"practical' is really "by doing"