NYCPHP Meetup

[Philip Camilleri]

i don't wish to start a separate discussion here, but maybe the problem
lies with the University/College education system here in the US.

I went to school in Europe (a few years back, nonetheless, when the system
was somewhat different to what it is today). But the philosophy back then
was to get a "rounded" education before getting to University -- which
meant you did all your advanced math, language, literature, history,
geography, economics, social sciences, and so on, up until you were 18. In
fact, our system was such that you specialized as you progress (i.e. 8 core
subjects at 13, then 4 core subjects at 16, and finally 1 (or 2) core
subject(s) at Uni, at 18). If one wanted to learn more about art, history
or economics one simply picked up the books or followed extra-curricular
courses.

Granted, I know this is all wishful thinking, but to hear someone say that
they have a Degree in CS, but do not know such things as source-control, or
unit-testing paradigms (or even how to log into a Unix box -- and believe
me, I have heard this one on *several* occasions while interviewing
candidates both here in the US and in the UK) is absolutely demoralizing!

Anyway, as Leam said, best of luck with your book -- it may yet become
"required reading" for developers!!





On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 12:47 PM, Leam Hall <leamhall at gmail.com> wrote:

> On 01/24/2012 12:23 PM, Christopher R. Merlo wrote:
>
>  Justin is, as usual, correct about all of this.  But as someone who's been
>> involved in CS curriculum design at the associates level for going on 12
>> years now, the problem -- at least for us at the community college level
>> --
>> is that we can only make our students take 66 credits, of physics and
>> music
>> and English and all the other stuff, along with CS and math.  I would love
>> to offer our CS students a course on these software engineering topics,
>> like source control and unit tests and how to do a code review, but not at
>> the expense of assembly or linear algebra, and SUNY won't let us do it at
>> the expense of sociology or art.  (That's not a complaint; I think the
>> curriculum *should* be well-rounded.  We just don't have space.)
>> -c
>>
>
> I won't argue, and I have a SUNY-Regent's College degree. However, I think
> this more points out that we need to move out of traditional "college"
> education and forward to something new or backward to apprenticeships or
> something else.
>
> The cost of college no longer meets the "increased income" myth, if it
> ever did. In hiring discussions my degrees have meant much less than
> respected certifications and experience.
>
> So Gary, I suggest you proceed with your book and dedicate a forum or
> other interactive website. Maybe use Moodle? Develop your plan, test it
> with others, and then charge a hundred or so bucks for the learning and
> access to the member's forum. I'd probably join.
>
> Leam
>
>
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