• President Obama asks America to learn computer science
    57 replies, posted
yeah the country with abysmal funding for its education and an average of c's and d's for its science and maths courses is going to start a programming renaissance. Alot of schools can't afford computer labs in the first place.
[QUOTE=Soleeedus;43346531]no please stop you're all going to put me out of a job[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.eis.mdx.ac.uk/research/PhDArea/saeed/paper1.pdf[/url] Actually, some people simply can't program. They just cannot learn how to synthesise thought patterns into code. From that paper, 30-60% of Comp Sci intake students fail the course after failing to grasp simple programming mechanics. I'm not even talking about syntax, either. I'm talking about a = 1, b = 2, a = b, and so on. So actually, Obama....I'm going to say some can't, sorry
I remember when I took Photoshop class in high school cause I wanted to learn how to make good shops like other people did on the internet. Turns out the teacher was a 70 year carpenter who wanted to be a wood work teacher and knew zero things about computers :suicide: They litterly spent a fortune on a license for all there pc's to use CS3 at the school which just came out back then and couldn't hire a proper teacher.
heh, I got called the "Code Guy" in my IT class in college. yeah, code is easier than bloody menu systems.
I wish Obama would stop looking to the right (his left) at the teleprompter or whatever
[QUOTE=Saxon;43349435]I remember when I took Photoshop class in high school cause I wanted to learn how to make good shops like other people did on the internet. Turns out the teacher was a 70 year carpenter who wanted to be a wood work teacher and knew zero things about computers :suicide: They litterly spent a fortune on a license for all there pc's to use CS3 at the school which just came out back then and couldn't hire a proper teacher.[/QUOTE] this isn't computer science
[QUOTE=Laserbeams;43347332]I don't see the point. Programming is not a skill that is useful for everyone[/QUOTE] Programming does more than teach you programming. It teaches you logic, a skill you'd normally only fully learn in specific math courses and (to some extent) basic philosophy. I'd rather have a basic programming course in 7th grade than "LET'S MAKE TEN FUCKING POWERPOINTS OVER THE COURSE OF SEVEN MONTHS WHILE LEARNING NOTHING ABOUT POWERPOINT OR THE REST OF THE OFFICE PACKAGE"
[QUOTE=Trumple;43349625]this isn't computer science[/QUOTE] The same thing could be applied though, schools could spend a bunch of money on new computers and software just to have no money on an actual teacher to teach it.
[QUOTE=Trumple;43349383][url]http://www.eis.mdx.ac.uk/research/PhDArea/saeed/paper1.pdf[/url] Actually, some people simply can't program. They just cannot learn how to synthesise thought patterns into code. From that paper, 30-60% of Comp Sci intake students fail the course after failing to grasp simple programming mechanics. I'm not even talking about syntax, either. I'm talking about a = 1, b = 2, a = b, and so on. So actually, Obama....I'm going to say some can't, sorry[/QUOTE] Hey, I'm one of them! Probably explains why I can't do maths to save my life. :v: I did attempt to learn to code but I couldn't understand any of it.
Has Obama always talked out of one side of his mouth like that?
Yeah, ask everyone to learn computer science while continuing to invest zero money in our education systems. 4% of spending goes to education. Yet another wonderful video to make americans feel "hope"
"With just a little math and science..." It ain't just a fucking little I'll tell you that much.
[QUOTE=SnakeHead;43347518]Somebody has to scrub the toilets.[/QUOTE] not if a program a toilet scrubbing drone
[QUOTE=Laserbeams;43347332]I don't see the point. Programming is not a skill that is useful for everyone[/QUOTE] Computer science is more than programming. Computer Science wires your brain for logical problem solving. Seriously, the first few programming courses I took were more of logic classes than programming.
I'm happy with my editing films / photos for computers. and video games mostly video games
[QUOTE=Stopper;43344098]What a fucking hypocrite. If you want you people learning Computer Science, make the fucking subject accessible to everyone and raise the quality of education.[/QUOTE] what an amazing idea! I'll go phone the white house and tell Obama to get his magic funding stick out that allocates government funds without going through congress! You should get the nobel prize for such incredible insight.
All of this push into computer science is making me feel left out. The only form of computing we did in Primary/Secondary school was just on how to use computers, word, excel and such. Rather annoying considering I want to get into the Games Industry. Seems like if I was born a few years later then I would be getting the full package.
[QUOTE=Dominic0904;43355604]All of this push into computer science is making me feel left out. The only form of computing we did in Primary/Secondary school was just on how to use computers, word, excel and such. Rather annoying considering I want to get into the Games Industry. Seems like if I was born a few years later then I would be getting the full package.[/QUOTE] Making you feel left out? You have a computer and you can read, right? You have all you need to program, don't start blaming others because they didn't spoon feed you the information. I had the same issue - the only thing I was taught about computers at school was the basics of Word, etc.. I wanted to learn how to make games, like you, and so I took my spare time and started to learn outside school. Then I took modules for electronics, and from there I studied to get onto an Electronics Engineering (with Comp Sci) Uni course. I had a great school, and I'm fortunate for that, but don't blame the school for not teaching you programming. I had to do a lot of work outside of my school work. And programming can only really be taught by actually doing, anyway. You have to type the keys, not your teacher. Programming teachers/lecturers often just guide you through concepts, again which you can learn yourself. So rather than asking why you weren't taught it, ask yourself why you didn't teach it to yourself? You have access to all the information and software you need for free, right now. With that brutally honest truth out the way, it isn't too late. Grab a book on programming and try it. Or even just follow an online tutorial to get you started. Just don't complain to the world that you never had the opportunities to learn.
I got a BS in computer engineering with a minor in computer science from an accredited state university and all I got was a job in IT and $60k in student loans :(
[QUOTE=Smug Bastard;43342262]But angry birds is too fun, Mr. President! On an unrelated note, holy shit I don't think I've ever seen Obama looking this bad, poor guy looks like he's in his late 60's/early 70's. If I had to deal with a congress that barely passes 65 bills per year I would probably be dead.[/QUOTE] Kinda reminds me of some before and after photos of Lincoln during his first few days as President and some time before his death. Being the leader of a country is alot of fucking stress to deal with.
[QUOTE=Dominic0904;43355604]All of this push into computer science is making me feel left out. The only form of computing we did in Primary/Secondary school was just on how to use computers, word, excel and such. Rather annoying considering I want to get into the Games Industry. Seems like if I was born a few years later then I would be getting the full package.[/QUOTE] University level classes are the only ones worth taking anyway, if at all. Computer education in primary and secondary schools tend to be shit to be honest. You aren't missing much. But like mentioned, learning programming on your own has never been easier. All you need is willingness to learn, a computer, and the internet for resources. Hardest part is when you are starting out is deciding which language to choose, since you don't know much about programming to begin with. There isn't really a wrong language to start out with. However, I would advise against Assembly (for obvious reasons) and C, unless you have a good reason to or have previous experience. Higher level languages like Java or .NET C# will teach most of the same basics concepts but be a little less picky on the details. This way you spend more time actually programming and understanding those concepts rather than trying to debug programs because you keep getting seemingly arbitrary segfaults. And you will understand object oriented programming, which if you plan on being a game dev, you will most likely need a firm grasp on.
[QUOTE=Trumple;43349383]a = 1, b = 2, a = b[/QUOTE] wouldn't a = 2 then?
[QUOTE=343N;43403962]wouldn't a = 2 then?[/QUOTE] Yes, that was probably the point he was getting at. I recall some of my peers in my C++ course at uni where they could not understand this statement whatsoever (assignment operator).
[QUOTE=Llamaguy;43404045]Yes, that was probably the point he was getting at. I recall some of my peers in my C++ course at uni where they could not understand this statement whatsoever (assignment operator).[/QUOTE] "What the fuck there are two equals signs now? I'm done"
"No one's born a computer scientist, but ... just about anybody can become one." - Barack Obama B)
the only problem is now all the computer science classes are gonna be full of shit spergs,
[QUOTE=Polonium9;43405953]the only problem is now all the computer science classes are gonna be full of shit spergs,[/QUOTE] Entry level computer science classes are already full of people who don't know or care about what they are doing but want money. They get left behind fast.
If an American can sit at a computer and write code, a Chinese man can sit at a computer and write code for half as much money. "Teach kids to code!" is not going to fix our economy.
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