A way to solve problems. I love trying to figure out new stuff and make things work. In computer science, we are given a problem and a processor, and then we have to get the processor to solve the problem.
Anyway, as I have been developing lots of programming projects to torture my students, I have realized the best assignments have some sort of excitement factor. In order to create the best labs, I really need to know what entices students.
One way is with graphics. Many students like creating graphics, or so I have been told. This is why they created Alice. Unfortunately, Alice has very little appeal to me. I can't really solve any new problems with it. I don't know why, but making a girl skate around on the ice for hours isn't all that motivating to me. So when some of my colleagues suggested that I make everything in Computer Science graphical, it really bothered me. Mostly because once they graduate, chances are they are going to be typing text into a text editor or an IDE 8 hours a day. So, (to me) their goal was to trick the students into liking Computer Science by making it fun - ie. graphical. I used to think, "Computer Science should be fun by itself, it doesn't need skating ballerinas. If they don't like it, they should probably choose another major."
Don't get me wrong, I was never against including more graphics in my assignments. I just wasn't motivated to spend hours trying to create labs that did have graphics in them.
When one of my colleagues introduced a graphics lab where students draw beach huts that can be posted on a web page, it made me think a lot about my previous opinions about graphics in Computer Science. It was easy to tell that some of the students spent a lot of time making their hut. I then thought about what motivates them to spend 3-4 extra hours on their lab when they probably have a lot of other assignments and, here in Hawaii, a lot of surfing to do. Okay, so I had to admit that this lab had some sort of excitement factor to it. Then, does that mean that everyone who spent extra time to make their hut prettier has the wrong motivation, and will eventually be really upset that we tricked them to think that Computer Science is really just making fun pictures?
Being an artist. They liked painting their canvas by typing words like drawCircle.
A sense of accomplishment by actually creating something they can show people, just like I liked being the Intramural site creator.
So, if the students are motivated only by the first factor that I mentioned, my guess is that they have a major disappointment coming their way. However, if they are motivated by the other factors, they could be hooked enough to trade their surf board for a new computer.
So, are graphics the only way to motivate people into Computer Science? Maybe so, and this is why. Most beginning CS having only interacted with the graphical aspects of a computer. Surfing the web is highly graphical, especially with flash ads on every page. Even writing a report has many graphical elements (how long do you spend formatting?). So, when a student actually builds something graphical he can feel like he created something that fits into his paradigm of a computer program.
Not until they catch a vision of all of the other things computers do behind the GUI will they start to appreciate what programming really is. For a beginning programming class, graphics will probably do a lot of good, but we have to transition them to the real Computer Science by having them explore behind the GUI. So, I guess I have to say, "Skate on ballerina."
The dean of my college gave all the faculty this book. I really enjoyed reading it. It was a page turner that made me think a lot about success in my own life.
I really liked the beginning story about the Canadian Junior Hockey League. As Malcolm points out, most of them are born in the first three months of the year. Why? When the boys are 11 years old they get evaluated and the good ones are chosen to be in the better leagues. The problem is that the boys that were born in December are competing with the boys that were born in January, so the boys that are 11 months older (and that much bigger and more mature) are more likely to be selected to play for the better coaches, play against tougher competition, and have more practice time. So the boys born in December have a huge disadvantage.
This happens with public education as well, except the cut off time is August, not January. So, as you would expect, kids born in August, September, and October have an advantage over kids born in July. They perform better on tests and assignment, get assigned to more advanced classes with better teachers, get into better colleges, etc.
This is just one example Malcolm gives in his book. He gives many other examples, including the advantages that Bill Gates, Bill Joy, and the Beatles had in their lives.
I did, however, have a couple of problems with the book. First, all of his stats and stories seem to be cherry-picked. He only tells stories and relates statistics that support his point of view. Of course, I would expect this from anyone, but it just seems that he is overselling their significance and ignoring any contradicting evidence.
Second, he never really discusses what his definition of success is. As far as I can tell, his definition of success is being rich, famous, or both. I have a much different definition of success - happiness. I do believe that his analysis can be applied to my version of success. As I read this book I was constantly thinking about the opportunities and advantages that led me to where I am today. Unlike the book, I feel that my opportunities did not happen by mere chance, but as the blessings and tender mercies of a loving God.
I do agree with Malcolm that we have to provide more people more opportunities for success. However, I was a little disappointed that Malcolm didn't go on to say that as people, we need to look for our advantages and then use them for our success. We need to find out how we are different, identify what advantages we have, and then work really hard to achieve the success that we want using those advantages.