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I'm not yet convinced that online learning is an equivalent replacement for a university degree. Exceptions do exist. For the most part, people graduate from t

by iblaine 10y ago

I'm not yet convinced that online learning is an equivalent replacement for a university degree. Exceptions do exist. For the most part, people graduate from these online universities without the skills needed for the jobs they want.

nommm-nommm 10y ago
From my experience people graduate from traditional universities without the skills needed for the jobs they want. For example, how on earth can you graduate with a degree in computer science but never used version control? But I've seen it from our new hires. Version control should be taught the first day of CS101, that's where I was first exposed to it.
- iblaine 10y ago
  That's a strawman argument so I'll put it this way: I have never interviewed someone with an online degree and walked out of that interview with a positive experience. Online education needs to improve if it's going to be on par with traditional degrees.
  - nommm-nommm 10y ago
    Huhh? How's it a strawman? Strawman: an intentionally misrepresented proposition that is set up because it is easier to defeat than an opponent's real argument. I am not misrepresenting you, I m not really even arguing with you or disagreeing with you all that much. I agree, online degrees are not providing job skills. But neither are many (not all) traditional degrees. Just one example is people fresh out of school who have never used or even heard of version control. Then there's the "can't do fizzbuzz" example. This isn't even exclusive to CS degrees. The reason I choose my degree program is it advertised itself as career focused education. Either we should make education more career focused or accept that universities aren't primarily for job training and find alternatives.
- mixmastamyk 10y ago
  Probably should learn it before that if you'd like to be a programmer.
- nvarsj 10y ago
  Because that's not the point of academic degrees? They're not job training certifications - you don't need a B.S. to program. Programming and engineering skills are auxiliary to computer science.
  - nommm-nommm 10y ago
    No matter if it's the point of them or not I was responding to "for the most part, people graduate from these online universities without the skills needed for the jobs they want." Pointing out that it's not unique to online universities. (Either way, if you are going to teach programming at all version control is a big part of programming so it should be taught.)

by iblaine 10y ago

nommm-nommm 10y ago

From my experience people graduate from traditional universities without the skills needed for the jobs they want. For example, how on earth can you graduate with a degree in computer science but never used version control? But I've seen it from our new hires. Version control should be taught the first day of CS101, that's where I was first exposed to it.

iblaine 10y ago
That's a strawman argument so I'll put it this way: I have never interviewed someone with an online degree and walked out of that interview with a positive experience. Online education needs to improve if it's going to be on par with traditional degrees.
- nommm-nommm 10y ago
  Huhh? How's it a strawman? Strawman: an intentionally misrepresented proposition that is set up because it is easier to defeat than an opponent's real argument. I am not misrepresenting you, I m not really even arguing with you or disagreeing with you all that much. I agree, online degrees are not providing job skills. But neither are many (not all) traditional degrees. Just one example is people fresh out of school who have never used or even heard of version control. Then there's the "can't do fizzbuzz" example. This isn't even exclusive to CS degrees. The reason I choose my degree program is it advertised itself as career focused education. Either we should make education more career focused or accept that universities aren't primarily for job training and find alternatives.
mixmastamyk 10y ago
Probably should learn it before that if you'd like to be a programmer.
nvarsj 10y ago
Because that's not the point of academic degrees? They're not job training certifications - you don't need a B.S. to program. Programming and engineering skills are auxiliary to computer science.
- nommm-nommm 10y ago
  No matter if it's the point of them or not I was responding to "for the most part, people graduate from these online universities without the skills needed for the jobs they want." Pointing out that it's not unique to online universities. (Either way, if you are going to teach programming at all version control is a big part of programming so it should be taught.)