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This speaks to how quickly what we're taught in school goes out of date. You were able to transition to CS, compete with same-age CS graduates, because much of
by lutusp 13y ago
This speaks to how quickly what we're taught in school goes out of date. You were able to transition to CS, compete with same-age CS graduates, because much of what they were taught in school had become obsolete, while what you learned on the job became more and more valuable and relevant.
> ... except that the EEs liked to use 'j' instead of 'i'.
And that only because of the coincidence that 'i' refers to current in electrical equations.
It also addresses the issue that, with respect to getting useful results from a computer, one's mathematical knowledge and ability is now more important than one's knowledge of a computer's inner workings.
- bayesianhorse 13y agoThe subject matter becomes obsolete, but the mental processes and skills stay relevant. Too much of education is aimed and evaluated for data storage rather than brain training.
- lutusp 13y agoVery true. Americans are taught what to think, not how to think.
- bayesianhorse 13y agoIn other countries it's worse rather than better. China comes to mind. In Germany I'm not hearing a lot of "mind training matters" noise out of education either.
- lutusp 13y ago> In other countries it's worse rather than better. China comes to mind. Yes, or Japan, where being different or standing out in any way is seen as the height of rudeness. Sumimasen, arigatōgozaimashita I guess we have to face the fact that the ability to think for oneself, and think critically, is rather unpopular, with rare exception.
- WalterBright 13y agoI was very fortunate to attend Caltech, where the focus was on how.