Notes for the first class meeting
Roger B. Blumberg, CS92/ED89
January 28, 1999-- 227 CIT
http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs092/cs92.rbb1.html
The course missive describes the
some of the rationale and mechanics of the Seminar, but there
are several things which distinguish CS92/ED89 not only among
courses at Brown but among courses offered by CS and Education
departments nationally? Briefly: the
course is an exercise in applying skills, technical as well as
analytical, to a "problem" posed by an independent client; and at
the same time the course is
an experience of thinking deeply about education, the
relationship between computers and education, and the evaluation
of technology generally. So while this is a production course of
sorts, "the object is to think rather than to accept
certain conclusions" (the line is Bertrand Russell's).
- What is the difference between technical and philosophical problems?
- What is the difference between notions of expertise in computer
science and in the field of education?
- What are the standards for good work and evaluating good work in
computer science and in education?
- What characterizes the peculiarity of contemporary life/society
from the perspectives of computer science and education?
- participation in the seminar discussions and presentations.
- an exercise in technology evaluation.
- the team software project (including the description, storyboard,
building, testing, documentation and implementation phases).
A look at the CS92/ED89
syllabus
A brief look at the
project pool this year
What brings everyone to the Seminar this year?
- Read chapters 0-4 of Ullman's Close to the Machine for
Tuesday, and finish the book for Thursday. Look over the project
descriptions and come prepared to talk ask questions about them on
Tuesday.