tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post7545800435070223745..comments2024-02-05T05:15:04.759-08:00Comments on Wandering Scientist: Weekend Reading: The Labor Day EditionCloudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-82402004901964981532011-09-06T20:50:26.527-07:002011-09-06T20:50:26.527-07:00@Betsy- I know Stack Overflow. It is an awesome si...@Betsy- I know Stack Overflow. It is an awesome site. I think employers haven't really switched back to the "we have to go headhunting" mentality to fill positions, so they probably aren't using job sites like the one on Stack Overflow enough. It is probably time to start, though.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-40523614327521920832011-09-06T19:38:53.153-07:002011-09-06T19:38:53.153-07:00@Betsy - it is definitely not too late to learn, a...@Betsy - it is definitely not too late to learn, and there are a lot of related careers in the tech industry (like Project Management or Tech Writing) that don't require deep coding experience. I personally *love* working in Project Management at a software company, though I'm not a good enough programmer to work there as a developer.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15212690454989568626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-39915403462976208282011-09-06T13:44:04.375-07:002011-09-06T13:44:04.375-07:00With regards to the difficulty finding good softwa...With regards to the difficulty finding good software developers, might I suggest the employers check out Stack Overflow Careers:<br /><br />http://careers.stackoverflow.com/<br /><br />Full disclosure: Stack Overflow is my husband's business. He too has noticed that the job market is great for software developers, in contrast to what you see in so many other fields. <br /><br />I am a scientist working in industry, and wish the outlook for science jobs looked so good. I sometimes wish I had learned how to code. Maybe someday.Betsyhttp://twitter.com/betsyphdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-68679937552703964682011-09-03T07:36:15.973-07:002011-09-03T07:36:15.973-07:00@nicoleandmaggie, I'm horrified to hear that g...@nicoleandmaggie, I'm horrified to hear that geometry is being taught without proofs! That is all wrong. I actually spent a lot of my college calculus class doing proofs, too.<br /><br />@Anandi, I'd probably tell someone wanting to program now to start with Python and if they liked that, move to Java. Who knows what the languages will be by the time my girls are old enough to learn, though! But I think the important thing is to learn how programming works. The problem we're having with hiring programmers at my company isn't so much with the basics of any language as it is with the basics of how to structure a program.Cloudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09317847285050447789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-41277275324130951722011-09-03T03:27:22.655-07:002011-09-03T03:27:22.655-07:00I've been teaching 2nd year university student...I've been teaching 2nd year university students Matlab recently, as part of a Science class (ie it's not a programming class). I'm amazed at the diversity in comprehension, and low average comprehension, of basic things Anandi mentions- "abstract concepts like variables, structuring a program and visualizing the flow of instructions, and breaking a problem down into its most basic parts." A huge hunk of students just doesn't get it leading me to believe this isn't taught in schools and is something we should be teaching our kids.zednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-22609982142621790482011-09-02T22:59:39.907-07:002011-09-02T22:59:39.907-07:00I started to learn how to code in BASIC in 2nd gra...I started to learn how to code in BASIC in 2nd grade (1981) and I firmly believe it *dramatically* improved my logic, problem solving, and just plain THINKING skills. I think a lot of the same thing happens when you teach a kid a 2nd language, but I don't have any proof, just pulling a theory out of my ass. <br /><br />Programming taught me about abstract concepts like variables, structuring a program and visualizing the flow of instructions, and breaking a problem down into its most basic parts.<br /><br />I took BASIC again at my crappy catholic high school in 1990 and used my knowledge from 2nd grade - didn't learn a single new thing.<br /><br />I guess it's not surprising I work for a huge software company now, given that I spent most of my childhood indoors, programming my Commodore 64. ;) <br /><br />I am so going to teach BabyT how to code as soon as she's old enough, but have no idea what language or tools "kids these days" should be learning. Sigh.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15212690454989568626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-58232426546020661662011-09-02T19:51:42.220-07:002011-09-02T19:51:42.220-07:00That Fast Company article hit me like a ton of bri...That Fast Company article hit me like a ton of bricks, in that it is totally gospel for me and I'm totally baffled that so many managers just don't get that about their workers.<br /><br />I love math (OK, love may be a strong word...I like it and I'm good at it, but it's more the means to an end for me), but I couldn't code my way out of a paper bag. Once upon a time I dabbled with trying to learn some simple code to create a blog (so it could look the way I wanted it to look). But it just ended up frustrating me, and I couldn't get the blog to have the look I wanted...the whole point of the exercise. So, um, yeah. DS will not learn to code from me.<br /><br />I do love the fact, however, that I use practical geometry calculations frequently when making hat patterns.the millinernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-56784059219991567862011-09-02T16:26:02.463-07:002011-09-02T16:26:02.463-07:00This is my favorite text-book: http://www.amazon....This is my favorite text-book: http://www.amazon.com/Geometry-Enjoyment-Challenge-Richard-Rhoad/dp/0866099654<br /><br />I taught my sister geometry proofs out of it the summer before she moved to Catholic high school because if she didn't know proofs she'd have had to take geometry again (Her Catholic School kicks it old-style and they had a placement test... sadly the parochial school we're at has a crappy geometry text-- I checked it out at one of their open houses... I'm kind of wondering if they'd be amenable to a grant to replace their textbooks and teacher supplies in that class, though there are many years before that's a concern for us.)<br /><br />A world where you can't prove that two triangles are the same in a logical fashion using the assumptions given is a sad world indeed. That class was SO fun. And it was especially fun for kids who didn't like Algebra-- now it's no different than algebra with drawings. No escape.<br /><br />Mmmm math. (Note: #2 is not as infatuated with math as I am.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-31174485800906551452011-09-02T16:07:48.845-07:002011-09-02T16:07:48.845-07:00"So maybe I should plan on teaching my kids h..."So maybe I should plan on teaching my kids how to code?" LOL!<br /><br />@nicoleandmaggie - "it looks like they've stopped teaching geometry proofs in school." Wait, what?? Seriously?? Gah, no wonder the US is so shitty in math.hushhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532820460835325762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29235839.post-35257070659155279862011-09-02T15:20:23.057-07:002011-09-02T15:20:23.057-07:00Huh. Maybe we should give up this whole academia ...Huh. Maybe we should give up this whole academia thing and move to Silicon Valley. I hope they're paying a premium for good programmers! <br /><br />Whether or not it'll find our kid(s) a job, we're planning on teaching them programming anyhow just because it's good for the brain and teaches patience and large-scale problem-solving skills (also neatness, communication... and lots of other universally positive attributes). I also plan to dig up a proof-based geometry book a few years from now since it looks like they've stopped teaching geometry proofs in school. (It went out of fashion when my sister hit 8th grade and hasn't come back in fashion, which makes me doubt it will in a few years either. It's hard to test proofs on a scantron exam.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com