My status update on Facebook on August 24 mentioned it being the start of the 16th year I have been in the CS department at the beginning of an academic year. I was thinking back to when I started as an undergrad. I was so nervous and didn't feel like I knew what I was doing. I can remember going the week before classes and buying my textbooks and like a total noob, bought brand new books thinking new = best. I walked my schedule to make sure I knew where everything was so at least I wouldn't be a lost noob.
I found my English Comp classroom which had a couple of people sitting inside. I was standing in the doorway and one of the people asked if I needed anything. I asked "are you the teacher for this classroom?" I remember them looking at me like an idiot, but I didn't know that faculty had offices and taught in whatever classroom was available.
I've written about finding confidence as a musician, but I certainly didn't have it as a brand new freshman. Hindsight is 20-20, but I wonder what I could have done if I'd felt more like I belonged just like I thought everyone else did. I tell our students to jump in and try different things, but I didn't do that. One of the reasons I encourage students to try new things is how do you know what you are good at, if you've never even tried it?
I've always loved being a student. My "to read" list is growing longer and longer. I love learning new things and trying to make things better. I wish I could go back and give my 17 year old self a pep talk. Most likely, many of the other students were nervous and unsure of themselves, too. They might have been first generation students too, feeling the pressure to make sure that they did everything perfectly, to prove the naysayers wrong. Trying to find enough time in the day to practice for three different ensembles and for individual lessons on piano and percussion, while doing my other course work. And doing all of that while commuting.
I never really felt like I had "it all together" while I was a student. Looking back, I think I had it together a lot more than I thought I did.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Life: Guns, hate, and evil
When I get to work in the morning, I normally listen online to Q99's Breakfast Club with Dick Daniels and David Page, at least until everyone else gets there, around 8:00 a.m. This morning, they mentioned that there was a story about a shooting near Smith Mountain Lake while a local news crew was filming a live spot. They had seen it posted on Facebook and that's where I looked. Someone had posted the video, which I think is still available online. It looks like a normal live shot, panning over the area, and coming back around to the reporter, Alison Parker, and the lady she was interviewing. Then you hear gunfire and all I can remember hearing is the young reporter screaming and shrieking. Finding out later that she and her cameraman were killed and that most likely, their last moments on earth were filmed and so many people had seen it? Those moments, so filled with terror.
I'm not a fan of guns. Never have been and don't imagine I ever will be. I'm not against people having guns for protection or hunting, but when someone tries to argue that having an arsenal's worth of weapons or that owning semi-automatic or completely automatic weapons are their 2nd Amendment rights, I have to strongly disagree. I saw enough guns on April 16th to last me a lifetime.
Even if you're not local, you've probably heard about the two journalists killed today during a live interview on a morning program. I really feel for the anchor, Kimberly McBroom, who was watching and listening live, to hear and see what happened to her colleagues. (Kimberly McBroom (née Shifflett) was a childhood friend in elementary school.)
I read that the young cameraman, Adam Ward, who was killed chose to come to VT, starting his freshman year in August after the April 16th shootings. He graduated from VT, went out into the world, and ended up being killed by someone who seems to have idolized the VT shooter.
I'm sure there will be (again) a debate on gun control and better safe guards to keep the mentally ill from getting access to weapons. But my personal opinion is that this shooter was not mentally ill. He was just plain evil and full of hate. He idolized the VT shooter, who also seemed to find someone to hate and blame everywhere he went? How do you keep guns out of the hands of someone who is just plain evil?
My mom mentioned that WDBJ had a police presence today, to make sure that their employees were safe. I reminded her that we had that, too, on April 16. We were escorted through the building and passed off to another officer at the exit. I wonder how many of you have been escorted away from your place of work, which might also be the scene of a mass shooting by a SWAT officer?
After that, my sister asked me if I couldn't find a job "somewhere safer"? Even then, I asked her exactly where she felt safe. In the years since, there have been shootings at "on your corner" political events, an elementary school, movie theaters, an historically black church .... and which ones have I left out? The ones that fade into the ether because there are just so many of them?
You can regulate who has guns. You can label people as mentally ill. But the one thing you cannot label or regulate is hate. Hate is its own contagion, building within someone. How in the world do you attempt to fix hate? How do you recognize those that are so full of hate that all they can do is blame everyone around them? What can anyone do?
Please keep the victims' families and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Don't give the shooter one more second of your thoughts.
I'm not a fan of guns. Never have been and don't imagine I ever will be. I'm not against people having guns for protection or hunting, but when someone tries to argue that having an arsenal's worth of weapons or that owning semi-automatic or completely automatic weapons are their 2nd Amendment rights, I have to strongly disagree. I saw enough guns on April 16th to last me a lifetime.
Even if you're not local, you've probably heard about the two journalists killed today during a live interview on a morning program. I really feel for the anchor, Kimberly McBroom, who was watching and listening live, to hear and see what happened to her colleagues. (Kimberly McBroom (née Shifflett) was a childhood friend in elementary school.)
I read that the young cameraman, Adam Ward, who was killed chose to come to VT, starting his freshman year in August after the April 16th shootings. He graduated from VT, went out into the world, and ended up being killed by someone who seems to have idolized the VT shooter.
I'm sure there will be (again) a debate on gun control and better safe guards to keep the mentally ill from getting access to weapons. But my personal opinion is that this shooter was not mentally ill. He was just plain evil and full of hate. He idolized the VT shooter, who also seemed to find someone to hate and blame everywhere he went? How do you keep guns out of the hands of someone who is just plain evil?
My mom mentioned that WDBJ had a police presence today, to make sure that their employees were safe. I reminded her that we had that, too, on April 16. We were escorted through the building and passed off to another officer at the exit. I wonder how many of you have been escorted away from your place of work, which might also be the scene of a mass shooting by a SWAT officer?
After that, my sister asked me if I couldn't find a job "somewhere safer"? Even then, I asked her exactly where she felt safe. In the years since, there have been shootings at "on your corner" political events, an elementary school, movie theaters, an historically black church .... and which ones have I left out? The ones that fade into the ether because there are just so many of them?
You can regulate who has guns. You can label people as mentally ill. But the one thing you cannot label or regulate is hate. Hate is its own contagion, building within someone. How in the world do you attempt to fix hate? How do you recognize those that are so full of hate that all they can do is blame everyone around them? What can anyone do?
Please keep the victims' families and friends in your thoughts and prayers. Don't give the shooter one more second of your thoughts.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Coding bootcamps: the way to increase diversity?
I saw this link published by Fast Company about diversity in coding boot camps. I finally had a chance to read the article and I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. All STEM fields could use some help in recruiting a more diverse student population, but is this the way to do it?
Given, I've not clicked through most of the links to each of the different boot camps to see what it is they are promising, but at the cost of $11K, the one amount I do remember reading from the article, for less than a year of training, sure does sound like a scam. Of course they can find companies to underwrite scholarships and financial aid to help traditionally underrepresented students, but how well prepared are they? When the tech bubble burst and the media reported that all the good technology jobs were getting outsourced, there wasn't an asterisk to the story describing exactly what those "good" jobs were. After several years, companies and agencies were starting to "on-shore" jobs that had previously been sent elsewhere. Coding can be taught, but learning how to solve problems, think creatively, and having a strong mathematical background isn't quite as easy to teach in weeks or months.
I'm always leery of some "new big thing" that feels the need to throw others under the bus. I'd also like to have a crystal ball to see how well these code camp graduates are doing further down the road and if their background is sufficient to progress in a career. I just have to wonder if these "boot camps" saw a need and slapped a shingle up, trying to make a buck off of the latest hot trend. In the long run, though, they may be doing a great disservice to those trying to find a career.
Given, I've not clicked through most of the links to each of the different boot camps to see what it is they are promising, but at the cost of $11K, the one amount I do remember reading from the article, for less than a year of training, sure does sound like a scam. Of course they can find companies to underwrite scholarships and financial aid to help traditionally underrepresented students, but how well prepared are they? When the tech bubble burst and the media reported that all the good technology jobs were getting outsourced, there wasn't an asterisk to the story describing exactly what those "good" jobs were. After several years, companies and agencies were starting to "on-shore" jobs that had previously been sent elsewhere. Coding can be taught, but learning how to solve problems, think creatively, and having a strong mathematical background isn't quite as easy to teach in weeks or months.
I'm always leery of some "new big thing" that feels the need to throw others under the bus. I'd also like to have a crystal ball to see how well these code camp graduates are doing further down the road and if their background is sufficient to progress in a career. I just have to wonder if these "boot camps" saw a need and slapped a shingle up, trying to make a buck off of the latest hot trend. In the long run, though, they may be doing a great disservice to those trying to find a career.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Broadway, Politics, and Diversity
I've not been to NYC in a couple of years, but I keep an eye out for what's hot on Broadway, the Met, and the Metropolitan Museum. I'd heard that Hamilton was the hot ticket on Broadway right now, but couldn't quite grasp how it could be. Then, I read an article in The Hollywood Reporter by Lin-Manuel Miranda (as told to a writer) talking about how Hamilton came to be. It's an interesting read, if you are interested in Broadway, but also for lots of other reasons. I'm always amazed by creativity and reading how this musical came about was interesting. Miranda also talks about diversity and politics, and how Hamilton is relevant in our current political climate.
A quote from the end of the article: "Art engenders empathy in a way that politics doesn't, and in a way that nothing else really does. Art creates change in people's hearts. But it happens slowly."
A quote from the end of the article: "Art engenders empathy in a way that politics doesn't, and in a way that nothing else really does. Art creates change in people's hearts. But it happens slowly."
Friday, August 21, 2015
In the news: CodeVA - teaching students and teachers
The Sunday Richmond Times-Dispatch had an article talking about CodeVA. It describes how CodeVA is trying to help attract more students to computing. If you weren't sure about the need for more computing professionals, read this just published article from Google/Gallup.
When someone asks how our department has made progress in recruiting and retaining a more diverse student body, there's not just one thing that we can point to as "the one" thing that works. It takes a lot of effort, financial support, and staffing resources. CodeVA is trying to encourage students, but is also helping to train teachers.
To borrow a cliché: it takes a village. Check out CodeVA's to see how they are contributing to the efforts.
When someone asks how our department has made progress in recruiting and retaining a more diverse student body, there's not just one thing that we can point to as "the one" thing that works. It takes a lot of effort, financial support, and staffing resources. CodeVA is trying to encourage students, but is also helping to train teachers.
To borrow a cliché: it takes a village. Check out CodeVA's to see how they are contributing to the efforts.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Want to be on TV? America's Greatest Makers
From Intel's "America's Great Makers" competition webpage:
America's Greatest Makers (working title) is coming to television in 2016. Are you ready to build the next truly amazing device? Bring your big ideas to life with Intel, in collaboration with Mark Burnett, United Artists Media Group, and Turner Broadcasting System.
For your chance to be on America's Greatest Makers (working title), submit a video to tell us a little about yourself and your idea, and why you want to be part of the challenge.
All entrants must be legal residents of the United States, 15 years of age or older. Entrants under 18 years of age must provide parental or legal guardian consent. Each team is limited to four core members or fewer. When submitting your team's information, please specify one point of contact only. Ideas that center around small form-factor smart devices that do not require video/camera functionality are preferred.
Interested? Check it out.
America's Greatest Makers (working title) is coming to television in 2016. Are you ready to build the next truly amazing device? Bring your big ideas to life with Intel, in collaboration with Mark Burnett, United Artists Media Group, and Turner Broadcasting System.
For your chance to be on America's Greatest Makers (working title), submit a video to tell us a little about yourself and your idea, and why you want to be part of the challenge.
All entrants must be legal residents of the United States, 15 years of age or older. Entrants under 18 years of age must provide parental or legal guardian consent. Each team is limited to four core members or fewer. When submitting your team's information, please specify one point of contact only. Ideas that center around small form-factor smart devices that do not require video/camera functionality are preferred.
Interested? Check it out.
In the news: It's the little things
I read Dan Casey's column today about public school teachers buying supplies out of pocket for their students. Friends know about my excitement over new "school supplies," which I really should call "office supplies" at my age.
I donate to charity when I can. My friends would know that normally means animal organizations, supporting the welfare and adoption of furry critters. One of my hidden talents is being a guinea pig whisperer.
Each year, the university does a school supply drive in late July/early August. I've always thought about how excited I was for a new year of school once I got my new Trapper Keeper, Lisa Frank stickers, and cute magnets for my locker. At that age, it never occurred to me that other students didn't always have that option. My parents weren't wealthy, but I always had new school supplies each year. The more I've worked at a university, the more often I think about opportunities and how some students just don't have the advantages of others. And what obstacle, small or large, will be the one thing that causes them to finally give up?
At what age do kids start noticing that they aren't "like" other kids? When do they start noticing that they don't have the new notebook or a brand new pack of pencils? When they realize that they don't have a decent pair of socks or shoes? In the column today, it mentioned how teachers were buying basic necessities for their students which went much further than school supplies. They are buying socks and toothbrushes. It wasn't mentioned, but I suspect that would also include things like winter coats.
School is hard enough, but can you imagine what it would feel like to not even have the basic necessities to get through the day? At what point do kids give up? And if they give up early on, what happens to their future?
I had a quick conversation with one of our faculty members yesterday. We talked about student motivation and how some students seem to be willing to hang in there when a lot of others would give up. I wish I could bottle that motivation and distribute it. Finding motivation, confidence, and your voice .... all three things I've thought a lot about over the last year or so.
If you want to help out the teacher mentioned in the column, she has a GoFundMe page at: www.gofundme.com/backtoschoolsmiles.
I donate to charity when I can. My friends would know that normally means animal organizations, supporting the welfare and adoption of furry critters. One of my hidden talents is being a guinea pig whisperer.
Each year, the university does a school supply drive in late July/early August. I've always thought about how excited I was for a new year of school once I got my new Trapper Keeper, Lisa Frank stickers, and cute magnets for my locker. At that age, it never occurred to me that other students didn't always have that option. My parents weren't wealthy, but I always had new school supplies each year. The more I've worked at a university, the more often I think about opportunities and how some students just don't have the advantages of others. And what obstacle, small or large, will be the one thing that causes them to finally give up?
At what age do kids start noticing that they aren't "like" other kids? When do they start noticing that they don't have the new notebook or a brand new pack of pencils? When they realize that they don't have a decent pair of socks or shoes? In the column today, it mentioned how teachers were buying basic necessities for their students which went much further than school supplies. They are buying socks and toothbrushes. It wasn't mentioned, but I suspect that would also include things like winter coats.
School is hard enough, but can you imagine what it would feel like to not even have the basic necessities to get through the day? At what point do kids give up? And if they give up early on, what happens to their future?
I had a quick conversation with one of our faculty members yesterday. We talked about student motivation and how some students seem to be willing to hang in there when a lot of others would give up. I wish I could bottle that motivation and distribute it. Finding motivation, confidence, and your voice .... all three things I've thought a lot about over the last year or so.
If you want to help out the teacher mentioned in the column, she has a GoFundMe page at: www.gofundme.com/backtoschoolsmiles.
Monday, August 17, 2015
About those "soft skills"
When our students have a chance to ask industry vets "what is one area in which all technical students can use improvement," the answer is almost always this: "soft skills." We've always warned high school students "don't neglect your English courses." It's also why most CS programs require a public speaking course and additional higher level writing courses. It would be a rare tech job that did not involve speaking with others, working in a team, or writing up documentation.
For college students trying to improve their soft skills and be more competitive in the job market, try these tips from Forbes.
For college students trying to improve their soft skills and be more competitive in the job market, try these tips from Forbes.
Sunday, August 16, 2015
In today's news: Team of Virginia Tech students makes history in space
During the past week, I've seen several stories about a Virginia Tech team that was working on a project to test 3-D printing in space. Why would you want to do 3-D printing in space? When something breaks on the international space station, wouldn't it be nice if the astronauts could just print the needed part rather than arrange for it to be shipped to them, which would take how long and cost how much?
The student quoted in this article, Sebastian Welsh, is a rising senior in computer science at Virginia Tech. It was pretty cool to see that the VT logo that was printed during their experiment.
Read more about this project:
Roanoke Times
VT News
3D Printing Industry
WSLS
The student quoted in this article, Sebastian Welsh, is a rising senior in computer science at Virginia Tech. It was pretty cool to see that the VT logo that was printed during their experiment.
Read more about this project:
Roanoke Times
VT News
3D Printing Industry
WSLS
Best intentions and life
I started this blog with the intention of writing at least one post a day, not just loading up a queue to make sure something appear every day. What is the saying about planning what you are going to do and then God laughs? I certainly hope that God isn't laughing about our current situation.
I was born "late in life" for my parents or at least, at the time, I was considered late. My mom was 34 and my dad was 38 when I was born. I do have a brother and sister, but they are both older than I am. At my current age, ahem in my 40s, that makes my mom and dad 77 and 80, respectively. My dad has worked manual labor jobs all of his life and was still working at age 80 until he got the Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer diagnosis. For someone who hated doctors and wouldn't tell you if anything was bothering him, he certainly has seen more than his fair share of doctors and specialists, with everyone asking him how he feels and what his diagnosis is.
For the past 10 days, dad has been in the hospital. After taking chemo and still working for several months, he hit what I'm calling a speed bump (I'll hope that is all that it is, but only time will tell). It was about a month ago when they decided to try a type of "cryotherapy" or "Cryoablation" to try to freeze away some of the tumor. Ever since he got out of that procedure, he has been feeling a lot worse. He's not worked in over a month and he mostly sleeps, which is what he's doing now as I'm typing. For several weeks, we took him to different doctors and the ER, but only got different variations of "he's 80, he has cancer, and he's taking chemo, what do you expect?". I expect the doctor to listen to what is being said and offer some kind of suggestion or explanation as to why dad is going down hill so quickly. He's not been able to get down and keep down much of anything, and we're concerned that he's losing weight and has no energy.
After many weeks of that, his oncologist came back from an overseas trip and admitted him to the hospital. The blood work showed that dad was dehydrated and malnourished. It's really hard to think about how hungry he was and that he would have slowly starved to death if something hadn't been done.
My question about all this: what happens to someone who doesn't have anyone advocating for them? Someone who keeps bugging the doctors and trying to get someone help? Is this the way we treat the elderly and others who cannot speak for themselves? There has to be a better way.
I heard recently that a supervisor said to an employee that "your family and personal life shouldn't get in the way of your job." I'm not sure how that's possible, unless you hire single orphans who have no outside interests. Do we live to work or work to live?
I was born "late in life" for my parents or at least, at the time, I was considered late. My mom was 34 and my dad was 38 when I was born. I do have a brother and sister, but they are both older than I am. At my current age, ahem in my 40s, that makes my mom and dad 77 and 80, respectively. My dad has worked manual labor jobs all of his life and was still working at age 80 until he got the Stage 4 Esophageal Cancer diagnosis. For someone who hated doctors and wouldn't tell you if anything was bothering him, he certainly has seen more than his fair share of doctors and specialists, with everyone asking him how he feels and what his diagnosis is.
For the past 10 days, dad has been in the hospital. After taking chemo and still working for several months, he hit what I'm calling a speed bump (I'll hope that is all that it is, but only time will tell). It was about a month ago when they decided to try a type of "cryotherapy" or "Cryoablation" to try to freeze away some of the tumor. Ever since he got out of that procedure, he has been feeling a lot worse. He's not worked in over a month and he mostly sleeps, which is what he's doing now as I'm typing. For several weeks, we took him to different doctors and the ER, but only got different variations of "he's 80, he has cancer, and he's taking chemo, what do you expect?". I expect the doctor to listen to what is being said and offer some kind of suggestion or explanation as to why dad is going down hill so quickly. He's not been able to get down and keep down much of anything, and we're concerned that he's losing weight and has no energy.
After many weeks of that, his oncologist came back from an overseas trip and admitted him to the hospital. The blood work showed that dad was dehydrated and malnourished. It's really hard to think about how hungry he was and that he would have slowly starved to death if something hadn't been done.
My question about all this: what happens to someone who doesn't have anyone advocating for them? Someone who keeps bugging the doctors and trying to get someone help? Is this the way we treat the elderly and others who cannot speak for themselves? There has to be a better way.
I heard recently that a supervisor said to an employee that "your family and personal life shouldn't get in the way of your job." I'm not sure how that's possible, unless you hire single orphans who have no outside interests. Do we live to work or work to live?
Thursday, August 6, 2015
From today's Roanoke Times: the Tuxedo Pandas are going to the World Robotics competition
Members of the Tuxedo Pandas FIRST Lego team have been invited to the World Robotics championship in Shanghai, China. From the Roanoke Times article: "FIRST, which stands for For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and
Technology, is described as the 'varsity sport for the mind,' and
promotes a variety of design and engineering themed contests for
students ages 6 through 18, according to the website www.usfirst.org."
These students have a lot of fun while learning. Here's wishing them the best in their fundraising efforts!
These students have a lot of fun while learning. Here's wishing them the best in their fundraising efforts!
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Technology and baseball
I'm always intrigued by creativity. I think it's really interesting to see what kind of ideas another person can come up with. Normally, I wouldn't read an article that was about baseball. I admit, there's only one sport I like to watch or read about: college football. Go Hokies! The latest issue of the Hollywood Reporter has Derek Jeter on it. Why would I read an article about Derek Jeter?
The article is about Jeter's "next step" after retiring from baseball. He's started something called the Player's Tribune. It's an interesting idea and I doubt I would have known an out it otherwise. The article mentions that he has a foundation that provides programs for young people in New York, Kalamazoo, and Tampa, Fl. His foundation recently partnered with the StopIT cyberbullying app.
But back to the original question, why would I be reading about Derek Jeter? Seven years ago, he was one of the New York Yankees who played an exhibition game in Blacksburg. The things I remember about that game? Seeing those big names flash up on the screen when they came up for their at bat. Jeter, Rodriguez, Giambi. I remember seeing them hanging out in the dugout with the Hokie players. I also remember thinking "they should have let the Hokies score at least one run." The final score was 11-0.
Good luck with your next steps Mr. Jeter.
Saturday, August 1, 2015
From today's Roanoke Times: Coders to use skills to help Roanoke organizations
Hackathons started popping up around the country several years ago. The first ones we announced to our students were small and focused on a particular topic. There are still some smaller ones sponsored by a company or organized around a central them, but there are also very large events that draw college students from all over the country.
Here's the article I wrote about one of our PhD grads winning the Hokie Health Code-A-Thon back in 2012. Dr. Hussein Ahmed and his wife, Dr. Samah Gad, are now the founders of Transpose.
Hackathons can do a lot of good when they have a focus. Consider helping out the folks at Noke Codes.
Here's the article I wrote about one of our PhD grads winning the Hokie Health Code-A-Thon back in 2012. Dr. Hussein Ahmed and his wife, Dr. Samah Gad, are now the founders of Transpose.
Hackathons can do a lot of good when they have a focus. Consider helping out the folks at Noke Codes.
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