Thanks, Owen, and everyone else who replied to my query. You've been very helpful. I've forwarded your postings to my son-in-law and have fingers crossed.
Pamela On Jul 29, 2010, at 10:28 AM, Owen Densmore wrote: > I think the key problem is that schools feel they need to choose just ONE > language. And it has to be Important and Liked By Industry and Used By Other > Classes. > > MIT has a different approach: use Scheme for introductory classes. It's > little used outside of schools, but great for teaching purposes. > > There is no Good Answer, because there are so many different languages for a > good reason. Consider PHP. It became the web site language because the only > other choice at the time seemed to be Java, which is Too Hard. But you'd be > mad to consider it for building scientific visualization apps (or nearly > anything outside of the web). > > Consider Processing, our 3D programming language. It is Basic Java, i.e. > Java w/o many of it's irritations. Again, built by MIT, it is specialized to > be of use to designers. Ditto NetLogo for modeling. > > So any hip school should simply follow the MIT model, and forget about The > Right Language. Instead, simply teach Programming, possibly with several > languages! > > ---- Owen > > > I am an iPad, resistance is futile! > > On Jul 28, 2010, at 4:22 PM, Edward Angel <an...@cs.unm.edu> wrote: > >> I'd worry about about how to use that number. The prevailing view in both >> academic departments and industry is that Java is on its way out. For the >> kinds of things that Java is good at, scripting languages have advanced so >> much that they are replacing Java. For large scale applications, industry >> never used Java. >> >> It's a major problem for schools that have their whole curriculum in Java. >> When their students graduate they find the job opportunities can be very >> limited if they don't have experience with other languages like C++. For our >> students that are not CS majors but need to know some programming, the >> demand ranges from C++ and Matlab for engineering majors to python for the >> animation industry with a lot movement towards java script. >> >> It's interesting that all the feedback I get from industry is that they >> (like us academics) hate C++ but they have yet to find a suitable >> replacement for large scale programming jobs such as developing and >> maintaining a game engine. >> >> Ed >> __________ >> >> Ed Angel >> >> Chair, Board of Directors, Santa Fe Complex >> Founding Director, Art, Research, Technology and Science Laboratory (ARTS >> Lab) >> Professor Emeritus of Computer Science, University of New Mexico >> >> 1017 Sierra Pinon >> Santa Fe, NM 87501 >> 505-984-0136 (home) an...@cs.unm.edu >> 505-453-4944 (cell) http://www.cs.unm.edu/~angel >> >> http://artslab.unm.edu >> >> http://sfcomplex.org >> >> On Jul 28, 2010, at 1:52 PM, Roger Critchlow wrote: >> >>> ACM Technotes reported today: >>> >>> Java/J2EE is the programming and developing skill in most demand with more >>> than 14,000 open job positions nationally, according to a July report from >>> IT job board Dice. >>> >>> -- rec -- >>> >>> On Wed, Jul 28, 2010 at 1:39 PM, Grant Holland <grant.holland...@gmail.com> >>> wrote: >>> Dave, >>> >>> What is your opinion about certification in the Java world at this point? >>> >>> Grant >>> >>> >>> Prof David West wrote: >>>> >>>> Pamela, my replies do not seem to get posted to the list, so I included >>>> your direct address. >>>> >>>> There is no rating or accrediting body for certifications. The ACM/IEEE >>>> could and perhaps should do this, but they have a conflict of interest >>>> in that they offer their own set of certifications. >>>> >>>> You are absolutely correct that the quality of the programs varies >>>> significantly - some vendor certifications, like Cisco's, have a very >>>> good reputation and they also certify trainers. Others, like Scrum >>>> Master are hideous jokes (I am a "Certified Scrum Master). Microsoft >>>> Certs are in the middle, good except when the right answer conflicts >>>> with Microsofts answer in which case right loses to might. >>>> >>>> A lot of universities, especially two-year schools offer courses that >>>> are, in effect, certification test preparation. >>>> >>>> If you let me know what certifications you are most interested in, I >>>> might be able to provide some direction. >>>> >>>> dave west >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00 -0600, "Pamela McCorduck" <pam...@well.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Does there exist a rating agency or group that rates IT certification >>>>> programs the way several such groups exist for colleges and universities? >>>>> My son-in-law wishes to upgrade his skills, but we're very concerned that >>>>> some of the programs are nothing but fancy scams. >>>>> >>>>> Thanks, >>>>> >>>>> Pamela >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> "God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a >>>>> draft--nay, but the draft of a draft. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and >>>>> Patience!" >>>>> >>>>> Melville, "Moby Dick" >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ============================================================ >>>>> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >>>>> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >>>>> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >>>>> >>>>> >>>> ============================================================ >>>> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >>>> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >>>> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> Grant Holland >>> VP, Product Development and Software Engineering >>> NuTech Solutions >>> 404.427.4759 >>> >>> ============================================================ >>> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >>> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >>> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >>> >>> ============================================================ >>> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >>> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >>> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >> >> ============================================================ >> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv >> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College >> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org "God keep me from ever completing anything. This whole book is but a draft--nay, but the draft of a draft. Oh, Time, Strength, Cash, and Patience!" Melville, "Moby Dick"
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
