Week 3 - An Emphasis on Ethics

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An Improvement on a Study Skill

Last week I identified 3 of my weaknesses when studying - creating a schedule, sticking to a schedule, and selecting an appropriate place to study. After reviewing study techniques (AcademicTips.org, n.d.). I’m going to focus on selecting the best place to study. My room is my typical study spot. Most of the time my room is a great choice for studying because I have all my study materials near and available to me. I have my desk and my PC with all my files on my hard drive. However, sometimes have a hard time focusing in my room because I can be distracted by things that are happening at home. Many students experience the same thing and say that they go to the library to study. However, I do not have a library within a reasonable distance. Because of this I can resort to coffee shops. But like many students, distraction from background noises is a big problem for me. Coffee shops may also create an environment where I’m not able to focus. Something I’ve been doing recently is putting binaural beats on my headphones. YouTube has many different binaural beat sounds for studying and I find these very useful for blocking out background noise.

On The Topic of Ethics - This Week’s Main Topic

Through this week’s material, I've gained insights into the various issues surrounding ethics in technology. These issues span legal, privacy, environmental, and cultural aspects. Individuals, companies, and governments all deal with the consequences of technological advancements. Privacy is a critical concern and within ethics focuses on safeguarding personal data. Environmental ethics such as energy consumption and electronic waste also highlight the need for practicing a more sustainable world of technology use. Social media may also raise issues like privacy breaches and cyberbullying. Legislative measures like the Data Protection Act and Copyrights Act aim to address these complex issues to balance the use of technology with ethical and legal responsibilities. According to the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (2018) it’s in my best interest to strive for maintaining high standards of ethical practice and conduct.

Looking Ahead to What Should Be Expected

In this week’s informative article What every computer science major should know (Might, n.d.) I gained some insights into developing professional and technical skills as a student of computer science. I learned that resumes may not adequately showcase a programmer's abilities and that portfolios might hold more significance. Portfolios can range from personal blogs to detailed project pages with publicly accessible code. They may also include contributions to open source.

I also learned about the importance of being an effective communicator. With today’s emphasis on collaborative remote work, “lone wolves” are becoming endangered (Might, n.d.).

Another takeaway from this article is that understanding and practicing the Unix philosophy is essential for computer scientists (Might, n.d.). To fully grasp its power, students should become fluent in basic Unix skills like navigating the filesystem, composing processes with pipes, and editing files with emacs and vim. I should also familiarize myself with writing shell scripts.

Furthermore, I learned that students of CS should acknowledge the importance of systems administration. This includes mastering tasks like kernel configuration, network troubleshooting, and web server setup. Of course, proficiency in multiple programming languages like C and JavaScript will be essential for our careers. It will be a good idea to brush up on some of these programming languages since it seems like the use of each is coming up in the curriculum.

Academically, a solid foundation in discrete mathematics, data structures, algorithms, and theory is necessary to be prepared for the technicalities that arise when understanding the concepts in computer science. Computer architecture, operating systems, networking, security, and cryptography will help prepare me for the challenges that lie ahead. Lastly, skills in software engineering, graphics, simulation, robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and databases will further enhance my capabilities in the field and ensure I remain adaptable and well equipped for a role in the industry.

CS Online Code of Integrity

In the modern age of tech, it’s important to submit work within the framework of the code of integrity. Submitting code that’s not mine, sharing completed code with other students and not indicating assistance that was received are each of the three rules listed in the CSUMB CS Online Code of Integrity (CSUMB, 2024). By reviewing the code, I've learned the importance of academic honesty in exams, assignments, or any other graded work. Collaboration and discussion with others are encouraged for problem-solving strategies, but the actual coding must be done independently. Plagiarism is prohibited, and sharing solution code with other students is against the rules. It's important to indicate any assistance that was received and to ensure it aligns with the boundaries set by the code. Academic integrity is important to gain trust and ensure fairness to each student. It also upholds the reputation of CSUMB's CS program.

References

(2018) ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct. Available at: https://www.acm.org/code-of-ethics (Accessed: 14 May 2024).

Best places to study (n.d.) AcademicTips.org. Available at: https://www.academictips.org/acad/bestplacestostudy.html (Accessed: 14 May 2024).

‘CSUMB CS Online Code of Integrity’ (2024). Seaside, CA: CSUMB.

Might, M. (n.d.) What Every Computer Science Major should know. Available at: https://matt.might.net/articles/what-cs-majors-should-know/ (Accessed: 14 May 2024).

Comments

  1. AustinMay 16, 2024 at 4:00 PM

    Hey Gerek,

    I think it's a really good idea that you are trying to get a good study space set up for yourself. Finding a good study room is important, but usually difficult to do. I also work out of my own home, but since I have been a remote worker for 5 years already I have figured a few things out that may be able to help you. Setting boundaries is probably the best thing you can do. I am also lucky enough to have my own office and the most helpful thing for me is just closing the doors and shutting everyone else out. If you are in a household with a lot of other people it is really helpful to make a schedule and get into a routine where you have set study times. Work with the other people in the household and ask them to try and be quiet during those time and at the very least not to enter your room or directly disturb you. I have found that simply making others aware and asking for their help changes the environment immensely as most people don't want to disturb you if it's important for you. Then all you have to do is actually utilize that time which is an entirely different discussion!

    ReplyDelete
  2. BrennanMay 17, 2024 at 4:29 PM

    Hi Gerek,

    It's great you have a space for yourself that you can use to study. My room is the best place for me to study in peace as well since I have my computer and everything I may need. I do have coffee shops and a library not too far away, but I don't study well outside my home. If you struggle with distractions in your home, let others know what times you plan to study so they can keep distractions to a minimum. If the distractions are outside of your control, I recommend headphones with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) while studying.

    ReplyDelete

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