How Rude!

I am writing an entry because I just had to blog about what I witnessed today.

I had two computer science courses today and the most shocking thing I noticed was how rude students can be. For some reason in the UK universities, students can just talk during lectures, not listen during lectures, and simply disrespect the professor during the lecture.

At Wellesley, I feel that most students have an amount of respect where they wouldn't disrupt the class. But in the UK, students would talk, make outbursts, and obviously not learn from the lecturer. I dislike this type of classroom setting because it prevents those who want to learn from hearing the important things. Also this makes the lecturer annoyed and unwilling to go into depth about the material. I guess these are the reasons why the US university/college system still include grading marks such as participation. Or this type of respect for professors/lecturers only happen at Wellesley... I wouldn't know.

To understand all this, I can only believe that UK university students act in this rude way because their grades are solely dependent on one exam at the end of the year. They take all 8 courses' exams during their third term. Precisely, most people do not have to go to lectures and simply learn from the textbook. For me, I feel like lectures make you learn things outside of the textbook.

Another factor that could contribute to this rude behavior is most students feel like they already understand the material. In the field of computer science, I think there is a large fraction of people who think they are "know-it-alls" and try to out-smart everyone. They don't need these lectures because it's "easy." I just wish that those people would be understanding and considerate about those trying to learn in the classroom.

Overall, I feel sorry for the lecturers because I would hate being disrespected for wanting to teach about something I love and do for a living. This is simply what I have observed while studying in the UK... maybe my perceptions will change at the end of the course... but so far this is mainly seen in my courses without master students.

To add onto rude behavior, I know that there is a stereotype of Americans being rude... but I have to say that people in the UK are rude too. There were multiple times where I thought this, but I can't think about them now... hopefully I can refresh my memory soon.

Well then, until tomorrow! :)
Kristian

Computer Science and all of its glory

In memory of a man who changed the technology field... Steve Jobs is forever inspirational.

I heard of the news midday today from a text message. Shocked as I was, I told some acquaintances I met in computer science. They responded with "what? you didn't know?" as if it was old news. I'm sorry if I wasn't awake at 3am to read the news break on facebook and twitter... nor did I check those mediums since I had class all-day.

From there, I discovered that I am different from regular computer science majors who talks about tech-y things, such as ram, processor speeds, etc. I realized that I don't want to be a programmer.

Steve Jobs opened the technology market to think about design -- human centered design. (Of course, he has done so much more because he founded so many different things... but this is what stood out to me.) The easy-to-use interface of apple products and the billion dollar industry changed technology. This is what I like about computer science. Programmers can create the most efficient algorithms -- but I'm just not into doing that. I want to analyze, critique, understand, and design how people interact with technology. I guess I like the pretty stuff what some engineers don't believe is important in the production process. But how do engineers unlearn what they think may be obvious to some people and not others? The computer science industry has been changing and I look forward to where it will go.

As I am currently taking Software Engineering and Human Computer Interaction, I've learned how important it is to design efficient and understandable products. It can save time, error, and accidents. The most common example, used in the class, was the design of medical products in hospitals. Imagine the type of tools they use there and how complicated the buttons are.

Well those are my thoughts for now... :) The speech I've included in the video is from Stanford University's 2005 graduation. The words of Steve Jobs are pretty inspirational. Also watching video clips of Steve Jobs over the years definitely bring tears to my eyes.

I need to stop defining myself based on other people's perceptions and I need to start focusing on what a love and enjoy.

Rest In Peace, Steve Jobs and Thank You for everything you've done.

Kristian

Start of the New Academic Year... Finally

This week is called "Induction Week" for the new undergraduates at UCL. The new students are welcomed to their departments and taught the ropes of being at UCL. In the UK, students have to apply directly into their department, aka major. In the life of a CS student, they have 7 out of the 8 courses chosen for them. So they only get to pick one elective, relating to CS or any other department at UCL.

I don't know if this model of learning is better or worse than the US system of "finding yourself" and "choosing your major later." There are those students who end of changing their minds and transferring into new departments. This leaves them to spend another year at UCL.

Coming from Wellesley, I find that this way of learning intimidating. I worry about having all the required prerequisites to take second and third year courses. I actually haven't fulfilled the basic requirements needed for the CS major at Wellesley. So I am a bit worried and stressed, but I am just going with it.

I've decided to take the following courses and hopefully I get approved to be in all of them. Another difference from Wellesley is that I have to submit the courses I want to take, then get approval by the department to register for the course. There is no way of knowing if you're officially registered for the course.

• CS Courses:
• COMP1002 Theory I
• COMP2009 Software Engineering and HCI
• COMP3080 Computer Graphics
• Art History
• HART1602 19th- and 20th-Century Art in London Collections II

I've been wanting to take an art history course! So I hope to take this course. What's even better is that classes will be taught at major museums such as the National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern, etc. Learning from the primary source is one of the best things about studying in Europe.

As for the CS courses, I'm taking Theory I in replacement of the CS231 Fundamental Algorithms course at Wellesley. Also for the CS major, there are one-200 level course and one-300 level course requirements. So I am taking the other two courses to fulfill those parts of the CS major. Of course, I am interested in the courses, aka "modules." I want to learn about how to be a software engineer and I want to learn how to make 3-D graphics on computers.

So right now, it is "induction week" and it's a waiting game for classes to start next week. I seriously can't wait for everything to get going... maybe I'll finally feel at peace and time will fly much faster.

xoxo,
Kristian


UK Tip for Studying Abroad #7: Don't travel through Ireland, Scotland, etc. when studying abroad in the UK.

• You won't get a student visitor visa from Britain and you will face problems in enrolling and registering yourself to officially become a student. 
• It will be a stressful process! 
• So travel straight to Heathrow or at least to a country that will make you go through customs when going to the UK. :)