Priya Ranjan’s Post

🚀 The Growing Complexity of Computer Science Education As universities worldwide see a surge in computer science (CS) majors, a complex problem emerges: how to effectively teach CS in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. At Stanford and MIT, CS major proportions have dramatically increased, reflecting a broader trend across North America. This shift not only places administrative pressure on universities but also prompts a reassessment of CS education's structure and goals. Institutions like MIT, Cornell, and UC Berkeley have responded by establishing dedicated colleges of computing, signifying computing's elevation to a domain of knowledge akin to law or engineering. However, this development also raises critical questions about computing's role in academia and society. Should computing dominate other fields, or should it serve them? The answer could shape the future of education and technology. 👉 Like, share, and follow for more insights into the future of education and technology. #ComputerScience #EducationInnovation #TechTrends #AcademicEvolution #FutureOfWork

Is a computer science degree enough for thriving in technical jobs these days? As complexity grows, the need for interdisciplinarity, especially some anchoring in the humanities, becomes more important. 💡 🌐 A Surge in Demand The allure of the technology sector's wealth, power, and influence has led to a significant uptick in CS majors, with Stanford and MIT witnessing more than a doubling in the proportion of graduates over the last decade. This burgeoning interest has not only placed administrative pressures on universities but also fueled a competition for prestige, manifesting in diverse CS degree offerings across various academic departments. 🎓 The Rise of Colleges of Computing In response to the escalating demand and to accommodate the multifaceted nature of computing, institutions like MIT, Cornell, and UC Berkeley have established dedicated colleges of computing. This strategic move underscores the elevation of computing to a higher-order domain of knowledge, signifying its pervasive influence across various disciplines. As Charles Isbell, former dean of Georgia Tech’s college of computing, notes, "Computing was going to be a big deal." This, more broadly, is consistent with the rise of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workers. 🔍 Centralization vs. Integration The centralization of computer science education raises fundamental questions about its impact on academia and society. While dedicated computing colleges offer the promise of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, there is also concern about further isolating computing from other disciplines. In the article, Mark Guzdial, a former faculty member in Georgia Tech’s computing college, shares his experience, revealing tensions between CS and other fields, emphasizing the need for computing education that is both truly interdisciplinary and outward-looking. 💡 The challenge lies in not just producing proficient software engineers but in cultivating a generation of computer professionals who are as invested in societal welfare as they are in technological advancement. The goal is to ensure that computing serves as a tool for addressing broader issues, but this will require a renewed commitment to ethics and engagement with morality. #ComputerScience #EducationInnovation #InterdisciplinaryLearning #FutureOfWork https://lnkd.in/e7xtvdtR

(Gifted Article: Universities Have A Computer Science Problem) "I used to think computing education might be stuck in a nesting-doll version of the engineer’s fallacy, in which CS departments have been asked to train more software engineers without considering whether more software engineers are really what the world needs. Now I worry that they have a bigger problem to address: how to make computer people care about everything else as much as they care about computers." This is a very real problem at a number of universities. Everyone wants to major in CS, and yet, there's not enough in the curricula that ensures students understand that computing doesn't exist in a vacuum. Additionally, if we want to eradicate the harms present in the technologies, we have to also ensure students (and grads) understand how the harms happen in the environments in which they live, learn, and work. You can't address one without addressing the other. It's exactly why I created my course at Duke and why I do the work I do. This felt like the professional confirmation I needed to "just keep swimming." h/t Alex Hanna, Ph.D. #computing #tech #ComputerScience #colleges #universities #CSMajor #undergraduates #identity #IdentityInclusiveComputing #AiiCE https://lnkd.in/eZvnCg7c

We need innovators! This problem is not only seen at the University level, but even in entry level educational opportunities with children. We love to support the idea of pumping out more software engineers without first researching what do we need right now and more importantly in the future? Imagine building the confidence of a child into a dead end career. It’s scary to think about what the tech industry will look like in the next 3-4 years. But even scarier when we are all content in wasting talent on skills that will no longer be needed in human form.  Are we still teaching children how to write checks?  Are we still teaching them how to write in cursive? Etc.  The world is changing, I hope we can try to keep up.  #computing #tech #ComputerScience #colleges #universities #CSMajor #undergraduates #identity #IdentityInclusiveComputing #emergingdelaware #emergingteens #tequity

As an HCI adjunct professor I tend to agree that people studying computer science should have a broad based education that goes beyond math, stats and code. They should study a foreign language, poetry, black literature, feminism, because computer science is an intersectional technology it touches various layers of our human lives and those who create with it should be informed about those intersectional layers or humanity. Which is why I love teaching AI human-centered design! It address some of the gaps in computer science education that exists today!

I stumbled across this thought-provoking article, "Universities Have A Computer-Science Problem" late last week and the subject matter and the author's point of view has been playing the in my mind for the last few days so I thought I ought to share this: <https://lnkd.in/gtJCseE7> The article resides behind a paywall so please allow me to summarise this 2000-plus-word article: The author discussed the significant rise in computer science degrees in universities over the past decade, driven by both intellectual curiosity and career aspirations in the tech sector. Some of these universities are consolidating CS into dedicated colleges, elevating it to a higher status akin to law or engineering. However, this raises questions about whether CS should dominate other disciplines or serve these disciplines. Historically, CS departments have been part of either engineering or arts and sciences schools, influencing their culture and values. The emergence of standalone CS colleges offers autonomy and scalability but may isolate students from diverse perspectives. Critics argue that this separation could exacerbate tech's recklessness and disconnect from societal priorities/concerns. The author also highlighted diverse approaches among universities, such as Georgia Tech's outward-looking culture versus Michigan's efforts to integrate CS with liberal arts. It reflects on the need for CS education to transcend mere technical training and foster a broader understanding of societal impact. The author concluded this article by questioning the future direction of computing education, urging for a balance between technical proficiency and broader interdisciplinary perspectives, emphasising the importance of making computer scientists care about societal issues beyond computing itself. I thought business leaders could learn something from the CS conundrum. Business leaders could stand to learn that in driving digital transformation, it's crucial not to overlook the human element. Emphasising technical proficiency without considering broader stakeholder/societal impacts can lead to reckless innovation and disconnection from wider ecosystem needs, potentially harming both businesses and society it operates in. Driven by ruthless KPIs and drive to achieve remarkable ROI/effectiveness/productivity - we ought not to forget that business and technology are built by people in order to serve people. Food for thought.

Computer science is taking over academia, Ian Bogost writes, and its newfound power may corrupt: https://lnkd.in/gwyyqZbj Across the U.S., the number of CS majors has been growing creating both enormous administrative strain and a competition for prestige on many campuses. At Stanford, almost one in five undergrads now ends up majoring in computer science. At MIT, it’s 42 percent. Traditionally, computer science developed either in engineering schools, as an outgrowth of electrical engineering, or in liberal-arts colleges, as an extension of mathematics, Bogost writes. One approach that has gained popularity is consolidating the formal study of CS into a college of computing. MIT opened one in 2019, Cornell in 2020; UC Berkeley announced one last year. “The importance of this trend—its significance for the practice of education, and also of technology—must not be overlooked,” Bogost writes. “When they elevate computing to the status of a college, with departments and a budget, they are declaring it a higher-order domain of knowledge and practice, akin to law or engineering. That decision will inform a fundamental question: whether computing ought to be seen as a superfield that lords over all others, or just a servant of other domains, subordinated to their interests and control. This is, by no happenstance, also the basic question about computing in our society writ large.” MIT’s computing dean, Daniel Huttenlocher, says that the speed at which computing evolves justifies the new structure. “But the computing industry isn’t just fast-moving. It’s also reckless,” Bogost continues. “Instead of operating with a deep understanding or respect for law, policy, justice, health, or cohesion, tech firms tend to do whatever they want. Facebook sought growth at all costs, even if its take on connecting people tore society apart. If colleges of computing serve to isolate young, future tech professionals from any classrooms where they might imbibe another school’s culture and values—engineering’s studied prudence, for example, or the humanities’ focus on deliberation—this tendency might only worsen.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/gwyyqZbj

To prepare for the societal impacts of technology, computer science students need to take humanities coursework now more than ever. At the very least, add "Frankenstein" to the required reading list. #liberalarts #highereducation  #computerscience

Top 10 Universities in the USA for a Master's in Computer Science : Pursuing a Master's in Computer Science (MS CS) from a top-tier US university can significantly enhance your career prospects. Here are 10 of the best institutions to consider: 1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): Renowned for its rigorous academic programs and cutting-edge research, MIT consistently ranks at the top for computer science. 2. Stanford University: Another premier institution, Stanford offers a strong MS CS program with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship. 3.Carnegie Mellon University: CMU is particularly well-known for its computer science programs, especially in areas like artificial intelligence and robotics. 4.University of California, Berkeley: UC Berkeley provides a diverse range of CS specializations and opportunities for research and collaboration. 5.University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: UMich offers a strong MS CS program with a focus on both theoretical and applied aspects of computer science. 6.Cornell University: Known for its rigorous academic standards, Cornell's MS CS program provides a solid foundation in computer science. 7.Georgia Institute of Technology: Georgia Tech is a leading public university with a strong reputation for its computer science programs. 8.University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: UIUC offers a variety of MS CS programs and is a major research hub in computer science. 9.University of Texas at Austin: UT Austin provides a comprehensive MS CS program with a focus on both theory and practice. 10.University of Washington: UW is a top-tier public university with a strong computer science department and a focus on research and innovation. These rankings can fluctuate slightly from year to year, and your choice may also depend on your specific interests, career goals, and financial considerations. It's recommended to research each university's specific programs, faculty, and research areas to find the best fit for you. Would you like to know more about any of these universities or their specific programs? #USA #CS #Topranked