event
Thursday 26 Jan 2017: What computer science is
Joshua Knowles - University of Birmingham
Harrison 170 14:30-15:30
Computer science still suffers from misunderstanding and misrepresentation out in the world, and even in Schools of Computer Science. In this talk, I will address this misunderstanding by explaining my view of what the subject really is, and how it can be taught. I will explain the core of the subject through use of aphorism and other short nuggets of information, sprinkled with some anecdotes to fill in the gaps. Much information can be communicated using only few bits, provided the anecdotes hit home to the student/audience member. All the rest is for the student to learn, and is as Socrates said: "I cannot teach anybody anything; I can only make them think". I would say I cannot even make you think, I can just encourage you to think.
