What do computer engineers to study? It is curious that a widespread profession with degrees in almost all universities in the world has so little unclear what their engineers have to study.
Introduction This article does not necessarily address issues that relate to information technology as such, want to go into another area that worries me and that is none other than training and, within it, the area I know best The computer training. Once
written this article, I will complete this introduction to indicate that basically did try the usual topics, primarily because the training of IT professionals is closely related to the state of computing and especially its future.
What is taught in computer science? Early plans
study computer engineering were heavily influenced by the source of most of their teachers. In some faculties the teachers came mainly from areas of engineering, telecommunications engineering and industrial engineering-mostly schools and other areas of science, mathematics and physics mainly. The titles first official "Graduate / Diploma in Computer Science" seems to be opting for this second stream, while the current "Engineers / Computer Engineers" seems to be closer to the first.
This difference of cultures led to the clash between two different conceptions of curricula in computer science. The first with more emphasis on applied subjects such as operating systems, computer networks, software engineering, etc. The latter with more weight on the baseline survey, a majority of subjects as calculus, algebra, discrete mathematics, automata theory, etc. The result end of the course curriculum combines both views by law, although the balance of power at each college determine the bias of each plan.
What programming language?
Another typical problem when implementing a computer science curriculum is to choose which language or programming languages \u200b\u200bused. It seems reasonable that this decision is made primarily for educational reasons, but many other factors affect and have affected the decision.
For some time many universities used to teach Pascal as programming language. In other subjects, typically related to operating systems, C was used as the most used in the implementation of operating systems, teachers of subjects preferred real time control or Ada, etc. These approaches were criticized from the industry for being far from market realities. It is very important to learn COBOL cried for 15 or 20 years ...
In my view, the industry seems unaware that lag behind the university and not in front on these issues (contrary to what they believe). I mean, some years ago for many people in the industry to the university explaining things useless when not teaching COBOL. Interestingly, as students universities learned other things, in particular C, when they reached the industry began using what they knew best. So, they made use of C, for example, even for business management programs, for which he is not especially gifted.
Today the situation is similar. Now from the industry claims, for example, that use Java as a programming language. Rather, it asks to be taught Java and its implementations of all core technologies and little else. I know that for many the idea of \u200b\u200ban interpreted language with strong connections to the network may seem new, but the truth is that many things were similar and better before Java was just lucky to be born into the arms of a multinational.
new factor: the industry
also adds a new factor, the industry has grown and now there are very powerful players: Microsoft, SUN, etc. who understand what future engineers will learn a huge factor in what will be used in enterprises in the years ahead. Hence, many companies make great efforts to place their products in universities. Microsoft
advantage of its popular operating systems for desktop computers, which are mainly equipped classrooms that practice mainly for price reasons universities. Until very recently it was difficult to find compatible computer rooms were not operating systems from Microsoft. The resistance has been strong to the appearance of classrooms with GNU / Linux or other free operating systems. Multinational companies have created software licenses campus to try to persuade universities to use. Have made donations software with the same idea.
My basic question is: Should I force the administration to use technology neutral, ie free teaching in information technology? In my opinion yes, for two reasons. The first least: by price. The campus licenses are very cheap compared to individual prices, but still must be paid and donations are only produced the limited subset of very prestigious universities with the idea that it leads to others.
The second is the most important from my point of view, government should force the use of proprietary technologies for not cooperating in the maintenance of monopolies in any area of \u200b\u200bthese technologies. OK to use as Java, or the only operating systems that students see are the Microsoft Windows family, it seems dangerous from the point of view.
Curiously, for someone who has championed more engineering aspect of computing, are the sectors more supportive of strong mathematical background who most understand the need to use proprietary technologies. Perhaps the non-patentability of mathematics has led that community to develop more open than that of the supposedly more dynamic engineering. Professional ethics
Another point of interest in computer training, and that often leaves aside, it is training on the computer as a branch of knowledge and social components. The delivery of such knowledge is usually done alrededor de la asignatura de deontología profesional. Esto no es exclusivo de la informática, casi todas las titulaciones universitarias imponen ciertos créditos
obligatorios de deontología profesional.
Las asignaturas sobre deontología en informática tienen en mi opinión un perfil muy limitado, que reconozco sesgada por la implementación de las asignaturas que conozco. En general se centran en una única parte de los problemas a los que se enfrenta un informático en su vida profesional: el uso de información confidencial, bien de los usuarios de los servicios que desarrollan, de sus compañeros o de las empresas para las que trabajan. También abordan, como no podría ser menos, las prácticas ethics, such programs do not intentionally incorrect, you enter discussions on the need for professional or not (this would for another article), it comes to hiring practices and relationships with peers and competitors, and generally establishing the legal rights and duties of the computing profession.
However, in my opinion it is desirable to introduce students in other computer-related issues, but are more general. I think it's important to face the social problems of computing. In particular it seems essential to know the philosophy underlying the development model free software. It is unacceptable that most computing students leave the classroom thinking that the only way to develop software or developing it to make money is by selling proprietary licenses. It is necessary to address the analysis of software licenses, to consider its implications. Similarly
is necessary in the classroom to address the issues related to intellectual property, of which I think free software is a subset. The computer is now closely linked with the production and distribution of multimedia content. The computer is necessary to discuss and reason about the ways in which you will be making these functions and their social responsibilities.
professional practices of a computer should not be limited to its relationship with confidential information, privacy of data, etc. It is important to be aware of their role in the production chain with intellectual and knowledge to decide what kind of tools developed or used in their professional lives. The other computer
far I have used the computer training as a common thread of the article. I realize that the computing profession today is full of people from very diverse. Thus, besides engineers, There are engineers from other branches, licensed, etc. Yes, what was said about the use of free computer tools also applies to training.
subjects related to intellectual property management in general and the development model of free software in particular I think it should be mandatory in studies related to communication technologies and highly recommended (perhaps in the form of free subjects choice / configuration) in other degrees.
Another part of computer professionals are self-taught. They would recommend that, following his instincts, try to look beyond the tools fashionable shopping and bet on free software as a way of expertise.
Finally, as a teacher I can not stop the rest of the user without duties: it is worth to be simple users of GNU / Linux, you must understand, for example, what role does the GPL and the development model of free software in general. Slashdot
As always remains a good place to discuss these issues. So if you want to read more about these topics can intervene in many of the discussions held in this regard.
Excerpted and adapted for the community in general, the book "On Free Software" - http://gsyc.escet.urjc.es/ ~ grex / about-free / informaticos.html (C)
