Category Archives: Uncategorized

“And now, for something completely different…” By the way, the language is named after the BBC show “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” and has nothing to do with reptiles. Making references to Monty Python skits in documentation is not only allowed, … Continue reading →

You — and/or your children, students, etc. — could build your own copy of the original Analytical Engine! Out of LEGOs!! (Along with other items I’ve mentioned in my earlier posts, LEGOs are another thing I love: I estimate that … Continue reading →

One CS-related book I’ve enjoyed this summer is as follows: THE THRILLING ADVENTURES OF LOVELACE AND BABBAGE WITH Interesting & Curious Anecdotes OF CELEBRATED AND DISTINGUISHED CHARACTERS Fully Illustrating a Variety of INSTRUCTIVE AND AMUSING SCENES; AS PERFORMED WITHIN AND … Continue reading →

This posting continues my last two: “From the Perspective of Computer Science, Mathematics May Be a Foreign Language“ “We Aspire to Comply with the ACM/IEEE CS Curriculum Guidelines — But…, But…, But….“ (Gosh, this sequence of musings is just like … Continue reading →

This posting continues the discussion of a non-majors course in computing, started in the March 2015 issue of ACM Inroads and the subsequent comments by Mark Guzdial. In particular, this posting provides perspectives of Michael Goldweber and Henry M. Walker, … Continue reading →

This is a reflection on work in progress at my institution, Grand Valley State University (GVSU), to change our CS curriculum to comply with ACM/IEEE Computer Science Curriculum Guidelines. This work isn’t all done yet, and what I’m writing about it … Continue reading →

At my institution, Grand Valley State University (GVSU), if you go straight out the door of the Department of Mathematics, and go all the way to the other end of the long hallway that you’re in, then you’ll reach my … Continue reading →

It’s my first year in the classroom, and it very much feels like I’m going back to school – and I don’t even think of myself as a “real” teacher. (I help teach an AP Computer Science course at a public … Continue reading →

I also read Communications of the ACM, and I’d like to comment on some elements in its August issue, as follows: At the end of page 5, “editor’s letter” by editor-in-chief Moshe Y. Vardi, it says “Copyright held by author.” … Continue reading →

In a frighteningly few number of days, classes will start for the next academic year. It’s frightening because I have so much to do: prepare for classes, write some committee reports I was supposed to do at the conclusion of … Continue reading →