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— originally saw this at Ray Schroeder’s Educational Technology blog
Learn computer programming in the blogosphere: 10 top computer programming blogs — from Education-Portal.com
From DSC:
I asked a colleague of mine, Mr. Jonathan Wyse, to comment on these blogs as I greatly respect his knowledge, wisdom, and insightful analysis on a variety of topics. An excerpt of his response follows (shared w/ his permission and with emphasis added by DSC):
I use a few of these already…
Will they teach you programming? They’ll help when you’re stuck or if you are looking to start a project. Learning to program is more than learning Java, C#, Perl, or JavaScript. It is learning a frame of mind and a whole new way of thinking. These blogs will help, but it really takes hands on work with a programming language, solving a few problems first. Once you learn to program (as opposed to learning a programming language which is how most schools these days teach computer science) picking up new languages becomes a rather trivial matter.
Probably the best essay on learning to program is Eric Raymond’s “How to be a Hacker”. It is a little intimidating when you think about what he recommends just to get started, but keep in mind he is advocating more than just mastery of one language, he is advocating a way of thinking that goes beyond the specifics of any one language.
On 01/27/2011,
in computer science, future, simulations, trends, vision/possibilities,
by Daniel Christian
7 Ways to Spot Tomorrow’s Trends Today — from the World Future Society’s Forecasts for the Next 25 Years
In the more than 40 years since the World Future Society was founded, futurists have developed a range of techniques to study the future. Here are a few techniques futurist use to spot new opportunities and potential problems. These methods give individuals and organizations an edge to help them succeed in a fast-changing world:
- Scan the Media to Identify Trends—Futurists often conduct an ongoing and systematic surveys of news media and research institutes. These surveys help spot significant trends and technology breakthroughs. Futurists call this environmental scanning.
- Analyze and Extrapolate Trends—After the trends are identified, the next step is to plot the trends to show their direction and development into the future. Trend analysis and extrapolation can show the nature, causes, speed, and potential impacts of trends.
- Develop Scenarios—Futurists often describe the future development of a trend, a strategy, or a wild-card event in story form. These scenarios can paint a vivid picture that can help you visualize possible future developments and show how you can prepare effectively for future risks and opportunities. Scenarios help you to blend what you know about the future with imagination about the uncertain. Scenarios help you move from dreaming to planning and then to accomplishment.
- Ask Groups of Experts—Futurists also conduct “Delphi Polls” which are carefully structured surveys of experts. Polling a wide range of experts in a given field can yield accurate forecasts and suggestions for action.
- Use Computer Modeling—Futurists often use computer models to simulate the behavior of a complex system under a variety of conditions. For example, a model of the U.S. economy might show the effects of a 10 percent increase in taxes.
- Explore Possibilities with Simulations—Futurists create simulations of a real-world situations by means of humans playing different roles. For example, in war games, generals test out tactics they may later use on the battlefield, or corporate executives can explore the possible results of competitive strategies.
- Create the Vision—Futurists help organizations and individuals systematically develop visions of a desirable future. Visioning creates the big picture of the possibilities and prepares the way for goal setting and planning.
On 01/24/2011,
in Apple, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, computer science, pace of change, programming, trends,
by Daniel Christian
Also see:
- App Store Beats iTunes to 10 Billion Downloads by 6 Years — gigaom
- Apple’s App Store reaches 10 Billion Downloads — from ComputerWorldUK
The App Store hits another milestone after 2.5 years - Apple Hits New Milestones: 10 Billion Apps Downloaded, 160 Million iOS Users and More — All Things Digital
- Apps appeal: the revolution has only just begun — from The Telegraph
Apple’s first 10 billion downloads will not be its last
On 01/18/2011,
in 21st century, biology, computer science, economics, learning agents, personalized/customized learning,
by Daniel Christian
ALA 2011: Adaptive and Learning Agents Workshop held at AAMAS 2011 — from Intelligent Systems
Adaptive and Learning Agents, particularly those in a multi-agent setting are becoming more and more prominent as the sheer size and complexity of many real world systems grows. How to adaptively control, coordinate and optimize such systems is an emerging multi-disciplinary research area at the intersection of Computer Science, Control theory, Economics, and Biology.
On 01/18/2011,
in 21st century, analytics, computer science, learner profiles, learning agents, learning ecosystem, mathematics, music, personalized/customized learning, programming, science,
by Daniel Christian
The Ultimate Study Guide: Wolfram Alpha Launches “Course Assistant” Apps — from ReadWriteWeb by Audrey Watters
The computational knowledge engine Wolfram|Alpha is launching the first three of a series of new “course assistant” apps today. These apps, available for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, are designed to take advantage of the Wolfram|Alpha technology in the service of supporting some of the most popular courses in high school and college.
The idea is to be able to quickly access the pertinent capabilities of Wolfram|Alpha relevant for specific subject areas. Currently, these subject areas are Algebra, Calculus, and Music Theory. But the company says it plans to add apps for other subjects – “for every major course, from elementary school to graduate school,” – including those fields outside math and science.
From DSC:
Notice the term engine (in bold maroon above). This is the type of sophisticated programming that will increasingly be baked into future learning products — as the software seeks to learn more about each learner while providing each learner with a more customized learning experience…pushing them, but aiming to encourage — not discourage — them. I can see an opt-in program where each of us can build a cloud/web-based learner profile — and allow such an engine to be “fed” that data.
On 01/06/2011,
in Apple, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, computer science, disruption, innovation, programming,
by Daniel Christian
Apple launches Mac App Store today — from Apple.com; also see this article at FastCompany.com
Excerpt from the FastCompany.com article:
The arrival of the App Store is causing much debate online about the changing nature of PC software. Much as the iOS App Store is the key to the iPhone and iPad’s success, and beats its competitors app store efforts, the Mac App Store has massive potential to upend the PC software vending market. Early indications suggest Mac Apps will sell for less than the traditional price brackets Mac software’s been sold at for decades. This could revolutionize the Mac market, turning it into something that could really allow Macs to challenge the traditional Windows market dominance in enterprise or at home–particularly as it’s a one-stop-shop for games, utilities and so on, and even handles updates in a way Windows can’t challenge.
Also see:
How the Mac App Store Changes Everything — from Mashable.com
On 01/04/2011,
in computer science, education technology, future, pace of change,
by Daniel Christian
1,000 core CPU achieved: Your future desktop will be a supercomputer — from FastCompany.com by Kit Eaton
On 12/27/2010,
in computer science, future, programming, web design and production,
by Daniel Christian
10 predictions for web development in 2011 — from Mashable.com by Jolie O’Dell
On 12/17/2010,
in career development, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, computer science, corporate / business world, digital audio, digital storytelling, digital video, mobile learning, mobile technologies, programming, trends, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
Six Hot Workplace Trends for 2011 from cio.com by Shane O’Neill
- Digital Portfolios Replacing Resumes <— From DSC: This speaks to the eventual need for digital literacy for all students
- Mobile Is the New Desktop
- Online Work: Hiring in the Cloud
- The HTML5/Flash War: Programmers Needed
- Businesses Will Get Even More Social
- The Death of Traditional Marketing
Running On Empty: The Failure to Teach K–12 Computer Science in the Digital Age
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Executive Summary
Computer science and the technologies it enables now lie at the heart of our economy, our daily lives, and scientific enterprise. As the digital age has transformed the world and workforce, U.S. K–12 education has fallen woefully behind in preparing students with the fundamental computer science knowledge and skills they need for future success. To be a well-educated citizen as we move toward an ever-more computing-intensive world and to be prepared for the jobs of the 21st Century, students must have a deeper understanding of the fundamentals of computer science.
The report finds that roughly two-thirds of the country have few computer science education standards for secondary school education, and most states treat high school computer science courses as simply an elective and not part of a student’s core education. 
Executive Summary Full Report
Also see:
On 12/10/2010,
in computer science, future, global / globalization, psychology, relationships, science, simulations,
by Daniel Christian
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“Surviving the future is an unsettling glimpse into the human psyche right now, as our culture staggers between a fervent belief in futuristic utopian technologies on the one hand, and dreams of apocalyptic planetary payback on the other. Thought provoking and visually stunning, Surviving the Future looks at the stark and extreme choices facing our species as we prepare ourselves for the most challenging and consequential period in our history.”
— from http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2010/survivingthefuture/
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As seen as CBC-TV on Thursday Oct-21-2010
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— originally from http://geraldcelentechannel.blogspot.com/2010/11/surviving-future.html
From DSC:
Although I don’t agree with many things in this piece, it’s important to reflect upon some of the sometimes exciting and sometimes disturbing things in this piece. Looking at some of the enormous challenges and potential directions ahead of us this century, it’s all the more important that our hearts are hearts of flesh, not hearts of stone!
On 12/07/2010,
in computer science, human-computer interaction (HCI), programming, user experience (UX), user interface design,
by Daniel Christian
On 12/07/2010,
in computer science, Google, mobile technologies, programming, vendors,
by Daniel Christian
Google rolls out Chrome app store, other updates — from CNN.com by Doug Gross