Comments on: Intro Curriculum Update

By: Robert Harper

Robert Harper — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:13:08 +0000

Thanks for the correction and reference!

By: sclv (@sclv)

sclv (@sclv) — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:14:46 +0000

I think your etymology of ‘algebra’ is a bit overstated. See, e.g., http://www.und.nodak.edu/instruct/lgeller/algebra.html

By: jsalvati

jsalvati — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:06:42 +0000

Oops, I meant for the Data Structures and Algorithm’s course.

By: jsalvati

jsalvati — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:05:08 +0000

Hmm, I was hoping to work though this course, and was happy to see that the course notes (and at least some of the assignments) were on the website. However, they seem to have disappeared (looks like a new course is starting). Is there any way to access these materials (as well as the libraries you supply)?

By: singpolyma

singpolyma — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:48:43 +0000

I’m sorry if you found something I said offensive. You haven’t answered the question, though. The question isn’t “Why haven’t you released it.” but “How would (hypothetically) allowing students to see questions that have previously been asked allow them to ‘cheat’.”

I’ve been asking academics this question for years. I hope someday to find someone who will answer it at all without dodging the question :)

By: Robert Harper

Robert Harper — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 21:50:15 +0000

Behave yourself, please. The course materials are not all under my personal control.

By: Stephen Paul Weber (@singpolyma)

Stephen Paul Weber (@singpolyma) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:51:17 +0000

“Unfortunately, the homework assignments for these courses are not publicly available, because we want to minimize the temptation for students to make use of old assignments and solutions in preparing their own work.”

That’s just rediculous. Assumedly you provide the students with the assigments they are meant to do the work for? So how would access to old assignments help them to “cheat”?

Solutions are a different matter. Academia’s obsession with hiding solutions frustrates me, but at least I can see how one could “cheat” with access to them.

By: James Noble

James Noble — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 09:07:32 +0000

Ahh, this reminds me of the famous quotes:

“It is practically impossible to teach good programming to students that have had a prior exposure to object-orientation: as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration.”

“The use of Java cripples the mind; its teaching should, therefore, be regarded as a criminal offense.”

By: Robert Harper

Robert Harper — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:49:02 +0000

Ah, sorry about that, I’ll see what I can do. I’m in Europe at the moment, so it may take some time.

By: George Colpitts

George Colpitts — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:46:30 +0000

I’d love to look at the course materials but the problem sets and lab assignments seem to be inaccessible unless you are at CMU.