CST300 - Week 4

 

Lecture: Week 4 Learning Journal Post

 

This week, I am learning about setting goals and the characteristics of establishing specific goals with a timeline. The module introduces the ETS computer science test; an outline and a test sample are provided. The test is about 18 months from now, allowing time to plan and review other previously learned. 

I am formatting an outline to prepare for the upcoming ethics paper. I will also research the sources and write the formal outline for the argument essay.  

Part One: Set Your Educational Goals

It took me a few years to get transfer-ready to meet the requirements for the CSUMB CS program. My educational goal was partially achieved by accumulating the CS Online prerequisites required for admission. Admission to the program is a reminder that setting academic goals and planning are necessary for success. My educational goal in the CS program is to expand my learning and principles of software engineering and project management. By the end of the two years, I envision myself earning a bachelor's degree in computer science that demonstrates the learning objectives of the CS program. Moreover, the longer-term educational goal is to enroll in a Master's program.

Part Two: Set Your Career Goals

I have been employed in the private sector for years, leading and managing on-premises data centers and cloud solutions. The work experience I gained and obtaining my degree in the related field will help me secure a higher leadership position within the company I work for or another organization. 

Part Three: Take a wild guess of your percentile of the ETS Computer Science test

After viewing the ETS information, the sample of the test, and the content page, I feel that achieving a percentage between 75% and 85% is feasible. The success of a high score on the test is to review key concepts in discrete mathematics, algorithm analysis, programming, database management, and operating systems. Additionally, practice lots of similar questions to master fundamental principles. Although I have only reviewed one sample test of the questions provided, the difficulty level seems reasonable. For the next 18 months before taking the exam, I would attempt to review the material from the previous courses to refresh myself on the subjects. Also, creating a document, 'ETS Test Preparation,' to include notes for each testing category is a good idea. This way, I can review all the outlines effectively before the test. 

Part Four: Keep Up With Your Learning Journal

I am learning about how to structure arguments and claim types. A critical element of an argument is to identify the stakeholders. Another aspect is the control of bias in an argument, as it can be hard to avoid. I finished reading the article Biased Argumentation and Critical Thinking by Vasco Correia. He discusses motivational reasoning and its impact on the arguer and how it leads to committing fallacies. As the author states, it is a difficult concept to avoid and detect because it happens unconsciously. 

There is an activity related to responding to an ethical scenario. The first thing is to justify my response to the ethical dilemma with a claim type. In order to start on the ethical paper, I need to fully understand claim types and how to defend each one. This is going to come in handy in writing the essay. 

OLI Learning: This week in module 4, I am learning how to objectively apply the information about myself and my team members to improve our working relationship. During our weekly team meeting, we shared our findings about each other, putting the information we learned in previous modules to the test. We aimed to analyze each team member's preferences and use these traits to positively impact the group's success. The activity of telling two truths and one lie was fun and interesting, highlighting the importance of diversity in teamwork. I am also learning about different types of work and conflict styles, which is essential for any team to work cohesively. The OLI learning content is well-structured, enabling students to apply the learning immediately with the group. This practice demonstrates the high quality of this CS program education and how it was thought out very well.