Week 3: Module 3

This is the third week of the CSUMB computer science program.

The first thing we did this week was assess one of our weakest studying skills, which I picked 'How to use your time', as I'm somewhat terrible when it comes to managing my time. We were supposed to go over studying techniques from a link that encompassed a plethora of different ways one can improve themselves. Therefore, I picked 'Time Management Tips' in conjecture with my weakest studying skill. The article went over how one should use their time, along with how much free time you have, and certain methodologies one can implement to not only gain productivity but a healthy mental state for learning. This article was very insightful, as it went over what to do, how to do it, and how to apply it. What struck me the most was the personal time survey and the study hour formula, which went over how an individual spends their time throughout the day and how to implement studying hours throughout the day.

The second thing we did this week was go over the module's readings and assignments. Thus, I read through module 3's intro, lecture and writing lab readings that went over a plan for individual learning, along with project management and an emphasis on ethics. There weren't any quizzes this time, but a very through overview on what ethics was and how to apply it. Ethics is essentially a branch of philosophy that deals with morality and the principles of right and wrong. Involving virtues, moral principles and ideals that explain or study human conduct. This involves ethical theories like Utilitarianism (asserting that overall happiness minimizes overall pain), Deontology (asserting that certain actions are right or wrong no matter the outcome), and Virtue Ethics (asserting justice, integrity, courage, honesty, etc.) which all have different perspectives on how something is ethical or unethical in the grand scheme. This shows that ethics whether in law or morality is closely related, but distinct from each other ethics is about systematic studies and evaluating moral character, while morality and law are about rules, regulations, beliefs, values, and principles of what is right or wrong. 

After going over the extensive readings, I completed a team project going over how important our program courses are, as by knowing what you're getting into and acknowledging the impact it will have on your future, will help us understand what to do next within our chosen career. The next assignments came from an individual learning plan, weekly survey, and collaboration module. The individual learning plan was over a course requirement form, which allowed me to realize that I needed to take a world language during my CS program, while the weekly survey and collaboration module were separately over what we thought of the program so far and ways to improve our teamwork with teammates. The last assignments were the industry analysis essay and two ethical discussions. The industry analysis essay was simple this week only because I did the majority of it for the draft and peer review, thus I only needed to edit a few words and sentences to finalize the essay. The two discussions on the other hand required some thought, as they were more in line with an ethics topic and understanding how to apply ethics within a conversation, which was certainly both hard and informative.

The third thing we did this week was read over 'What a Computer Science Major Needs to Know', which illustrated how students were required to acknowledge what is going to be important, not only for their education but also their livelihood. Essentially, this article goes over what we are currently learning within our computer science program, as it goes over what we will be learning whether that be programming languages or system software and how it can be applied in real world instances, thus allowing us to receive a comprehensive understanding of what we are getting into, but also how it can improve our chances in our career.

The last thing we did was also another reading, which went over a 'Code of integrity' on what a student should do within the course. This went over programming ground rules that will define our time within the CSUMB program. Essentially, CSUMB doesn't want students to ruin the program's goal in educating students, thus overreliance on outside sources is prohibited and students are advised to do coding themselves.  

In the end, I went through another week and hope to keep doing well.