A13JacobBurton

A13JacobBurton

To-Do

Please Answer the following Questions: provide a brief rationale for your answer — not just yes/no answers

1. which classes did you take outside of your chosen discipline?
   1. how did you select these classes?
      1. based on interest
      2. based on requirements for your degree program
   2. did would you evaluate the “outside classes”?
      1. a waste of time
      2. okay
      3. an enrichment of your education
      4. if you had a choice: would you take more outside classes?
2. to be a well educated graduate in your respective discipline — what do you consider the most important objectives?
   1. did CU offer classes for you to meet these objectives?
   2. have you pursued these objectives outside of classes (in other settings at CU; outside of CU)?
3. what do you consider the most important impact of new media and human-centered computing on YOUR education?

which classes did you take outside of your chosen discipline?

I am a double degree student with CS Engineering and International Affairs; so I have a very broad class base already. My classes have consisted of computer science, applied mathematics, hard and natural sciences, political sciences, geography, literature, philosophy, and Modern Standard Arabic. Most all these have fallen within one of my disciplines the other, but all of them have fallen outside of at least one of my disciplines.

how did you select these classes? (e.g. based on interest or based on requirements for your degree program)

I chose these based upon the requirements of my degree programs. All these courses have filled some requirement; however, especially for International Affairs, I had enough options to still chose classes based upon interest. So I was able to fulfill requirements with classes that I was interested in for the most part.

how would you rate the “outside classes”? (e.g. a waste of time or an enrichment of your education)

I would never say that an outside class is a "wast of time". I had a teacher in high school who told me to think of education as developing a tool belt. Everything that I learn will be added to my tool belt and I can use it later. Still, I believe that we go through higher education to learn a given skill set. We do not go to a university simply to learn how to have a meaningful and productive life. We go to university to learn a skill and then we use that skill in order to lead a meaningful and productive life. Asking the university to teach graduate students how to be productive members of society is similar in my mind to expecting an elementary school to raise your children for you. It is neither their responsibility nor their intention to do this. Instead educational institutions provide an individual with a given skill set to add to their tool belt. It should be up to the individual to use that tool set to benefit society.

if you had a choice: would you take more outside classes?

No. Primarily, I cannot afford any more classes than I am taking, and outside courses are not the priority on my list. While they are still valuable tools, they are not the tools that I need showing on my degree.

to be a well educated graduate in your respective discipline — what do you consider the most important objectives?

Actual work experience. For me, it would be research experience.This would be applying what I am learning and studying in the university to real life applications. This would provide exposure to the social aspect of academia as well. Research at the graduate level is generally interdisciplinary and done in corporate settings. You provide your expertise within your field and you are working with others who can provide their expertise in their own fields. It is not necessary, or even desirable necissarily, for anyone to know anything about the other fields; it is only required that everyone is able to work in conjunction with individuals from other disciplines.

did CU offer classes for you to meet these objectives?

I am currently involved in both normal work and research opportunities at CU.

have you pursued these objectives outside of classes (in other settings at CU; outside of CU)?

Yes. I pursued both of these opportunities on my own and apart from any of my formal studies at CU.

hat do you consider the most important impact of new media and human-centered computing on YOUR education?

I highly value bringing design back to the consumer. I was concerned upon entering the CS degree program that we would focus solely on the engineering, back-end aspects of CS and never focus on usability and effectiveness from a user standpoint. So this has provided a more rounded and functional knowledge of CS engineering.