A bit of history. I graduated a technical high school in 1982 with the idea of being an electrician. Went right to work. Shortly discovered that I had absolutely no interest in that field. Wound up doing some other construction, painting, odd jobs for a few years. Then discovered computers in the mid/late 80’s. Started trying to learn programming on my own. Never learned enough to actually do anything serious with, but got good enough at using pcs to get out of the construction site and into the office. Worked at various office manager/admin type jobs throughout the 90’s, then discovered Flash in ’99 and the rest is history. Found my calling, so to speak.
So, in my Flash work, I use a lot of math, physics in the experimental stuff, and some pretty serious development practices in my day to day work, creating large Flash applications. All this is stuff I’ve just taught myself, read about, learned on line, or just figured out or faked.
I figured it was time I got myself a real education in the subject. So I signed up at the local community college and in September will be starting the first courses towards my computer science degree. I pretty much aced most of the admission tests, but in the college math one, there was a lot of stuff that was a complete mystery to me. So, my first courses will be College Writing I and College Algebra I.
In my opinion, the Flash Platform along with the open source initiatives such as ming, mtasc and the like are great teaching tools in computer science and mathematics.
Back at college in 2000 we were using DOS screens to output content of C++ and Java snippets; we never even heard the words “Perl”, “Apache”, “Linux “, “XML” in the classroom.
How boring!
Why not learn a programming language and programming techniques by using a library to create a SWF? The results will be in a visually appealing structure presented in a “browser”. I’m sure the student gets more and more inspired after every task and homework.
Also, analyzing the process of generating a SWF could be much fun and educational for the upper level CS students.
In math and physics courses, I’m sure you will marvel your classmates with cool SWF animations which actually will teach the consept much better than a 100 something dollar worth nonsense book…
The kids will come to you instead of the professor.
Ah! Teachers… They are another story!
Best wishes!
Ogla
Dude, no way. I must say thats quite an inspiration.
I was a geek until middle school where I became a slacker, and graduated one in 93. Worked in construction and on factory lines, still a slacker until 96 when I met my wife. She got me into tech school for CIS, where the geek was reborn and we both managed to get multiple industry certs including our CCNA’s, (and jobs) just in time for the Y2K frenzy.
One day her boss just handed her the entire Macromedia suite and told her to build a website. So she learned how to use FW and DW, and dropped the Flash 4 disc on my desk and said, “Here, this is supposed to be the next big thing. See what it does.”
So here I am trying to keep learning this stuff and stay off the factory line. Thanks for a good start to my workday.
Hey that’s cool to hear. I’ve been thinking about doing the same thing, taking some actual programming courses or computer science or something. My background was is a degree in Fine Arts in New Media but we barely did any programming and what we did was all hacked together.
Good luck going back to College!
that’s really great keith. thanks for the story and get all you can from skool–oh, and don’t go nuts in the process.
Math mistery for the bit101 guy? Bollocks!
Serious, though, I feel you. Since I’ve spent most of my life working and I didn’t have anyone to support me financially, I also had to skip college. I’ve just went back to college six months ago though – 10 years after finishing high school ! – and I’m loving it. I still have 3.5 years left until I get my graphic design bachelor degree, but it’s being fun so far. In fact, I was having this discussion just recently… you can absorb MUCH more, and learn MUCH more from school if you’re a bit older.
And I think you probably know, Brandon Hall was also getting a BS degree a few months ago.
Ooops, sorry for the mistake: BRANDEN Hall, not Brandon.
Hi Keith,
That’s great that you’re going back to school. One thing I did though (because I’m sure you have a stronger math background then what you tested for) is just buy the book for the Algebra course, study it a little bit, then retake the placement test. I did that because I was in the same position, didn’t want to take the algebra class because it didn’t count toward my curriculum (and I didn’t want to pay for it), and wanted a cheaper way out.
But you may enjoy algebra, what do I know?
Keith, that is fantatic!
One bit of advice….take the harder versions of the math and physics, because that’s where they teach you what it means and you get to apply it instead of rote memory and repetative exercises.
nice! i would have already thought of you as a programmer who already knows a lot. i’m getting my CS degree as well. like you, have taught myself pretty much everything. when you start studying trees and code efficiency, then it starts getting wild.
and when you start getting into upper Calculus, i can just see the cool stuff you’ll be creating.
good luck man.