Final Post: AP Computer Science Overview

Writer's block is often a symptom of senioritis, but I think I can manage to offer a genuine reflection about my experiences in AP computer science. To begin, I'd like to thank you for teaching me over the last two years, and being tolerant of my irregular work ethic over the past few weeks (I'm speaking in second person since you're hopefully the only one reading this blog). I entered the class not knowing a thing about object-oriented programming, and I've come out much more knowledgeable and conscious of the computerized world around me. The more I learn about computers, the more I realize how far away I am from knowing enough about them. I'm looking forward to taking more computer science-related classes when I get to college next Fall.

I really enjoyed everything about this class up until Gridworld and the endless mounds of worksheets that I had to complete. To me, those two parts of the course directly contradicted the aspect of experimentation that I absolutely loved during each lab. I would look foward to solving problems in computer science, and also practicing my programming skills. But I do understand that Gridworld is still a necessary component of the curriculum, since the AP test dictates everything. The sheer number of worksheets, on the other hand, doesn't seem quite as vital. Sure, it's a good effort to keep everyone on the same page as the course progresses, but people don't really put in enough effort to make it worthwhile. In my opinion, the quizzes will let students know if they need to study more. Worksheets just add a superficial layer of busywork on top of everything else.

I'm grateful for how well the course prepared me for the AP test. For that reason, the class functions well for what it's supposed to do, but I feel there should be more emphasis on certain units, such as searching/sorting, and file manipulation. Of everything I learned this year, it seems like these two units are the most practical. Personally, I didn't have quite enough time to fully grasp the different searching/sorting methods, and the class was moving too quickly at that point. The class is great, but it can be fine-tuned a bit more to strike a nice equilibrium between AP preparation and practicality.

There is so much more I would like to explore with java, but unfortunately the school year has cut us short. I'll definitely do some work on my own, but I'll miss having a good collaborative setting.

- zk : out

Gridworld and more

These last few weeks have been pretty hectic; I've been out of school a few times recently, and my rarely present partner doesn't exactly help tip the scales in my favor. I found myself buried in a mound of worksheets and labs that I inherited even from the last unit about recursion. But the unit I need to master right now is something called "Gridworld."

The name initially took me back to the dog days of Jeroo, when I had to command a virtual kangaroo around a tiny island, picking up flowers every once in awhile. But once I started to delve into the mysterious new place, I found......nothing so far. Right now, Gridworld is just a 2D grid containing different 'actors,' which is lingo for the different classes scattered across the grid (bugs, chameleons, crabs, rocks, and flowers). Currently, I don't have access to these classes, but all I know is that they each behave in a unique way. On a recent lab, though, I changed the act() method of the bug class, which dictates a set path the bug will take on cue. It seems to me that Gridworld is just a way of getting practice with manipulating classes and such, possibly a good way to prepare for the AP test. Gridworld is, after all, some part of the AP exam, although I don't know which.

Last Friday the whole class worked on AP free response problems. The problems themselves aren't really difficult, but the main problem I have is remembering important details from past units. One example is the difference between lists and ArrayLists. On a basic level, I know that a list is just a collection of data types, and an ArrayList is an object which can contain a list of other objects. But I might be wrong. That distinction tripped me up a little bit, but I think with some practice I will be totally prepared for the AP.

- zk : out

A Recurring Theme (Spring Break Post + more)

The bombs dropped this week. Recursion, as its called, has been pestering me over and over again. Last year, in my computer programming class, we worked with python and its applications with a virtual world called 'Jeroo.' In order to move the little kangaroo around the island, I often times had to loop his actions through recursion. Now, Jeroo is but a distant memory, and the face of Java is scarier than ever. Finding a way to loop through a method using recursion isn't a problem, but keeping track of variables during the whole process is quite tricky. And in order to fix even the most minor bug, I have to break my arm just to get what I want. With time, I think this new concept will work itself out, but for now I'm still trying to get over the hump.

To my teacher: I couldn't finish this post over Spring Break because I didn't have computer or internet access, so I'll write about the Finches and sorting, too. 

The Finches, like with last year, were a handful. Not only did they not listen to our commands, it wouldn't do ANYTHING. It was supposed to my faithful servant, but it was too stupid to process anything. To the creators of the 'Finch' : I'm sorry if my previous statements have offended you, but I can't hide the truth. On a more positive note, I think I better understand the different types of sorting now. It just took a trial-and-error process, along with a few awful quiz grades. Whenever I have the chance, I'll definitely look up more about the bubble search, because it still mystifies me in a few ways. 

- zk : out

It goes on

I've been absent from computer science quite a bit recently. I'm getting the impression that my partner takes this gesture as, "do anything unproductive," because I come back and find myself behind schedule. Regardless, I'll find a way to snap back. 

I've been learning about some electronics in amateur radio. Probably the most mysterious thing right now is the transistor. I know they a different application and implementation in context with computers, but I would enjoy learning more about them. 

My greatest accomplishment last class was making a shell sort with my partner. Its magic.

- zk : out

Loaded Dice

My internet has been acting a lot like loaded dice recently. Sure it'll navigate the web if I want it to, but of course time is always the mysterious dimension. A few days ago I tried downloading eclipse, just so I could start some java on my home computer. Luckily, the eclipse website had a linux version I could download, and so I did. The file was quite hefty, just over 200 mB, but not at all too much. All of a sudden, the progress bar showed "interrupted," and the download stopped. I tried to start it again, but nothing happened.    I really don't know if I can blame the internet, or the OS.

Tests are becoming more of a learning experience now O.O

- zk : out

I am no computer

I'm sure we've all been wondering if the computer's CPU capacity will ever surpass the brainpower of humans (not necessarily the ability to feel, which seems like another subject entirely). Well, last time I checked, I couldn't multiply 874 by 9345 in less than a second. I'm just messing around there, but computers are definitely more skilled in certain areas, such as that monstrous arithmetic up above. Cognitive abilities and learning on the spot is an area seen, but not conquered by computers, and its pretty easy to tell that us humans have the upper-hand on that contest. I'm all for smart computers (like the ones made up of clustered processors dubbed "super computers"), but in the end I just hope Terminator doesn't happen, especially if Schwarzineger is dead by then. 

- zk : out

bandwidth

I've been hearing the term a lot lately: bandwith. It just vibrated in my head with little real significance until recently. When talking about computers, I always knew bandwith refers to the rate of data transfer. In that sense, bandwidth is important for most everybody in modern society, seeing as its hard to be patient when a youtube video stops mid-stream. Beyond computers, bandwidth is also the heart and soul of radio communication, because it designates each radio "band," in order to keep people from overlapping their frequencies. The radio bandwidth also corresponds to an amount of data that a signal can carry (the bandwidth of a human voice is 3kHz 'wide', for example). This kind of knowledge is a perk of taking amateur radio, I guess, which I find fascinating.

- zk : out