Class Journal Week 1

Nicole Anguiano

Before reading the Denning articles (on your honor), answer the following questions;

1. When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
   • When I hear the term computer science, I think of creation. To me, computer science is not only the science of computing, but the science of creating new software and hardware to perform computational tasks and to make our lives easier.
2. When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
   • My older relatives and friends who are not versed in computer science think of something complicated and difficult to understand. They think of binary and complicated lines of code, and the coders that they see in movies.
3. When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
   • Younger relatives and friends think of code and new ways of doing things.

Before reading the Janovy chapter (on your honor), answer the following questions;

1. When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
   • When I hear the term biology, I think primarily of cells and genetics.
2. Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
   • I do consider myself a biologist. I have a desire to know and learn about the intricacies of life. Being a biologist is not solely about experimenting in a wet lab and going out in nature. It's also about the desire to learn about biology and having a curiosity about the world.

After reading the Denning articles and the Janovy chapter, answer the following questions:

1. What was the purpose of these readings?
   • I believe the purpose of these readings was to get a new perspective on biology and computer science. Many people have preconceived notions as to what biology and computer science are. The articles provided a different viewpoint to the fields of computer science and biology, challenging us to think about them in new ways and from a different perspective.
2. Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
   • The voice of the programmer appeals to me the most. While several of the other voices, such as that of the Computational Thinker and the Scientist also appealed to me, programming is what excites me the most. The possibilities behind what can be created through programming inspire me to keep learning and growing as a programmer.
3. Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
   • Automation can be applied to habits. Many people, myself included, have a routine that they follow every morning after getting out of bed. First the habit has to be developed (just iike a search algorithm needs to be coded before use), but after the habit has been formed, it becomes almost automatic. I don't need to think about my morning routine - it's just something that I do automatically.
4. What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
   • One thing I found interesting about the Janovy reading was the connection of biology and art, especially regarding the separation of art and science in schools. In my personal experience, the sciences and the arts have been separated ever since I was in middle school, with students focusing primarily in one or the other. I had never really thought about how biology and art are connected, and the Janovy article helped me to see the connection between them. Biological understanding is conveyed through art, with the art serving to bring focus to the content of the paper or textbook. This helps to deepen the student's understanding of the material. As a result, I can see that art and science should not be separated, but instead linked.
5. What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
   • Being a biologist means being a naturalist and having a sense of wonder about the world and how the world works. It means having an interest in the world of organisms, and being able to appreciate the natural world. I do consider myself to be a biologist. I have an interest in the world and the organisms that make up the world. Even if my passions lie in computers and technology, I have never lost the sense of wonder at the natural world and the creatures within it.

Nanguiano (talk) 14:30, 6 September 2015 (PDT)

Emily Simso

Before reading the Denning articles (on your honor), answer the following questions;

1. When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?
   • When I hear computer science, I mostly think of programming or people writing code for various programs. It's very technical and requires a lot of training and knowledge.
2. When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
   • I imagine that an older generation would have a similar view to computer science as I do, with the emphasis of the technological aspects. For some, this vision may be slightly less defined that my own, since it's a newer field that is constantly changing.
3. When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?
   • A younger generation would maybe have a broader view of computer science, since they can see more direct applications in their own lives.

Before reading the Janovy chapter (on your honor), answer the following questions;

1. When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?
   • The term "biology" makes me think of doing field experiments, research, and observations. Biology is an interesting field because it incorporates so much and can be used in so many different ways.
2. Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?
   • I would consider myself a biologist because not only do I perform biological work in my courses, but I am motivated to learn more about the natural world around me.

After reading the Denning articles and the Janovy chapter, answer the following questions:

1. What was the purpose of these readings?
   • These readings provided a good overview of how computer science and biology are used in the everyday. I think they provided a better appreciation of both fields and the variety of work they encompass and also showed how the two areas are connected to each other.
2. Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?
   • The Scientist voice appealed to me the most because I like that computer science can be used in the "traditional" science fields to make new discoveries about the natural world. I also like the idea that this could also be applied to the medical professions.
3. Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.
   • As a Dance minor, the principle of Coordination stood out to me as particularly applicable. In dance, you not only have to coordinate your own body in various ways, but you have to do so with the others around you as well. Everyone is in a "network" of sorts as you work together to achieve a common goal that, ultimately, will also have some function.
4. What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?
   • I liked the idea of changing your mindset from " I do" to "I am." I think this represents a shift in mindset that is important no matter what field you go into because it means that not only is your body immersed in your work, but your mind and inner self as well. It marks a different level of passion that I think is important if you want to make any real difference in your profession.
5. What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?
   • After reading the article, being a biologist means having a deep appreciation and understanding of the natural world and striving to make this a part of your daily life. I think it also means being able to incorporate other ways of thinking into your own as technology grows and the scope of the natural world expands. The author also seemed to think that biologists sometimes have to defend the importance of their work to others, but so willingly because they are so dedicated to what they do.

Emilysimso (talk) 10:37, 5 September 2015 (PDT)

Before reading the Denning articles (on your honor), answer the following questions;

1. When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?

• From my basic understanding of the science, programming and C++ come to mind.

2. When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?

• Windows 95 or Windows 98 comes up a good amount in conversation.

3. When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?

• My younger cousins are infatuated with minecraft and understand so much more about computers than I did at that age. They have a stronger base when it comes to understanding the subject than the generation before them.

Before reading the Janovy chapter (on your honor), answer the following questions;

4. When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?

• The study of life, in all its forms.

5. Do you consider yourself a biologist? why or why not?

• Yes, because I enjoy and actively pursue to study life in all its forms. Biology is a vast science with many pathways to find a greater understanding of life and all its intricacies.

After reading the Denning articles and the Janovy chapter, answer the following questions: 6. What was the purpose of these readings?

• Both Computer Science and Biology are very similar in that they take data sets and information and derive and explain its meaning. These readings give a greater understanding into the meaning of the terms Computer Scientist and Biologist. There is a broad category of jobs and endeavors to be undertaken in both fields. The combination of these two disciplines opens up a new niche of endeavors to be undertaken and questions to be proposed. FINISH!

7. Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?

• Finish

8. Apply one of the seven principles from the Computing is a Natural Science article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.

• Hierarchical aggregation can be seen throughout all of biology, especially cell theory. Cells compose tissues, which compose organs, which compose systems, which ultimately comprise the organisms the organ systems reside in. This idea can be seen in the way our military is structured. There is always heirarchy in place to describe the order of command, who is in charge and has the ultimate authority. Starting with the grunts at the bottom of the totem pole and the Generals at the top.

9. What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?

• Finish

10. What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?

• Finish

--Eyanosch (talk) 15:22, 5 September 2015 (PDT)