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The first IQ test was invented in 1905 by Alfred Binet and since then the prevalent view has been that intelligence is an ability one is born. The general view was that genes determined abilities / intelligence and that environment has only a small role to play in nurturing talent. Binet himself deplored these views and was quoted as follows.
Some philosophers seem to have given their moral approval to these deplorable verdicts that affirm that the intelligence of an individual is a fixed quantity, a quantity that cannot be augmented. We must protest and react against this brutal pessimism; we will try to demonstrate that it is founded on nothing.— Alfred Binet (1909)
Quite recently, a young man in North India, approached me for a job. Upon querying what he can do, he replied “Main Computer Chalatha Hoon”. This kept ringing in my mind, does one drive a computer like a car or use computer like a car. The widespread dispersion of computing devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones has put the internet and software at anyone’s command that you can proudly announce “Main Computer Chalatha Hoon” especially in India with its huge digital divide and urban – rural disparities. This incident made me wonder about “Computer Class” in my daughters school and what they are learning. I do see them trying to use Microsoft Word and Power Point and at some point LOGO programming language. Shouldn’t we distinguish between Computer Science Education and “Computer Class” or “Digital Literacy”? The school has “Computer Teachers”, but have they been trained in “Computer Science”? I have embarked on a study to see the state of the field in various countries and was amazed to notice the attention Computer Science Education was receiving from Policy Makers, Academicians, Industry Experts but not so much from School Boards and Schools itself.
Recent article in NY Times reports that Georgia Tech in collaboration with Udacity will offer MS degree in Computer Science for students worldwide using the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) model that was pioneered by Coursera, edX, Udacity and MIT OCW. The cost will be less than the cost for on campus program in computer science and the students don’t need to worry about boarding and lodging costs besides completely avoiding any need for US Visa. [Read More]
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