[geeks] Education [was: [rescue] Mainframe on eBay]

[William Enestvedt]

Nadine wrote:
>
> As an example, why do architecture degrees still teach drafting on
paper?
> Why don't they go directly to Autocad, TurboCad, etc?  No one actually
> uses manual drafting anymore in the "real world".  They do so because
> there are things architects need to know how to do themselves--and
> computer programs allow the students to "cheat" on the basics.
>
   Yes yes YES. My last job was at America's oldest
continually-operating architectural firm, and one of The Twelve Mighty
Principal architects didn't use his computer. At _all_. (Well, maybe for
email, but not that I could tell, judging from the size of his mail
spool...)
   A very technical, egg-heady friend just started Yale's architectural
Master's program, and she showed up on campus in later summer in order
to take a basic drawing class. And instead of resenting it, she's
already written that it helped her.
   This is a narrow sampling from within a single profession, but it's
still valid.
>
> Jobs change, careers change, tools change.  Technology is a moving
> target.  Students need to be taught to be flexible and
> adaptable.
>
   "Teach principles, not practices" perhaps? :7) One senses a whiff of
manifesto from the liberal arts students!
-wde
--
Will Enestvedt
UNIX System Administrator
Johnson & Wales University -- Providence, RI