Chat with Suzanne Menzel’s C211 class

December 02, 2008

I had an opportunity with Mike Ashely from Beckman Coulter, Inc. and Chris Borland from Information in Place, Inc. to talk with students at IU Bloomington in Suzanne Menzel's C211 class about careers, internships, and gaining experience. Mike made a great connection from computer science classes at IU to to how Beckman Coulter utilizes computer science in a regulated life sciences world. Chris provided a view in to augmented reality and gaming that helps people learn / train. And I provided my thoughts on a degree does not define you plus resources to building and connecting to a network of people.

Here are the comments back from students.

Question: What was the most interesting thing you learned today? Responses:

• Blood analyzer is cool. Software development and testing are important. Remember!! Gaming is teaching! It is useful.


• Don't underestimate what you already do and know. Teaching it with games.


• How to promote skills I've gained from hobbies on my resume.


• Human resource skills are a huge help in the professional world.


• I found learning about the differences in day-to-day operations between three very different kinds of companies, both small and large, to be very interesting and provided a good look into the future potential of a degree in this program.


• I found the medical use of computer science to be interesting from Beckman Coulter. I think the most interesting was without a doubt Information in Place and the various ways they use computer science.


• I learned the role that design can play in information companies, and how you can improve your design skills over time.


• I thought it was cool that they are trying to use games to help teach ideas.


• Information in Place makes games for military, funded by NASA and government and PBS.


• Information in Place uses technology and gaming to educate people.


• It was interesting to hear how there are jobs within companies of varying size from small businesses at homes to large corporations. It's useful for companies of all shapes and sizes!


• Mike Ashley's presentation was interesting in the way his company uses both mechanical and CS process.


• People with CS degrees can work in many different occupations.


• That 300/400 level computer classes are actually useful in the future. Simple things like playing video games teach you a lot and are pretty good things in resumes.


• That degree is not the only thing that matters.


• That just because your major is computer science doesn't mean your job will be programming for the rest of your life.


• That NASA and the military are interested in using games and such to teach people or train soldiers.


• That serious gaming can teach high school students without boring them.


• The blood analyzer system and how it works.


• The books that John Blue recommended. The Mythical Man Month. I would like to pick up one of these books. Also, he spoke of not holding back in your resume; you have a lot to offer. Communication is key.


• The broad scope of CS applied in real world just represented by these three gentlemen.


• The hobbies or volunteer work that I have done is important to my future career.


• The machines built to check blood samples were pretty interesting.


• The most interesting things I learned today include augmented reality and software-hardware interface.


• There are a lot of jobs for CS majors. Find something you like.


• Three very different ways to use Computer Science in the real world.


• Use of Unreal Engine to teach.


• Using augmented reality and complex gaming for training and performance enhancement in the military and NASA. Gaming can alo be used in the classroom.


• Using augmented reality to train the military.


• Using games to learn.


• Value of getting a masters degree (or not). What they look for when hiring. Likes/dislikes of jobs.


• What CS graduates actually do in the real world.


• What they enjoy doing at work.