English Major? You Are Hot and May Not Know It
July 24, 2013
I get quite a few laughs when I point out that my degree is in medieval Latin poetry. Hey, what can I say? The computer science departments at my undergraduate university did not want anyone using the precious mainframe to index Latin anything. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Dr. William Gillis had a different view. So I know zero about poetry but I could in the early 1960s generate concordances and indexes. The rest, of course, is history. Halliburton Nuclear, Booz, Allen & Hamilton (now Snowdonized), and a couple of big companies into electronic information.
Imagine my thrill when I read the most amazingly wild and crazy article in the San Francisco Chronicle (July 14, 2013) on page E8 with the reassuring, almost baby-blanket comfortable title, “English Majors, Once Disdained, Back in Demand.” You may be able to find a version of this write up at http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx. No promises, however. I am following in the footsteps of universities which are craw fishing away from the notion that someone with a degree in law or art history will be able to find a job after graduating.
In my opinion, the main point of the essay is that English majors can look beyond standing in line for SNAP cards and unemployment benefits. English majors have the ability to “construct stories.” The passage which made me a true believer about the value of an English major was:
When so0meone spends four years reading, writing about and talking about complicated, nuanced texts, a kind of interpretive stacking occurs that enables a student (or an employee) to navigate the noise surrounding a document and pay attention both to what it’s saying and (perhaps more important) to what it’s doing.
If you are an English major, you already know this. I frequently reflect on the Elizabethiad, an epic written in Latin hexameters by William Alabaster, to curry favor with Queen Elizabeth. The fellow needed some Latin oomph since he was flitting back and forth to Spain and putting himself in a position where his “true faith” was easily questioned.
The closing paragraph of the write up is interesting as well. The author, a university professor, noted:
Of course, English isn’t for everyone, and it won’t guarantee you a job upon graduation, like a major in accounting might. But with people switching jobs every few years now, I can think of no degree more versatile or more interesting. I also believe that studying English makes you a smarter reader of the world. And as the world becomes more saturated with information, literacy (in all its forms) is the most employable skill around.
Great point. However, with rising illiteracy in the US, and the emergence of smart software which removes the need to type words to locate videos, I think that the meaning of “English major” may have to be revised. Don’t write it in cursive, however.
Stephen E Arnold, July 24, 2013
Sponsored by Xenky
Search System Tutorial Simplifies Deep Learning
June 21, 2013
In the Wikipedia UFLDL Tutorial, you can learn the basics of Unsupervised Feature Learning and Deep Learning. Of course the tutorial is meant for those who already have some understanding of machine learning (if you need and even more basic approach, you can visit the Machine Learning Course to catch up on supervised learning, logistics regression and gradient descent). The tutorial covers Sparse Autoencoder, Vectorized implementation, Preprocessing: PCA and Whitening as well as Softmax Regression and Building Deep Networks. One exercise for Self-Taught Learning states,
“In this exercise, we will use the self-taught learning paradigm with the sparse autoencoder and softmax classifier to build a classifier for handwritten digits.You will be building upon your code from the earlier exercises. First, you will train your sparse autoencoder on an “unlabeled” training dataset of handwritten digits. This produces feature that are pen stroke-like…These features will then be used as inputs to the softmax classifier that you wrote in the previous exercise.”
The tutorial walks you through each step with a number of examples and exercises, turning what might be fairly expected to be a complicated process into a veritable textbook- streamlined, straightforward and easy to understand. It turns out search systems can be very simple when automated and partially automated learning are implemented.
Chelsea Kerwin, June 21, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext.
Furthering Free and Online Education
June 5, 2013
The Washington Post reports on a hot topic in education these days: online education. No, this recent article does not simply feature a rundown of online education courses, it delves into the next step: free online text books. The headline reads: “Coursera to Offer Students Free Online Textbooks, with Conditions.”
Coursera, of course, is one of the online providers offering free educational courses online. Textbooks are a logical next step. The have struck a partnership with several publishers to enable students to use certain textbooks for free while they take the courses. Publishers include Cengage Learning, Macmillan Higher Education, Oxford University Press, SAGE and Wiley will be available through e-readers provided by Chegg.
The article states:
“Koller said the agreement will help instructors who felt restricted in what they could require students to read. She also said it will help publishers market full versions of their books to those interested in buying them. Coursera, based in Mountain View, Calif., launched in April 2012, and the company has more than 3 million registered users. Along with edX and Udacity, it is one of the most prominent MOOC providers in a fast-emerging market. Cynthia L. Selfe, an English professor at Ohio State University, said the textbook agreement will benefit thousands who are taking a MOOC on Coursera that she teaches with a group of faculty.”
Does this article suggest that there are more challenges for traditional publishers or is this an opportunity for companies trying to grow and running out of options? The jump from $500 million to $1 billion is a big job.
Megan Feil, June 05, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
The New Hacker Class
May 27, 2013
It might sound like enrolling in Hacker School teaches you how to be a criminal coder, but rather it is an intensive program that lasts three months, four days a week for eight hours a day. The goal is for its students to learn how to be a better programmer akin to an old-fashioned training trips. According to the school’s blog, “Peter Norvig And Eight Others Are Hacker School Residents.” For those who unfamiliar with Google, Peter Norvig is the Director of Research at Google and his residency bespeaks about his dedication to helping students learn new tricks of the trade. Residents spend one or two weeks with the Hacker School and share their experience/knowledge with the students.
“We want to make Hacker School the best place on earth to become a great programmer, and we want Hacker School to be the most productive three months of our students’ lives. That’s why we started our residents program last year to bring the best programmers we can find to Hacker School. Residents come for one or two weeks and work directly with students: They pair program, do code reviews, give short talks, run seminars, and bond with the batch.”
Programs like this are a great addition to a resume, not to mention an amazing networking tool. It also proves that Google is dedicated to teaching the next generation.
Whitney Grace, May 27, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Copy Machine to Grades Papers
May 24, 2013
Copy machines seem slightly outdated as they evoke images of futile technology a la Office Space. But Popular Science represents the antithesis of this and so does the new photocopier discussed in “New Software Teaches Photocopiers How To Grade Papers.” Automated grading machines for multiple choice exams have been around for decades but this takes it to a new level where handwritten answers can be graded by this new Xerox machine.
The software, called Ignite, would keep track of which students are doing poorly and on which questions. At a glance teachers will be able to see who’s struggling and with what concepts.
According to the article:
“The software, called Ignite, needs some pointers first. Teachers enter in the test and an answer key, which Ignite uses not only to figure out which answers are right but also to know where on the page to look for handwritten answers. Teachers also need to tell the software what concepts each question covers. Fourth-graders at one school in Rochester, New York, that has tested the software were impressed. Their teacher, Pat McDonald, named their machine Ziggy and told the Democrat and Chronicle that the kids have written poems about Ziggy.”
We thought IBM’s Watson was fascinating. This steals it’s thunder. The practical application and positive impact this could have on education is enormous.
Megan Feil, May 24, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Excellent Free Resource Introduces Bayesian Methodology
April 10, 2013
So you want to know how Bayesian methods work? We’ve found an excellent source of information in a slideshow titled simply, “Introduction to Bayesian Methods” at SlideShare. Created by Corey Chivers for a guest biostatistics lecture at McGill University, the slides illustrate the concepts clearly. The summary gives an idea of the presentation’s scope:
- The output of a Bayesian analysis is not a single estimate of ?, but rather the entire posterior distribution, which represents our degree of belief about the value of ?.
- To get a posterior distribution, we need to specify our prior belief about ?.
- Complex Bayesian models can be estimated using MCMC.
- The posterior can be used to make both inference about ?, and quantitative predictions with proper accounting of uncertainty.
Chivers notes that these slides are also available here [PDF], while the script to run the examples can be found here. Even if you are already fluent in this methodology, we recommend tucking this slideshow away for reference whenever you need to help someone grasp the Bayesian basics.
Cynthia Murrell, April 10, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Texas County Plans Bookless Library
March 12, 2013
Is this initiative too little too late? We hope not. The blog over at public-sector IT firm GCN informs us, “Bookless Library Foreshadows Next-Gen Students, Learning Technologies.” The post lauds Bexar County, Texas, for its forward-thinking plan to launch a bookless branch. However, it also notes that how they approach the project can make the difference between a crucial resource for study and “just a nice place for a cup of coffee and texting with friends.” Writer Paul McCloskey explains:
“The project, called BiblioTech, would offer about 10,000 titles that patrons could check-out and access remotely via e-readers and mobile devices, as well as about 100 tablets, laptops and desktop computers that will be made available inside the branch. Technical help with computers would be offered to patrons, but reference assistance would be cut.”
He goes on to caution:
“Over the long run, simply offering digital or mobile access to its collection is a pretty old technology model. . . . To maintain a healthy level of patronage, libraries, like schools, will have to keep up with the latest media formats, including social media, intelligent browsing and educational gaming.”
Cutting reference assistants with heartbeats may be the first mistake, he asserts, and I agree. Still, the county is to be commended for changing with the times (even if it seems a bit belated to some of us.) If done well, this could set a good precedent for learning centers in the 21st century.
Cynthia Murrell, March 12, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Only Fool Professors Stay In School
January 18, 2013
Students are told to stay in school, less their changes for success are diminished. But does that statement apply to teachers? According to Enterprise Efficiency’s David Wagner “Professors Don’t Need Schools Anymore.” It used to be the only way to get a good education was to attend a university, pay thousands of dollars in tuition, and wait two years before you were even allowed to start on core classes related to your major. These tasks revolved around a physical building, but now with Professor Direct students can access professors and classes for $49. Professors can charge more, but everything goes directly back to them. Schools are actually accepting these classes as credit.
Professors have the chance to make more money than an average university stipend, but there are some drawbacks. Students can’t get a degree directly from the professor and professors lose research support and prestige. The price alone will draw students, but this is the start of change in post-secondary education:
“Even if this alone doesn’t bring down the walls of the school, it is clear technology is going to bring the people with knowledge and expertise closer together. If you’re the CIO or president of a school, you’re going to have to find a way to keep putting yourself into the space or facilitating the contact between students and your own professors. If you fail, expect to be disintermediated.”
Is this good news or bad news? It depends on what side of the education creek you are on.
Whitney Grace, January 18, 2013
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search
Study Proves Students Not Enthused About Digital Classrooms
October 17, 2012
Numerous opportunities exist online to assist in the development of education, such as social networking, blogs, and even simple email. However, according to an article I spotted on Phys.org titled “Study Reveals Disparity Between Students’ and Professors’ Perceptions of the Digital Classroom,” the integration of education and information and communication tools (ICTs) is not exactly welcome by many students. A recent study from Concordia University shows that students actually prefer an engaging lecture to some wired supplement.
The article elaborates on the results:
“Instructors were more fluent with the use of emails than with social media, while the opposite was true for students.
‘Our analysis showed that teachers think that their students feel more positive about their classroom learning experience if there are more interactive, discussion-oriented activities. In reality, engaging and stimulating lectures, regardless of how technologies are used, are what really predict students’ appreciation of a given university course,” explains [Magda Fusaro from UQAM’s Department of Management and Technology.]”
The countless possibilities that exist online to expand learning and teaching methods could prove to be a mad rush to the Web for many learning establishments as they attempt to explore the options. However, if this study is accurate, students may not be willing to go along on the ride. It appears online information and services may not be able to fill student expectations.
Andrea Hayden, October 17, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
The New Algorithm in HR
October 2, 2012
When looking for new scientists, university search committees can now avoid the trouble of putting candidates through their paces and, instead, let an algorithm decide. ScienceDaily announces, “Predicting if Scientists Will Be Stars: New Formula Reveals if Young Scientists Will Have Brilliant Future.” Why rely on human judgment when there is software to make hiring decisions for you?
The magic formula, purported to predict a scientist’s success a decade into the future, comes from a new Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine study recently published in Nature journal. Schools have been basing their decisions on a mix of instinct and a prospects “h index“, a measure of the quality and quantity of papers they have published. Journalist Marla Paul writes:
“The new formula is more than twice as accurate as the h index for predicting future success for researchers in the life sciences. It considers other important factors that contribute to a scientist’s trajectory including the number of articles written, the current h index, the years since publishing the first article, the number of distinct journals one has published in and the number of articles in high impact journals.”
Developed in the lab of Feinberg associate professor Konrad Kording, with additional funding from the National Science Foundation, the algorithm could also be applied to tenure and funding decisions. The article notes that the formula will not totally replace the peer evaluation process, but could be a “complementary tool.” It seems to me that users will have to be diligent to make sure the complementary does not become the primary. That, though, may be something we must all guard against as technology continues to gain on human reasoning.
Cynthia Murrell, October 02, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
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