Computer Science Education Week

VO: Get ready for your semi-regular dose of random ideas from the guys at code elation. We like to talk about big ideas companies that are winning, and those that aren't along with current events in our crazy world of software startups. So come along with Erick and Josh, who challenge you to think big, start small and turn your ideas into something on this episode of, from idea to done

Josh: Hey everyone, I'm Josh.

Erick: I'm Erick and today's idea is should you find a career in computer science? And so it's computer science education week. And so we decided to bring in, in future one of our nerds who is currently at school for computer science. So Tyler, welcome to the show you made me. I, I know, I know I made you be on this and I know that you guys don't love talking, but that's, that is what it is. And so can you give us a little background on you and you know, where you're going to school and what you're studying?

Tyler: Sure. I am a second year student right across the river at MSUM. I am studying computer science and have a minor in communications.

Erick: So I remember when I met you and we were looking for a marketing person to help me with these podcasts. I failed that particular day, but it actually worked really well. Cause I ran into you. And what kind of drew you into getting involved in a career in computer science? Really?

Tyler: I love that the field is so broad. I've had times where I am working on material from one side of the spectrum and then have to jump and do things on the complete opposite side of the spectrum is definitely a field for someone who likes to we'll learn

Erick: Interest. And then we did a StrengthsFinder and you had learning is like one of yours or learning. I don't remember exactly what it was. Memory was not one of my strengths. So I'm trying to connect all the dots. Josh, can you talk about your higher education and how that transitioned into you starting your own business in computer science? Um,

Josh: Well, uh, many moons ago I started off in computer science in college and unlike Tyler, uh, I realized that they wanted me to do homework and calc, and that was really the end of my computer science degree. Um, that's not the way I like to learn when someone tells me to do homework or, you know, tells me what to do. So that was the end of it. Right.

Erick: And so Tyler, can you talk about kind of the difference in coursework versus the actual customer customer work you're doing for us as a business? Well,

Tyler: Most of the time when you have to do coursework, it's mostly regurgitated information that you memorized from a textbook, whereas actual, when you were working for a real person, you have to create unique solutions to many unique problems that they throw at you every day.

Erick: Right? It's a lot. I remember I learned more in my first week as a graphic designer doing Photoshop for a newspaper than I did in an entire of a class. And some of that has to do with, I was working like 30 hours and I probably didn't put that much time into my homework. So in four years, in four years, so obviously we, we like Tyler and what he does, Josh, from a business owner's perspective, what do you think school should be doing to better prepare students? You know, for actual customer work?

Josh: Well, stop regurgitating stuff from textbooks, stop using textbooks. Um, you know, it's teach more group work, learn version control, you know, languages that they might actually use in their job, you know, just make it more relevant. Um, I think the code schools are doing a really good job of this and I, I think, you know, four year degrees to some extent, need to catch up. Yeah.

Erick: And I mean, you should be in group works, cause there's going to be, you're going to be at an office. If you're in computer science, you're going to have a marketing person who doesn't know anything and you have to be able to work with them. And I think that that's something that you don't super prepare for when you're all learning the same skill. And so I kind of want to ask Tyler, like, as you've worked in the field now and you are currently in school, like, what are your thoughts on how they have to change curriculum?

Tyler: Um, very similar to what Josh said. I wish they would spend more time on group work and then most of the curriculum is very rigid and you have to do the same thing, the same classes that everybody else does. I wish they would let you specialize towards the end of your, um, college, uh, career into more of what you will see in the actual field.

Erick: And, and I liked that and I honestly think education is evolving this second with the pandemic and how things have shaped up this year. I really think it's going to be interesting to see where it ends up in 10 years. What kind of, and on a fun note, what is your favorite part about working in our field and to start with Josh?

Josh: You know, I, I like the challenge of trying to solve a problem for customers and the fact that, you know, if can they come to us with an idea and they end up with, you know, a revenue stream for their business, like that's super impactful for their family, for them, like it, it can not help change the trajectory of their life. That's pretty cool for me. That's exciting. And Tyler,

Tyler: I love creating, I love turning ideas into reality. Some of my favorite projects have been the ones that no one's ever done before, or I haven't ever had a chance to work on.

Erick: I like that. So thanks to both of you. I think it's kind of interesting to talk computer science with a student. Who's just kind of getting into the field versus a business owner who has been a part of the field since, as long as Tyler has been alive. So I had to throw that old joke in at you Josh to close,

Josh: You know, Erick we're pretty close in age, so we did no it's high

Erick: School at the same time. So yeah. Thanks for listening. We're hoping you could know a startup that could use our advice and random thoughts. Send them over to codelation-bedrock.flywheelstaging.com for the next podcast.