[MIT OCW CS/SE] Result and review of 1st term

So, it's getting the end of May. My first term of MIT OCW computer science self education project is done. Well, I should say it is done by my choice.

Here is the result: Fail
(What I mean by fail is that I couldn't finish most of the classes exclude single variable calculus. No final exams, assignments.)

I was able to manage to finish single variable calculus video lecture part, but it's gone way out of my time management. Even though I am not, of course, pleased with the result that I got by mysef, I want to review objectively what I could fix and improve for the next term which will start from 4th in June.

Reason 1. Lack of review and problem set

I should have expected it. First I started out by thinking that I could catch up on the weekends or I could do some of them instead of all of them. However as I was reluctunt to do problem set and review with an excuse that I do not have enough time(which is true, though), I found myself that I have not done ANY assingments or even exercises.

I think it was because I set up too many  "heavy" classes in the first place, and then I was not able to control as it got bigger. Each class had a fair amount of assisngments, and I did not do it.

How to fix it
-> In planning process for the 2 term, I'm making 2 important classes as a main and two less important but a bit lighter classes on the weekends. So that way I can have enough time to do review and problem sets.


Reasons 2. Two heavy projects at the same time

When I started this project in early this year(Feb), I was quite ambitious and had so many ideas to do at the same time. Well, as a result I made MIT OCW CS/SE project AND independent research for biosensor system as my projects for this year.
Now I admit that was TOO ambitous to do with full time job. I did not give a consideration of how both projects will need a lot of time to study and research.
Especially studying computer science and programming already comsume a lot of time and effort everyday.

How to fix it
-> From now on, I goint to drop independent research for biosensor. That does not mean I give up, but I think it is logically a right sequence to establish fundamental of math and computer science knowledge first.

Reason 3. Not using discussion forum or board

I don't think that it is a major reason why my first project failed. Yet I could have gotten more help if I asked when I got stuck for understadning about certain topic or concept.

How to fix it
-> From next term, I will use openstudy.com, stack overflow or stack exchange for getting a better help when I need it.

<Review>

Even though the result of project is fail as I declared, that doesn't mean I should give up since I still love learning more about computer science.

I've learning how to program everday at least 2 hours since last November, and I got my first project which I hope to get it done by September. Since I know I can't put much time everday, I'm trying to make it small by small.
In the mean time, I'm going to make my own homepage using Wordpress sooner or later.

(Ok, now I'm putting so many stuff on my hands. I guess it is my weakness that I need to overcome. At least I acknowedge of it, so I can try to fix it for improvement.)


Overall, it has been quite intense and rewarding. It has been intense because I really commited at least 4 hours everyday after work to study and program, and it has been rewarding becasue now I know how to program with python, abou linux and some problems that I should overcome.

For next term, I will make more realistic and clear objective as well as visible outcome that I can share and other people can use for their study.


Bye bye 1st term and hello 2nd term! :)

[MIT OCW CS/SE project 2012]Updates and tiny confession

Yes! this months is the last month for my 1st term of MIT OCW Computer Science Self Education project. Right a few days ago, there was an announcement for edX from Harvard and MIT.
I'm super excited that these two big giants decided to offer their quality classes for free! Though I will review a bit more what my experience to use MIT OCW to study for this first term, breifly there are quite many things that can be better.


Anyway, as the first term is getting wrapped up I'm trying to focus more since it has been really pretty crazy. Along with daily class session for 2 hours, I was devoting 2 hours for 2 months to learn C.
I'm almost done with one book for learning C, but thinking to pause a bit and switch to python for a faster prototype of my program.

And... here it comes a little confession for my project. I said I haven't been able to do assignments so far before, and will do them from then on. Well, it didn't go as I wished, and to be honest I couldn't do any assignments.
So basically, taking lectures, trying to understand and do reviews. I feel quite bad about it , yest really bad because though I spent quite much time to study I feel that I learned as much as I wanted to learn.
However, I'd like to make an excuse for saving myself from drowning into self-blaming. :p

I'm working full time, 9 - 6 and the job is not releveant with programming or software. So mostly I have time in the night to focus on stuying, and well it goes the same with the weekends. Though weekends is more relaxing to review the week, programming and learning books etc.
Instead of doing homework, I found myself to apply things that I learned into real world. For example, discrete mathematics - it's quite helpful to organize my thoughs, shedule etc.

So I'm going to change this for the next term which starts 2nd week in June. (I have 3 terms for 2012.) For the rest of the remaining term, I will try to focus on doing some review at least when I have sometime. ;)

Although there has been this assignement issue, I will keep this self education project going for some solid philosophy. I've been already learning quite many things not only about pros and cons for self learning but also computer science knowledge - math/programming etc.
Well I'm not doing this project with a perfect solution or guidline. It's more adventure to see how much self learning can bring to me or potential other people who have a goal to acheive by self learning. It will keep evolving for a better result every time, and eventually it can make fruitful outcome.

[MIT OCW CS/SE project] Progress checking (Mar - 1)

*This project is NOT affiliated with MIT at all.

So I've been studying using MIT OCW since Feb. First, it has been working quite well for several reasons, though there have been some changes in detail.
I decided to write a checking note twice a month, once in 2 weeks. That way I can keep track of how I've been doing, what things have changed. Plus potentially this chronicle of my self educaiton can give some actual help about problems or advantages to other self learner(freak like me? :p).

Some changes

1. I dropped out Computer structures and interepretation for computer programs

-> The main reason is that I do not intend to use LISP any near in the future. Instead of LISP, I've been studying C programming. I guess some may say that studying LISP will give me a good understanding of how computer program is structured. However, I thought learning C programming language should give me a fundumental knowledge after all.

2. Start again with Circuits and Electronics

-> I guess it is my third time to start over. Well, that's because I'd been studying this before I started off the project and I decided to take from the start. Then MITx came out a month ago, and it seems that it would provide a better structured  envorinment to study. I was a middle of lecture 9, and honestly I didn't do quite much follow up to review as much as I was supposed to do. My first term is supposed to be done by the end of May at the lastest. I have more time to review through one more time for better understanding before I encounter other difficulties for further study.

3. Do homeworks!

-> Actually I haven't done any homeworks because there are no solutions. If there is no solution to figure out what the answer is, I found out that it is useless to spend time on it. But what I've been learning so far is that I should do enough exercies as I go on, because other wise I 'm just taking a lecture and that's all. Though it has been quite great to learn/brush up math so far.
For the next few weeks, I will try to finish all the exercised that I have missed so far.

Feedbacks and new ideas for self education


1. Be a teacher and student at the same time
-> It is double sword about self education. I found that it is quite fun to find my own answers and any resources, but at the same time it feels that I might be doing something wrong. However, it is a great advantage that I can take of as a self learner beacuase it gives me think independently and find a way to solve by myself.

2. Idea of a discussion group online
-> I just came accross this idea today. The initial point of this idea was kind of similar reason with lack of guideline above, but it is a bit different. Since all this project is taken care of by me, that means it is quite hard to find any folks around to discuss on some problems. Altough MIT OCW has a connection to open study, it doesn't seem very active.

I've been taking some seminar not exactly on regular basis, but I have watched a few seminars on MIT world from time to time. So what I want to do is to form a group to meet up online through skype for more lively discussion once a week or two weeks. Since my interests are farily oriented to inventions, technology, computer, biosensor stuff, I should think of a way to find people who are interested in this. (Anyone who's interested in this, please email me! :))
Well the topic doesn't have to neccessarily only about technology or science though.

Anyway, I've gained so many lessons about not only math and computer science but also when I understand better about the subject, how I can actually apply  the knowledges for real world and how I can use other resources to help my study etc. Hopefully I will enjoy as much as I did in the next half month!

[MIT Computer Science Self Education project]

It is a quite rare project. I am about to begin my long and exciting journey to be a geek, computer geek. My first initiative was to learn computer science while I'm doing my research assistant at bioinformatics institute. Though I firstly wanted to study engineering after my bioinformatics study. However as I discover I really love studying every single thing about computer, system, math and physics whatever, so I decided to go for computer engineering graduate school.

<Motivation>

My major was molecular biology, and applied physics as a minor, so it is not that irrelevant. However I didn't take any engineering classes in undergraduate. In order to study in depth in computer science and engineering, I need to study more foundation.
However I can't afford any expensive classes while I'm working and MIT OCW provides way better learning materials and lectures. Things I need is my own system and self - discipline. Also unlikely other subjects to study such as biology or chemistry, computer science  is possible for self - education with given nature. Though it ain't the same as any formal education. But, I do not want to let my dream doomed just because I can't afford the cost when I have a clear capability and motivation.
Furthermore, I discovered a new movement in computer science field for self studying. I found 2 websites that really inspired me to do this project

Scott H Young "MIT challenge"
DIY computer science
University of the people

Though the last one is not exactly the same with above both, they have all in common to provide free education in computer science.
I totally agree with this trend since I am the one of the people who really want and need to study computer science.
Consequently, I have two big projects in my mind already to make some improvement on self education system over the world.

<Goal>

My ultimate goal after studying computer engineering is to develop an integrated biosensor system in a long run. For this project, though, I want to share the learning process that I'm going to "experiment" to edcuate myself for computer science. Also, eventually, I want to help other people by making my "final" project in the end of this year.

Hopefully this journey is going to be fun and rewarding after all, and bringing a fresh direction on learning computer science.