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I created a list at http://tinyurl.com/sun10techskills
this blog is called TINYURL.com/sun10techskillsblog
The first ten skills come from a college student QUICKLINK
Here are the top 10 things needed to be a computer science wiz.
1) Be logical
When computer science professor James O'Dell was asked what the important basics to master for computer science were, the first thing he said was to have a good foundation in logic.
“It really does go a long way,” he said. “When you are discreet with logic, it works well in developing the skills needed for algorithms and coding when it comes to computer science.”
2) Be mathematic
Math is also an important factor in computer science, O'Dell said.
“In every way, computer science is based around a mathematical foundation,” he said. “So when you’re programming functions and commands into computers, you need to understand the basis of all of that is in mathematics.”
3) Challenge yourself
One thing that can help an aspiring computer specialist is by testing in real-life technical situations, said Matthew Wright, computer science associate professor. He said people can seek these opportunities out on the Internet.
“I really recommend that people try TopCoder,” Wright said. TopCoder is an online website that holds weekly competitions to see who is the most skilled in computer programming.
“There’s many more like it out there on the Internet,” Wright said.
4) Get involved with a group
Nothing develops skills more than hanging around a group of friends who shares the same interests, Wright said.
“Getting involved with a group of that caliber really develops your skills,” Wright said. “It’s much better to learn with a group of friends, learning the same technical skills, than it is a teacher lecturing in a class.”
5) Be calm in stressful environments
One thing that computer engineering senior Sean Pierce recommends is being able to process large amounts of technical information quickly.
“The computer can be a toy, not just a tool,” Pierce said. “One should choose a field where one has a natural passion, and those who tinkering with their computer will probably be comfortable working with it professionally."
6) Be creative
Being a computer expert doesn’t really mean you are restricted to one single method or practice. Being a computer expert means branching out and always striving for the impossible.
“Nothing in computers is ever really isolated,” Pierce said. “It is important to have a general breadth of computer knowledge, because computer scientists often have to develop interesting solutions to interesting problems.”
7) Branch out
Computer science alumnus Patrick Baggett said that to succeed as a computer genius, a person needs to be diverse.
“You need to learn software engineering, how computers work, how operating systems work, as well as countless programming languages,” Baggett said.
Pierce agreed with Baggett and followed up on his own examples.
“A famous misquote from Edsger Dijkstra was, ‘Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes,’ meaning that computers are our tools, and while we are experts at using our tools, they do not define the field as a whole,” Pierce said.
8) Read and write a lot of code
While it doesn’t sound fun to be going through countless streams of code and data, Pierce said that it is a necessity in order to stay in the computer science workforce.
“Your career will require it,” he said. “Due to technology becoming exponentially complex, one must continuously update their skills to stay competitive within the field."
9) Understand your tools
“You need to understand how your tools work,” Baggett said. “You need not only know what a compiler, linker, assembler, interpreter and web browser is, but what they do for you to succeed.”
10) Learn from failure, then quickly move on
“You need to have a business mindset,” Pierce said. “Even though business majors are our natural enemies and there is typically a difference in ethics, having a business perspective is incredibly valuable.”
Baggett had one last thing to add to Pierce’s comments.
“Don’t give up easily when something doesn’t work,” he said as he laughed to himself.
10 skills computer science students should have | Life + Entertainment ...
www.theshorthorn.com/.../skills-computer...should.../article_3a075896-65b3-11e2-aa...
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Here are ten more skills
- How to back up your data: Very few of us aren't digitally creating and storing everything from photos and phone numbers to sensitive records and files, and the simple act of having another copy can prevent data loss spanning from inconvenient to tragic. From an IT perspective, "Knowing how to back up your data can save you time when it comes to disaster recovery," said one respondent. "It also gives the user a peace of mind knowing that their data can be easily restored."
- Microsoft Excel: By the same token, Excel is the default tool for storing all types of data, from household records to your corporate profit-and-loss statements. Being able to navigate a spreadsheet is indispensable.
- How the Internet works, in general: If you're in IT, you probably have a pretty good handle on how the magical connections behind a computer screen are made. Wouldn't it be nice if your friends and relatives had some basic knowledge and could reset their IP address or DHCP server without calling you first
- Ensuring your operating system and anti-virus software are up to date: "Security is a problem for every technology user," said a survey respondent. "The world as we know it has become more digital and everyone has important information on their computers. Anti-virus software and OS updates are important to making sure your data is secure."
- How to navigate and effectively use multiple platforms: Are you wasting time when you think you're multitasking? "Every day we use our computers to check email, install and run software, and the like," note a respondent. "While seemingly simple, such tasks are so frequent that small inefficiencies add up. A basic understanding of how to accomplish daily tasks across multiple platforms makes you more versatile and less dependent on IT assistance."
- How to use Google: Google has become the first stop of the majority of Internet users. Knowing a few simple search operators and the filters available through Google can help tailor any search and save significant time.
- Basic HTML: "Since so much of our daily lives incorporates browsing the internet, knowing HTML helps you understand what's possible on the web," said one survey respondent. It can also help you have a little more patience when a webpage isn't working quite right.
- How to restart your computer: Your help desk manager is right! "Restarting has the potential of quickly solving a myriad of technical issues, from basic software errors to hardware driver conflicts," explained a respondent.
- Typing: Those old business school skills are even more important today, because so much daily communication is through messaging and screens. But you'll need to adapt the qwerty method to account for multiple devices and keyboard types.
- Computer security: Security breaches are not only a worry for big corporations or top-secret government agencies. Phishing scams, ransomware, and data theft affect unsuspecting individuals every day. "People and organizations often store sensitive information electronically," said one survey respondent. "It is important to know and follow best practices to help keep this information safe."
