CST300: Major ProSeminar, Week 3

 Part 1

One study habit I know I need to improve is taking clear, useful notes. After reading the article on note-taking techniques, I realized that effective note-taking is about capturing the key points in a way that reinforces learning, not just jotting down everything the professor says. Writing notes by hand engages my brain more deeply and helps the material sink in. A few methods in the article stood out to me. The 2-6 Method  impressed me with how simple it is: use a narrow column for main headings and a wider one for details. This setup not only helps me organize information but also makes it easy to review and identify the most important concepts later. Using different colors while writing was also an interesting tip; it claims to boost retention by highlighting key details (I'll test that theory). 

Overall, I plan to focus on actively writing notes by hand and organize them more clearly. I believe this will make my study sessions more effective, reduce my stress during exam times, and ultimately leader to a better academic experience.

Part 2

This week's readings on ethics really made me reflect on how important it is to think about the bigger picture when working in tech. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in the task at hand (writing code, hitting deadlines, etc.) and forget to take a step back and consider the broader impact of what we're building. Technology doesn't exist in a vacuum. The decisions we make as developers can affect people's privacy, safety, access to information, and even their quality of life. The materials this week emphasized how essential it is to approach our work with responsibility and intention. Topics like AI surveillance, data collection, and automation aren't just technical challenges; they come with serious ethical considerations. Just because we can build something doesn't always mean we should. Taking time to ask questions and consider potential consequences should be a part of every part of the development process. 

We also went over different ethical frameworks, listed below.

• Ethical Relativism
• Cultural Relativism
• Individual Relativism
• Utilitarianism
• Care Ethics
• Ethical Egoism
• Divine Command Theory
• Natural Law Theory
• Kant's Ethics
• Virtue Ethics

For my ethics paper, I chose to focus on the use of AI surveillance in public spaces. The topics stood out to me because it touches on both safety and privacy, two things that often come into conflict. I've been looking into both sides of the argument, considering how AI surveillance might help prevent crime or improve emergency response, but also how it can lead to government overreach, profiling, or a loss of personal freedoms. It's been eye-opening to see how something that sounds helpful on the surface can have complicated effects. 

This week, out team also worked on reviewing the required courses in the CSUMB Online CS program. We researched each course and summarized what it covers and why it's important for a computer science major. It was a helpful exercise that gave me a clearer picture of how the program is structured. 

Part 3

This week we read What Every Computer Science Major Should Know by Matt Might, and it gave me a lot to think about. It laid out the skills and knowledge that are truly important for a long-term career in tech (not just what helps get you through a degree program). One of the biggest takeaways for me was the importance of building a portfolio. A resume can only show so much, but a portfolio filled with real projects and write-ups gives people a clearer picture of what you're capable of. When I transferred from a business major into computer science I knew I wanted something more challenging, but I didn't realize I was signing up for a lifetime of learning. Honestly, I'm not mad about it. This field pushes you to keep growing, and I like that. 

The article also emphasized the importance of communication. It's not just about solving problems, its being able to explain your solutions to people who may not have a technical background. It also touched on areas like Unix, systems, security, and programming languages, and also reminded me that not everything will be taught in the classroom. A lot of growth in this field comes from staying curious and learning things on your own. 

Part 4

This week we reviewed the CSUMB CS Online Code of Integrity and it reminded us how important honesty and accountability are in this program. It can be tempting to take shortcuts when you are feeling overwhelmed, especially in a fully online environment where you're often working independently. But in the end, those shortcuts don't help you grow. Relying on someone else's hard work, whether it's from a friend or the internet, only cheats me out of learning something I'll need later on. 

Integrity also matters because we're building a foundation of trust in this program. The work we do now sets the tone for how we'll handle responsibility in our future careers. If I can't hold myself to high standards as a student, how can I expect others to trust my work as a professional?

There's still a lot to learn, but I'm excited to keep growing and building a solid foundation for whatever comes next.