I understand the need to code on your own, but the degree to which you cannot cooperate with someone on assignments, at least at my school, seems nothing short of fascism.
What I don't understand is, why the focus on only *verbal* help. Sometimes you need to see something to get it, especially with some of the hardcore assignments we get handed. And since so much communication in college goes through email and IM, why be so artificial about communicating?
Even worse is the draconian measures employed by the department/profs that to me feel really demoralizing. There is nothing worse than feeling like you can't share something with your friend/classmate and that you are being constantly scrutinized. You have to intentionally stifle yourself. And you are constantly reminded and pressured about what proper behavior is between classmates. It's just ridiculous.
No math prof ever forbid students from working together on homework. All of college, except CS, advocates a full and open discussion of what you are studying. That's the point of college. That facilitates learning.
Being handcuffed and pressured by the profs/ta's/department is like being in some communist eastern european country, afraid of being watched at your every move, afraid to talk to someone for fear of giving to much away: it stifles creativity and makes people less productive. Obviously this comparision is a bit hyperbolic, but to a great extent that's how I feel.
It seems that CS departments fear their students so much that they can't allow them normal, basic freedoms. If the kids in CS classes can't be trusted, then they shouldn't be in college. There's no reason for CS classes to treat us like we are always trying to go behind their back and cheat.
If they show some respect, they will get it back. Right now it's my experience that they don't show any respect, and perhaps that is why they feel the need to be so strict in their policies. I hope that someday this changes at my school, but it's been enough to drive me away from CS, which is very sad to me. I just couldn't put up with the constant second guessing and the sadistic drive to prevent students from learning in every way they can.
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I understand the need to code on your own, but the degree to which you cannot cooperate with someone on assignments, at least at my school, seems nothing short of fascism.
What I don't understand is, why the focus on only *verbal* help. Sometimes you need to see something to get it, especially with some of the hardcore assignments we get handed. And since so much communication in college goes through email and IM, why be so artificial about communicating?
Even worse is the draconian measures employed by the department/profs that to me feel really demoralizing. There is nothing worse than feeling like you can't share something with your friend/classmate and that you are being constantly scrutinized. You have to intentionally stifle yourself. And you are constantly reminded and pressured about what proper behavior is between classmates. It's just ridiculous.
No math prof ever forbid students from working together on homework. All of college, except CS, advocates a full and open discussion of what you are studying. That's the point of college. That facilitates learning.
Being handcuffed and pressured by the profs/ta's/department is like being in some communist eastern european country, afraid of being watched at your every move, afraid to talk to someone for fear of giving to much away: it stifles creativity and makes people less productive. Obviously this comparision is a bit hyperbolic, but to a great extent that's how I feel.
It seems that CS departments fear their students so much that they can't allow them normal, basic freedoms. If the kids in CS classes can't be trusted, then they shouldn't be in college. There's no reason for CS classes to treat us like we are always trying to go behind their back and cheat.
If they show some respect, they will get it back. Right now it's my experience that they don't show any respect, and perhaps that is why they feel the need to be so strict in their policies. I hope that someday this changes at my school, but it's been enough to drive me away from CS, which is very sad to me. I just couldn't put up with the constant second guessing and the sadistic drive to prevent students from learning in every way they can.