Another week has passed, and we delved deeper into writing ethical
argument essays. During this week, we focused on Stakeholder Analysis
using AI tools. I’ve used ChatGPT in the past, so it was a great
opportunity to explore different platforms and build my prompt
engineering skills.
Part 1: Support Teammate's Goals
It’s
always fun to review other people’s career paths. There’s always
something to learn that I can incorporate into my own journey.
After
watching previous capstone presentations, I became more curious about
cybersecurity topics, such as the US Naval Research Laboratory and Vault
JS, which focus on vulnerability scanning.
Here are three potential ideas that came to mind for my own capstone project:
Vulnerability Assessment Tool
Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
Web Application Firewall
These are just brief ideas, and I’m open to exploring a wider range of topics, not limited to cybersecurity.
Part 3: This Week's Recap
As
I mentioned at the beginning, we worked on Stakeholder Analysis this
week. What made this task particularly interesting was the use of AI to
draft
one of the stakeholder's value, position and claims. This allowed us to
experiment with
different prompts, sharpening our prompt engineering skills. Mastering
this skill is becoming essential when working with generative AI, as it
helps us get the most accurate and relevant results from these tools.
We also started discussing our team’s final video presentation project.
I liked the topics we came up with, and I’m looking forward to working
on it with my team!
We are already halfway through this Proseminar course. So quick! I like how the course moves fast because it keeps me engaged and allows us to cover a lot of material in a short time.
We covered some topics about setting goals and started constructing our next essay, an Ethical Argument, by writing an outline.
Part 1: My Educational Goals
My
biggest educational goal is to successfully complete my Computer
Science degree in the next two years. I've always been curious about
diving deeper into the world of technology, and now that I'm actually
enrolled in this program, I'm excited to see where it will take me. This
degree is more than just an academic achievement for me; it’s the
foundation of my career in tech.
Throughout
the program, there is so much to explore and absorb. However, beyond
the coursework, I also want to actively work on personal projects that I
can add to my portfolio. These projects will not only help me reinforce my skills but also prepare me for job hunting after graduation. By the
end of the program, I aim to have a strong, diverse portfolio that
showcases my technical abilities and takes me to exciting career
opportunities in software development or security engineering.
Part 2: My Career Goals
Several
job titles come to mind as I picture my future career: Software
Engineer, Data Engineer, Security Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer,
and more. Initially, I aimed for a cybersecurity path, but after diving
into various topics, I realized that some concepts were difficult to
grasp without a broader foundation in engineering.
After
reflecting on my background, particularly my years of experience in
accounting, I've come to the conclusion that starting as a Software
Engineer or Data Engineer might be the most practical step for me. Data
engineering especially feels like a natural fit, given my strong
foundation in Python and SQL and my strong analytical skills. I’ll need
to build on that by gaining knowledge of ETL processes and data
pipelines. However, starting as a Data Engineer seems like a solid
option that will allow me to apply my strengths while continuing to
grow.
Part 3: ETS Computer Science Test
After looking at the ETS page, test description, and sample test, I feel a bit nervous, but I also hope to prepare enough to take the test in 18 months. With steady studying and practice, I think I can build a strong understanding of the material and do well. The test covers a lot of topics, including algorithms and systems, which seems challenging. However, I believe I can improve by focusing more on these areas through this program.
I hope to score in the 70-80 percentile range. This is because I have studied some of the subjects, such as programming and networking, and I am committed to learning more. The topics I am less familiar with, such as algorithms and more advanced programming concepts, will need more practice, but 18 months should be a good amount of time to strengthen those weaker areas and build confidence.
Part 4: This Week's Recap
This week, I focused on several important topics, including the goal-setting process, career aspirations, and the ETS Major Field Test in Computer Science. I reviewed the steps involved in setting effective goals and reflected on my career objectives, which helped clarify my aspirations in the tech field. I also worked on an outline for an Ethics Argument essay, constructing persuasive arguments. Additionally, I participated in a team assignment that required collaboration and self-reflection., where we engaged in an activity, 2 Truths, 1 Lie. This activity not only encouraged us to learn more about each other but also fostered communication and teamwork skills. We documented our findings, including insights on each team member's contributions, preferences for group dynamics, and strategies for improving our collaboration.
Last week, I received great feedback from my team members on my Industry Analysis Essay. It's always nice to have someone review my writing and provide comments, which helps me improve my writing skills.
Here are some topics I learned this week:"
Part 1: Time Management - Concentration Tips
As I mentioned in my last post, concentration is always challenging for me. I often get distracted, especially when I cannot understand the topic. From the website "AcademicTips.org" (https://www.academictips.org/acad/index.html), I found a couple of great tips to improve my concentration.
Tip 1 - "Before lectures, look over the notes of the previous lecture and read the course material pertaining to the lecture so that you can anticipate the main ideas that the instructor will cover."
This is a great idea for me since I often get distracted when the topic is unclear and too complex. I should go over the list of modules first to get an overview of the week’s topic and make an assumption about what they are going to discuss. It would help me avoid getting lost during the lecture.
Tip 2 - "Avoid daydreaming by asking yourself questions about the material as you study it"
This is another good one. Asking myself questions helps me retain what I learned from the lecture. When I read the textbook or watch lecture videos, I feel like I understand it at the time, but in the end, I realize I don’t remember many important parts.
Part 2: This Week's Recap
We are starting to cover topics about ethics. As technology becomes more advanced and efficient, ethical conflicts are also increasing. We will be writing an Ethical Argument Essay in the coming weeks. Before diving into that, we covered some ethical frameworks in this week’s lecture.
Ethical Relativism - A broad framework, there are no universal standards of right and wrong.
Cultural Relativism - Ethical relativism that shapes moral based on cultural norm and practices.
Individual Relativism - Ethical relativism that shapes moral based on personal beliefs (e.g. philosophical debates)
Utilitarianism - The morality of an action is judged by its outcomes, specifically by whether it brings good or bad effects to the people involved. (commonly used in policy and economics)
Care Ethics - The morality of an action is based on interpersonal relationships and emphasizing the importance of care for those close to us.
Divine Command Theory -The morality of an action is determined by whether it aligns with God’s will.
Natural Law Theory - Right or justice that is believed to come from human nature, rather than being based on laws made by society (e.g. moral philosophy and religious context)
Kant’s Ethics - Morality is based on rationality, and actions are considered right if they can be consistently applied by everyone without contradiction.
Virtue Ethics - Morally right actions come from having good character traits like courage, wisdom, and truthfulness, which help in making the right choices in difficult situations.
It was a little tricky when I first saw this list, but it's important to understand these in order to grasp different perspectives and how ethical frameworks help guide the decision-making process.
Part 3: What Every Computer Science Major Should Know
Many computer science majors aim to become software engineers or enter related fields after graduation. Computer Science is a broad field that includes coding, mathematical reasoning, and foundational system knowledge.
Developing technical communication skills to explain complex concepts to non-technical audiences
Gaining proficiency in Unix systems
Acquiring system administration skills
Learning multiple programming languages
Mastering discrete mathematics, data structures, and algorithms
Understanding operating systems, security, and software testing
Exploring user experience (UX) design
As technology continues to evolve rapidly, new skills will likely be added to this list over the next five years. However, many of these core skills will remain fundamental to success in the field.
Part 4: Code of Integrity
Why is integrity important?
The Code of Integrity is important because it encourages students to create original work and avoid plagiarism. Maintaining integrity ensures that students fully understand the concepts and develop problem-solving skills using their own ideas. Although creating original work can be challenging, it is the best way to learn, grow, and find unique solutions to problems. By following the same rules, all students in the program can benefit from a fair learning environment where their work is evaluated properly.
I feel like I've been writing all day and all week... It's been good practice and great opportunity to brainstorm and improve my creative writing skills!
Here are some topics that we covered for this week:
Part 1: Review and Reflect Learning Strategy
My learning strategy has improved a lot since I got my first bachelor's degree years ago, but it's always nice to review what can be improved.
> Time Management:
I wasn’t good at time management before, but after taking several online
courses while working full-time, I started to improve. It was tough to adjust
at the beginning, especially after a long break from studying. However, after a
few weeks of practice, managing my study time naturally became part of my daily
routine.
> Researching:
I am confident in my researching abilities, which I learned from my previous
experience working at a law firm. That role required thorough research for
cases, enhancing my skills in finding relevant and reliable information. While
academic research has stricter criteria for sources, tools like search engines
and library catalogs make it easier to locate appropriate articles and
resources.
> Taking and Organizing Notes:
I enjoy organizing my notes in a structured way, as it helps me review and
retain information more effectively. By summarizing key points and using visual
aids, I can refer back to them quickly, which improves my overall understanding
of the material.
Top 3 Weakness
> Reading Skills:
I’m not good at reading at a fast pace, and it sometimes takes me a while to
fully digest complex topics. This becomes more challenging when faced with
dense academic texts or unfamiliar subjects. I often have to reread sections to
understand the meaning.
> Test Taking:
I get easily nervous during tests and quizzes, often leading to simple mistakes
that I would not have made if I had read the questions carefully. This anxiety
affects my performance, even when I’m well-prepared for the material.
> Concentration:
I sometimes struggle to maintain focus, especially when I encounter difficult
problems or when tasks seem overwhelming. If I get stuck on an issue, it can cause
me to lose concentration and make it harder to stay on track.
I always wish I could read faster. If anyone reads this post and has any good suggestions, maybe something I can do even with a busy life, I'd like to get some advice 🙏
Part 2: Preview Time Management Skills
I think I've been improving time management skills every time I take new course. For this week, I saved enough time to work on my Industry Analysis Essay, as I knew I would need lots of time to revise it.
Here is my activity log from 9/4 - 9/8 (I took this screenshot on 9/8 at 10pm).
I work full-time, so my study time is normally after 7pm on weekdays and most of the time on weekends.
Part 3: Project Management Basics
This video provides a comprehensive overview of project
management, clarifying the role of a project manager. A project is defined as a
unique endeavor with a specific goal and deadline. It differs from routine
operations because it must have a distinct scope. For example, a company
building identical houses in the same location would not be considered a
project, as it lacks uniqueness. Projects must also align with the company's
business strategy, serving as investments that help achieve broader organizational
goals. Since projects involve time and resource commitments, a solid plan is a
must before execution.
A project manager is responsible for leading the project,
overseeing both the team and processes to ensure success. They must possess a
mix of project management knowledge, business acumen, workflow management,
strategic thinking, and leadership skills. Effective project managers guide
their teams toward achieving project goals while being accountable for the
overall success of the initiative.
Part 4: Check Out Previous Capstones
I watched the capstones presentations from Summer 2024, and it looks like all the teams did amazing work! Here are three teams that caught my eye:
> US Naval Research Laboratory: The presentation covered a tool designed to convert SARIF data into readable reports with charts and critical levels to improve understanding of security risks in code. The tool aims to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical stakeholders by simplifying cybersecurity risk management. I really like that the reports are very readable and well-organized, making it easier to understand and act on security risks. The only improvement I can suggest is that some parts of the presenter’s voice were unclear.
> National AI Campus: The presentation covered the use of computer vision and neural networks to identify tumors in brain MRI scans, using a U-Net model for image segmentation. This approach highlights the growing importance of such tools in the medical field. It’s impressive that the group successfully explored and applied this advanced technology in their capstone project.
> DriveDiary: The presentation showcased a tool designed to help users track gas usage and vehicle maintenance, keeping their cars in reliable and safe condition. The user-friendly design makes it accessible, especially for a country like the U.S. where many people drive. Although the tool design is a bit too simple, it has strong potential to become a unique and useful resource.
I enjoyed all the presentations and am excited about the future projects I'm going to work on with my team!
Part 5: This Week's Recap
This week, I focused on the Industry Analysis Essay. I enjoy
researching, particularly learning about companies I’m interested in, as
there’s always something new to discover. I also enjoyed reading everyone’s
writing. There were industries and career approaches I hadn’t considered before, and
their career strategies have provided me with great ideas for my own career
path. Overall, this week has been insightful and has helped me see different
industry perspectives and career options more clearly.
