Anthony's CSUMB Computer Science Online Journey

Part One: Set Your Educational Goals      My short-term educational goal spans the next two years. During this time, I plan to complete CSU Monterey Bay’s Online Computer Science program and earn my Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.      My long-term educational goal extends over the next five years. After successfully completing the program at CSU Monterey Bay, I intend to pursue graduate studies at CSU Chico by enrolling in their Online Computer Science program. There, I aim to earn a Master of Science in Computer Science. Part Two: Set Your Career Goals      My career goal is to secure a remote position within the tech industry. At this stage, I remain open to exploring different sectors, as I recognize the importance of gaining more experience and knowledge before deciding which path I want to pursue long term. Part Three: Take a wild guess of your percentile of the ETS Computer Science test      If I were to take th...

     Week three focused on ethics, specifically ethics in emerging technologies and the frameworks to navigate them. I’ll reflect more deeply on that later.      For this week, I was supposed to revisit a study tip I mentioned struggling with last week. However, the Study Techniques website link did not include that option. Instead, I chose to review the section on critical thinking. This was a meaningful choice, since critical thinking is not only practical for academic work but also for making better decisions in everyday life.      Thinking critically begins with examining an issue and reflecting on your own perspective. Ask yourself: Why do I believe this? How do I know it’s true? Write down your initial thoughts, then move on to the next step: seeking out other viewpoints. Consider the evidence others present, especially if their opinions contradict your own. By evaluating all sides of an issue, you gain a more comprehensive understandi...

     Week two was a bit of a doozy-packed to the brim with insights about our fast-accelerating future, new trends in computing and software, project management basics, and how to level up as teammates and communicators. We also dove into study strategies, time management tools, and even got inspired by a previous cohort’s Capstone Projects. Let’s just say, information overload was the theme of the week!     In the video " The Future is Faster than you Think" we learn how accelerating technologies are reshaping the future. Computing power, networks, and sensors are becoming cheaper and more powerful, driving fields like AI, robotics, and biotech. This abundance extends to time, capital, and communication, lowering barriers for innovation worldwide. Technology also reduces costs "demonetization", connects more people, and boosts collective genius. Advances in health and brain-computer interfaces promise longer, more productive lives, potentially leading to "...

     As our journey begins, this first week kicked off with the history of CSU Monterey Bay. From the land acknowledgment of the Amah Mutsun, Esselen, Ohlone, Rumsen, and Salinan peoples, to the Fort Ord military base, to the founding of the university in 1994 — it was inspiring to see how far the campus has come. CSUMB’s vision, mission, and values are now instilled in our cohort, a group ready to collaborate, learn, and contribute not only to Monterey and the surrounding areas, but to California as a whole.      Jumping into our first assignments, CST 300 prepared us for academic writing with structured essay outlines. Instead of writing full paragraphs right away, we focused on bullet points for each topic and supporting sentences, which helped keep everything organized and clear.      In CST 349, we explored successful online learning and the role of AI in academics. My group agreed that strong communication is key, especially in a collab...