Blog 8 - Research and Working EQ

(Apparently I posted something similar to this already in September's Extra blog)

1.  What is your working EQ?

How can an individual become a successful computer programmer in the 21st century?

2.  What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format. 

• Have a clear understanding of the specifications of a program
• Continuous learning of new skills and languages as technology changes with time
• Good communication, planning, and responsibility with the team you work with
• Have a solid foundation of programming knowledge in studying algorithms, knowing many languages, and practicing over a long period of time

3.  What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?

The most important sources that has helped me to come up with and answer to my EQ has been my mentor and my own experiences so far. From what my mentor says and from what she does, I came up with the answers "Have a clear understanding of the specifications of a program" and "Have a solid foundation of programming knowledge in studying algorithms, knowing many languages, and practicing over a long period of time." I developed these answers due to my mentor stating that the programming field is a "Life-time learning experience" where one would have to continually learn how to operate or use new forms of technology. This is similar to what Clint Shank, a writer of technological subjects, once said:

"Technology changes fast. Don't get left behind."

However, although this is a very viable answer, my mentor is continuously telling me that learning developing takes a large amount of time, and with that too comes a large amount of time to learn languages. I have also read in an article that in order to master a programming language, which means to have an understand and a feel for the advantages and disadvantages the languages in certain situations, one must dedicate a large amount of time using, practicing, and learning the language. However, sometimes with the demand of the programming workplace for new projects, there may not be enough time for complete mastery of a programming language. It can be possible that just knowing how to use a program effectively maybe enough for the company's needs. I will need to look into this more. As for algorithms, which are ways to solve programs and identify the time it will take a program to find a solution, my mentor said that if you have a solid foundation, one would be very good in programming and figuring out what to do when a program runs into problems. 

The answers "have a clear understanding of the specifications of a program" and "good communication, planning, and responsibility with the team you work with" are derived more from my own experiences. The understanding of specifications, or the understanding of what the program is used for and what will be required of it, is very apparent in the independent component I am working on right now. My mentor gave me a list and explained to me the many requirements I must have on the website I will be making and I observed the immense detail in what needs to be required. She stated that in the workplace, employees are given sheets like this to work on and that everything must meet these requirements and cannot deviate from what is said to do. Therefore, one must understand the specifications very deeply. I will be experiencing more of this as I continue on the component.

That answer also relates to the next answer, but in a different way. "Good communication, planning, and responsibility with the team you work with" came from how I sat with my mentor to work out the exact requirements and specifications of what I needed to include in the website. She stated that whenever some one gives her, or anyone else, a service request (a request to develop something for a customer), they must sit down with the customer to talk about specific detail of what they want, what they need, and whether their request is reasonable in the stated time span. Also, a topic in many different articles I have read emphasize communication of your thoughts through code as well as the communication with others. The articles also emphasize planning to have organization with workers. My mentor even has a sheet that lists the specific duties of members. Therefore, planning and communication is vital as well. (I also inferred this from group work in iPoly, although this is not related to programming.)

4.  Who is your mentor, or where are you doing mentorship, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?

My mentor is my mom, Lily Wu, who helps to teach me how things are done at her workplace. It relates to my EQ since what she teaches me and is having me to for my Independent Component #1 is based on her own, current experience as a successful 21st century programmer. Therefore, what she tells me and what I learn from her all related to my EQ, "How can an individual become a successful computer programmer in the 21st century?" This mentorship is a direct source of information towards answering my EQ.