I’ve been in the Computer Science (CS) program at WSU for quite some time now. Though I’ve learned a lot in the process, I realize that graduating in May will be just the beginning of my career. I still have a lifetime responsibility of learning ahead of me, and I must find a way to effectively approach this everlasting task.
The textbook references The White Belt as what I feel to be a highly effective pattern to apply when learning new things. The idea is to keep an open mind and bring a proverbial “clean slate” whenever approaching something new. I’m going to use the example of learning new programming languages to further explain this pattern.
We focus a lot on the Java programming language in our school’s CS program. Because of this, I feel I have a proficient understanding of that particular language. We have branched out into other programming languages as well, such as C and TypeScript. But since Java was my first programming language I’ve become proficient in, I always find myself comparing the new languages I learn to Java while I am learning them. The White Belt pattern has changed the way I feel I should be approaching new material. I shouldn’t be making assumptions of new technologies based on my knowledge of other topics, no matter how comparable they may seem. I should be applying The White Belt pattern when approaching new ideas.
For instance, consider a scenario where an algorithm that has been coded in the most effective way known possible for the Java programming language. I should not assume that the code will be just as efficient in a different programming language just because some of the terminology may be similar. I should approach learning a new programming language in the same fashion that I learned Java. A good start would be to consult the community who are well-versed in the skill I am seeking to learn. I ought to start at the very beginning, practicing beginner projects before attempting the more advanced ones. As simple as a “Hello World” exercise may seem based on prior coding experience, The White Belt suggests I should “set this previous knowledge aside.” Based on reading the context of this pattern, I will always try to approach new topics with an open mind and a “clean slate.” This applies not only to the example of learning new programming languages, but also any new situation I may find myself during my professional career.
From the blog CS@Worcester – Jason Knowles by Jason Knowles and used with permission of the author. All other rights reserved by the author.