#comp570

The comp570 assignment was surprisingly fun. We were required to analyse and understand code that utilises aspects of Processing that we have discussed in class and some other minor aspects that were new to us. We then had to modify the code by integrating our new insights with the knowledge we had already accumulated. When  I was first found out about this  assignment I thought it was going to be a horrible experience. This mindset stemmed from struggling in several of the tutorial questions and not being completely comfortable with all the different areas of programming we had covered up until this point. When I first approached the assignment I didn’t get very far , and so a short time later I got up and walked away. My lack of progress was probably down to my negative mindset, which didn’t allow me to learn  and adapt to what was being asked of me. Later when I revisited the assessment I changed my mindset to something more positive and things started to workout.

During the learning stages (so in class lectures and tutorial exercises) for me the best way to learn something new was to just play around with it and get familiar with what everything meant and did. This often resulted in figuring out the answers to my questions or the tutorial exercises. I ended up using this same approach with this assessment. My other source of learning was the processing.org forum. If there was something I didn’t understand or needed further clarification with that was the first place I would go.

For next time things I could change are:

·       Not approach the assignment with such a negative mindset

·       Go back and read though lectures and tutorials more

·       Be more active with asking questions to the lecturers and my classmates

Programming is like a puzzle but with maths I've forgotten

after only teaching people hands on things for a while now programming really scratched that problem solving itch that i forgot i had. it really felt like slipping on an old pair of shoes that you had forgotten about in your wardrobe. 

The difference being that I've never done it before in my life.

something that really stumped me was Q8 in the tutorial provided, I quickly realised what i would have to do and where the triangles that i needed to draw were but the placement took a WHILE. This is the maths i forgot, i ended up just inching the corners over bit by bit until i got the correct position. its safe to say that this will definitely be a question for class time.

07/03/2020

Just going to start off by saying how thankful I am to be in this degree and how excited I am to keep going ! If I hadn’t discovered BCT I honestly have no idea what i’d be doing or where I’d be right now and it feels like a relief to be in these classes with professors who are so knowledgable and kind and to have a classroom of friends! 

In general I really like AUT and the way it works, what it stands for and the people there. I feel at home and safe to walk around, study, be social, ask for help, I think it is such a cool place and I’m grateful to be here!

I love the way the studio style environment works, I feel like sitting at tables in groups made it so much easier to relax and settle into this new world of uni. We could open up, talk and get to know each other without being surrounded by 300+ students. It has only been 2 weeks (6 classes) and it feels like i’ve known these people forever, so cool making friends in an environment where we are all passionate about what we are learning. 

I was surprised (not in a bad way) by how sudden the work load was, probably me just being ignorant but I was pushed to start being productive instantly and I think this was a good start, it felt good to get stuck in! For our first weekly studio project we smashed it out, anytime out of class we were in uni working on it and figuring it out, learning new things etc. It was good that we all had the same motivation and we worked well as a team I feel. I really really love collaborative environments because I love working with people and being involved in a group or community and the fact that this is what we have had already in the first week even makes me SO excited! 

Programming for creativity is really enjoyable. That’s where we have to really get our brains thinking back in that problem solving, maths kind of way! I knew that whatever I studied I wanted to learn to code within that so that was a big factor in choosing BCT. So far I really enjoy it! it’s interesting, it’s satisfying, it’s challenging, it’s great! In the class I am not afraid to ask for help either from Stefan, the TA’s pr my peers, it feels like a safe open space which I really appreciate as I’m sure most others in the class are too.

After my second class of Programming with Creativity we have begun to start on our assignment which is due next Friday. We have to analyse and understand code using the program Processing by modifying a certain code and adding our own knowledge and skills to it.