#17 — Teaching how to navigate an over-informed world
Providing filters, interpretive frameworks, and reducing complexity
The Vibe Coding Book is out for preorder!
We’re at a confusing time for learning to code. I still insist on my recommendation to focus on the fundamentals for analyzing, verifying, determining efficiency...
On the other hand, the cost of simply trying things out and seeing what works has become very low. And this is where I think this book by Gene Kim and Steve Yegge comes at the perfect time. Although right now, it’s hard for me to think that AI-generated code is suitable for complex real-world scenarios. For example, these programs might have poorly structured schemas that slow down database calls, or they might expose secret keys and related security details to the client. It’s true that in the long run, they’ll probably be more capable and better able to understand more complex scenarios and design systems in a way that matches what a more experienced software engineer would prescribe as the right architecture. I’m realistic and believe that “vibe coding” is here to stay. It’s inevitable. I quote Adam Gordon Bell:
If you’re skeptical of agentic coding (as I often am) or you’ve stepped away from coding and wonder about the current hype, this book could be eye-opening.Both authors have been pushing the limits of AI coding, together and separately, and their stories are fun, sharp, and inspiring.
I just bought it as an audiobook. I’ll be sharing my thoughts on my socials.
🔍 Resources for Learning CS
→ FreeCodeCamp’s programming books
I’ve been following FreeCodeCamp’s work for years, but I didn’t know they published books focused on programming and data management. The latest guide was published in August, so I assume they’ll keep releasing more.
→ Every CSS selector in one place
I think CSS is one of the most “affected” in terms of manual vs. automated code, but if you’re still interested in CSS selectors, here they all are in one place with direct examples and syntax on display.
→ Systems, C, and architecture
There isn’t much depth in these chapters, but the authors provide a broad overview of systems, C, and computer architecture. For a student entering upper-level courses, these chapters might provide an easier entry point to some of the material they’re going to see more in-depth if they haven’t encountered it before. The exercises at the end of each chapter are particularly interesting.
→ Quick tools for everyday tasks
It’s not a learning resource directly, but Toolbrew can help anytime you need a video downloader, word counter, or URL encoder. If you find these types of tools recommendations interesting, let me know in the comments—I’ve got plenty of ideas for future editions.
→ Two podcast highlights
This week I finished the podcast series The Rest Is Teaching with two episodes worth your time. (1) Steve Draper & Joseph Maguire from the University of Glasgow on what counts as Computing Education Research (CER), and (2) Suzanne Matthews from the United States Military Academy at West Point (New York) and Tia Newhall and Kevin C. Webb from Swarthmore College (Pennsylvania) on diving into open online interactive textbook publishing at diveintosystems.
Two good bites from the industry
→ Code Complete with Steve McConnell
For some, the best book on software construction ever written.
A lot of lessons in this episode with the author of Code Complete and his thoughts on where software construction is headed in a world of AI-assisted development.
→ Building Software Before and After AI
In this first Notion After Hours, they talk lifelong love of computers, malleable software, and the future of our relationships with AI.
We no longer compete with Google
In this episode of La trama, the new literary podcast from elDiario.es, directed and hosted by Irene Lozano, Daniel Innerarity from EUI reflects on how he’s transformed his teaching style over 40 years:
We need to stop doing things that add little valu e. I always give an example from my own experience as a professor. I’ve been teaching at the university for 40 years, and when I started teaching, Google didn’t exist—the internet didn’t exist. When I compare my classes back then with my classes now, what I realize is that I no longer compete with Google.
The first course I taught for several years was History of Political Thought. Back then, I spent 90% of class time providing information (Thomas Hobbes was a man who was born in such-and-such year, died in such-and-such year, wrote these books, lived in that context…). Now, if you mention Thomas Hobbes in class, students immediately start typing, and they already have the photo, the works, everything.
Let’s not waste time. The lazy professor who thinks their advantage over students is “I have more information than you” is going to be completely out of the game. But the one who considers that their advantage, authority, or contribution consists of teaching people who have too much information how to navigate that world—that person won’t have any problems. They’ll need to step up because this obviously requires many changes in yourself. Teaching a group of people whose main problem is having too little information is not the same as teaching—as was the case 40 years ago—a group whose problem is having too much information.
You spend all day saying, “Don’t look here, forget about this, this has no value.” You’re constantly providing filters, interpretive criteria, reducing complexity. Our role has completely changed.
He also spoke briefly about developing new skills:
I’m a bit tired of all those negative discourses. I think we’re developing new skills. Humans always learn to decode things.
I completely agree.
🔍 Resources for Teaching in CS Education
→ AI and the busy work problem
This episode from TeachLab got me thinking about how, because of AI, we as students are increasingly becoming the arbiters of busy work because we can get AI to do it. On the other hand, sometimes the best way to get good at something that could use a tool is to do it without the tool first.
🌎 Computing Education Community Highlights
Central Connecticut State University’s Computer Science Department invites applications for a full time, tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor, with an emphasis on Cybersecurity. Use this link to see full details about the position and the application process. UW is hiring too.
Join LearnAid: two co-founder roles open. Interested? Submit your application here.
This professor from the University of Oklahoma (OU) is looking for students who want to do research at the intersection of AI and SE. More info here.
🤔 Thought(s) For You to Ponder…
Highly recommended LinkedIn post on why CS students shouldn’t fear AI—and how to embrace it.
Iterate on our prompts? Write the actual code instead? Anton Zhiyanov on this dilemma. I think we need to avoid the rabbit hole that can turn into aimless refinement, as Anton says: ‘It’s an imprecise, slow and terribly painful way to get things done.’ Let’s get our hands dirty!
What *is* documentation? It’s not just the official product or full reference docs! This post resonated with me. A fantastic illustration of how good documentation can be.
📌 The PhD Student Is In
→ Debuting as a SIGCSE poster reviewer
I’m debuting as a poster reviewer for SIGCSE TS 2026. I submitted my reviewing preferences on Tuesday, and I received posters to review on Wednesday! I hope to find time to review them as they deserve.
→ RDM Weekly
This week I’ve been busy with data wrangling tasks for a project. Crystal Lewis’ new newsletter looks promising for anyone interested in research data management.
→ October 16: Algorithms, Bias, and Search Engines
One of the advantages of coming to campus almost every day is the opportunity to attend live events with interesting scholars. This one with best-selling author and internet studies scholar Safiya Umoja Noble looks fantastic. She’ll share her expertise on issues related to algorithms, search engines, and technology bias. See you on October 16th at 4pm at MD Anderson Library.
→ Coffee with Tuan
Always inspiring to catch up with my friend Tuan from UH over at Cougar Grounds. I’m still trying to convince him to come with me to the CS department, hehe.
🪁 Leisure Line
I enjoyed Pacific Coast Tacos on Washington Avenue with my Mexican friend Rafa. Tacos are art.
Side projects don’t usually go in this section, but I had such a great time programming this shooter with Claude Code for my friend Joe who’s a Texas gun range enthusiast and had a birthday last weekend. You can’t imagine how difficult it was to position the gun correctly. I ended up going with a crosshair. Of course, I added traditional Texas music in the background and a pure Texan-style design. It was an afternoon’s work, but if you’re interested in diving into the game mechanics, how I move the silhouette, etc., I’m leaving the project on GitHub here so you can check out exactly what the code does.
📖📺🍿 Currently Reading, Watching, Listening
I am loving this audiobook by Fr. Boniface Hicks. Ideal for getting more out of the Mass.
I watched “Sound of Hope” and it was a whole experience. Devastating and inspiring. You’ll feel it.
Btw, the film needed an end title song and director Joshua Weigel fell in love with “Glory”. Loved it.
That's all for this week. Thank you for your time. I value your feedback, as well as your suggestions for future editions. I look forward to hearing from you in the comments.
Quick Links 🔗
🎧 Listen to Computing Education Things Podcast
📖 Read my article on Vibe Coding Among CS Students
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