Comments on: IT and the modern university

By: Liam

Liam — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 18:23:57 +0000

Yes, searching by subject or more specifically by topic is generally how I look for information. For example, I had to learn about convolutions, the textbook source we were to use was called “Linear Systems” or somesuch, but searching on google for discrete convolution or continuous convolution gave me a good number of resources. As a starting point I generally just go straight to mathworld for mathematical sorts of subjects, and Wikipedia for CS sorts of questions. If I need things more in depth google and muse can usually provide I find.

By: sieber

sieber — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 20:02:57 +0000

Does this mean that, instead of textbook, you search by subject area? Say, the concept is the culture in Uganda and you search for material on the country?

By: Liam

Liam — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 19:46:52 +0000

I haven't purchased a single textbook this year. At a couple of points I was tempted, but going to the library once or twice a semester to read/take notes/photocopy the parts I need from the textbook on reserve is certainly worth the $400 buying the textbooks would cost. Particularly for math classes, the internet is a far better resource than any textbook could be, particularly Mathworld, run by the Mathematica makers. It also helps there are a lot of CS and math resources available freely on the internet, I'd imagine the availability and quality of information would vary substantially between fields. I did however buy one textbook last year which really bothered me, because they added it to Books24x7 not so long after, which we can access 24 hours a day through the McGill VPN. $110 down the drain.