On 23 Mar 2010, at 17:31, <guzd...@cc.gatech.edu> wrote: > Also relevant to this discussion is Richard Gabriel’s proposal for a Masters > of Fine Arts in Software: > > http://www.dreamsongs.com/MFASoftware.html >
I really like that idea a lot and agree with much of what he says. I've been wanting to start doing Design style regular crit sessions for students developing programs but the class sizes simply mitigate against it, An earlier message was suggesting that expertise + knowledge (is this skill??) was much the same as creativity and I have sympathy with this point, but you do see highly creative solutions to problems developed by people with no expertise or knowledge. Maybe this is just dumb luck of course and there may be aspect of that in it too. However I would also add failure into the mix - creativity is a lot to do with failing and keeping going. You can do this with music and paint and literature and software, it's a bit harder to do it (or to be allowed to do it anyway) with bridges and aeroplanes and medicines. (Note I am not denying the creative aspects of building bridges etc.) You know what they say about overnight success taking a lot of years of hard work. I also suspect that none of as are likely to agree on this topic. L. -- The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302).