這是我跟新加坡 NUS 資工系教授 Prof. Ben 對話的中段。我在這篇簡單介紹了 Prof. Ben 的學經歷。

Bernard: And what you are learning yourself these days?

Prof. Ben: I guess I have to learn machine learning (ML) soon. I have a new AI Center starting up soon, it's for education technology. I am more of a networking guy, so I now need to learn about AI.

Bernard: I'd love to get a chance to see all the new toys you have someday. Staying on a more personal level, other than you love of coding, debugging, and solving puzzles, what else motivates you in your career in computer science?

Prof. Ben: I guess I'm curious. I like to study things, learn how things work, and solve problems. And that's why I'm a professor. I'm studying TCP (stands for transmission control protocol). It sounded boring, but TCP is basically the protocol that runs the internet; it regulates it's traffic. It's invented probably 40 years ago, be right now I am actually doing research in the area. So figuring out how technologies evolve, making things work better and faster, I am very interested in that.

Computer science is interesting that because it enables many things in today's world to work. It's like magic. I also like thinking of new ways of doing and/or creating things. I guess that's why I like computer science.

Bernard: So it's the problem solving plus the application of computer science - making the world a better place with technology that you enjoy.

Prof. Ben: Yes. And I'm a teacher, so I also using computer science to improve my teaching, finding ways to make it more effective.

Bernard: Yes. You do invest a lot in improving your teach. So let's talk about your students. You have taught thousands of people. And since they have gotten into your computer science class in NUS, they are already among the top in the Singapore education system. It's a two part questions:

1. Among your most successful students, what do they have in common?

2. But before we get there, what's your definition of success for your students?

Prof. Ben: "How do I define success..." The question can can answered into two ways: the first answer is a more traditional view of success. Just like in other industries such as banking and consulting, if you are hired by the top companies in the field, e.g. Goldman Sachs or McKinsey, then you can say that you have achieved some level of success in the field.

So in a somewhat naive way, in computer science, hiring by top software companies such a Google and Facebook can represent some form of success. You have two types of advantages when you work in these top companies: 1) high pay - so you don't have to worry about the day-to-day living; and 2) you can have your pick of most jobs in the future.

This is a simple and a very Asian way of thinking about success.

Bernard: Yes, it is. ;)

Prof. Ben: But as a teacher, I also understand that's that's not right way to define success for my students. My job as a teach is to try to help my students become the best version of themselves. Even in my class, not everybody wants to be a programmer. They may not be good at it, and they may not like it. Actually, the worst thing in life is to be good at something that you hate.

Many of them work in top companies. Some may not have done well academically but have started their own companies. Some do dropout, and I wish them the best. I have one students became a shopkeeper of a Japanese comic book stores, and he's happy.

As an educator, I would define success for my students if they are happy with what they do, and they are leading a good life.

My job as a teach is to try to help my students become the best version of themselves.

Bernard: I totally agree. I love your line: "The worst thing in life is to be good at something that you hate." And because you are good at it, often you are stuck there.

Prof. Ben: Yah, its a tragedy, bit it is actually very common, especially in Asia.

The worst thing in life is to be good at something that you hate.

Bernard: Ok. A very common question from ALPHA Camp's students, but I am not sure if your students have asked you this — "How do I learn better?"

I suppose a "good" answer would be: it depends, as different people learn differently. But what advice would you give to your students?

Prof. Ben: This is actually a very real question. I have students struggle to learn the materials every semester, despite we both work very hard together. I think there is no simple answer to this question. My specialty is in computer science and programming, so I will answer based on what I know.

For programming, I'm actually not sure if there are many different styles to learn. The way you learn programming is practice, is by solving problems. So instead of different styles, I think different people just need different times. Some people just require more steps and need more practice.

So instead of thinking to provide different teaching materials for all the possible learning styles, I personally focus on motivation. I think what matters is actually motivation.

Bernard: Yes, motivation. That's one of the key lessons I've learned from you.

Prof. Ben: Many people think teaching is a communication problem. A teacher communicates a bunch of ideas, and if the students receive them, then the teacher is successful. I don't think it's that simple. If it is, then you can just replace all the teachers in the world with YouTube videos.

At least at the college level, teaching is fundamentally management of motivation. You must somehow figure out how to get the students to follow along and foster to learn. Learning itself is painful; you need to do work and suffer a bit.

Bernard: So what drives motivation?

Prof. Ben: One of the big drivers is social. One reasons why it's very difficult to teach well online is because the current online teaching is not social. In a classroom, you do see your teacher and your fellow students. Being in a group helps one to move along. Whereas online, all you see in a screen.

So part of the challenge of online education is to figure out how we can restore the two-way direction and the social part of teaching. Teacher and students have an important bond. If the student is fundamentally convinced that the teacher cares, the student will learn.

Teacher and students have an important bond. If the student is fundamentally convinced that the teacher cares, the student will learn.

下回是我與 Prof. Ben 對話的 Part 3，也是最後一段。