Lec 1 | MIT 6.042J Mathematics for Computer Science, Fall 2010
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN users recommend it as a good discrete math course for programmers, praising Leighton's relatable stories that motivate new concepts.
What it is
The first lecture of MIT 6.042J Mathematics for Computer Science, taught by Tom Leighton, introducing mathematical proofs. It covers propositions, implication and basic proof methods.
Recommended by 3 HN commenters across 3 different months, 2017 to 2018.
What Hacker News said
Recommends espeed · 2017-03 · on “What are some things you wish you knew when you started programming?”
The Fall 2010 version of MIT 6.042J Mathematics for Computer Science is a good one (as I recall there are several versions online from different years), and someone from Google is teaching it this year (haven't heard if the videos will be made available online): [this video]
Recommends totalnovice · 2018-07 · on “Ask HN: Old CS lecturer looking for advice from current and recent students”
Some MIT professors use a method termed "practice-theory-practice". [LINK] __ I see this as a "practical" lecure, also from MIT: the professor tells relatable stories to motivate the new concepts. Though I imagine good storytelling is harder than it looks. [this video] (I've actually been so inspired by this approach that I sometimes incorporate it into conversation whenever I really want someone to understand something.) __ This is perhaps worth reading: Knuth - Theory and Practice. [LINK] Disclaimer: I have not read it yet.
Recommends rectang · 2018-08 · on “Those Who Can Do, Can’t Teach”
Teaching requires a set of distinct skills which are different from researching. Naturally not everyone is equally gifted or developed in all areas. One of the most valuable skills in life is the ability to adapt your mental models and present ideas at an audience-appropriate level. It is useful in teaching; it is also useful in leadership, sales, design... As an exemplar, I submit Akamai CTO and MIT professor Tom Leighton. [this video]