[OT] Education Theory (was Re: Database Design Theory?)

[Shane Hathaway]

Ross Werner wrote:
> On Wed, 9 Nov 2005, Shane Hathaway wrote:
>> Nearly every time I've taken a theory-heavy class in something I 
>> haven't learned on my own, I struggled a lot.
> 
> 
> Same here. But I don't think it's necessarily (either in my case or in 
> your case) simply because I tried applying stuff first--I think it was 
> more because (a) I was already familiar with some of the basic ideas in 
> the material, and (b) it was something I was already at least somewhat 
> interested in (as evidenced by the fact that I had already learned 
> something on my own).

How did you gain that interest?  I saw my uncle playing with 
electronics, so I got interested in electronics.  I saw my dad playing 
with a computer, so I learned that too.  And so on.  Shouldn't students 
have a similar opportunity to witness the practical value of something, 
helping them gain interest, before learning the theory behind it?

I've had a few excellent instructors who did indeed show why the subject 
was interesting.  I long for more of those precious few.

Shane