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> With a computational approach, we can go “top down”, starting with libraries that implement the most important algorithms, like Fast Fourier Transform. Studen
by shubhamjain 10y ago
> With a computational approach, we can go “top down”, starting with libraries that implement the most important algorithms, like Fast Fourier Transform. Students can use the algorithms first and learn how they work later.
This is exactly how I understood it. Three years back, WebAudio API was a new addition in browsers and I decided I should make something with it. I settled on building a Whistle Detector using a cited research paper as my basis. I barely understood anything in that paper and had to dig into DSP, FFT and other basics to get around. As I had no external help, I struggled plenty but managed to complete it after two weeks [1].
Funny enough, we had a DSP course which never made sense to me. Two weeks into my puzzle I walked away with more useful knowledge than the course ever did. What has always motivated me to learn is the application. I can work tirelessly if there is an interesting thing to build, even if I have to go through mundane theory. But, I find it utterly tedious to learn theory with no immediate goal in mind.
[1]: https://stuff.shubhamjain.co/whistlerr/ https://stuff.shubhamjain.co/whistlerr/
- devoply 10y agoI feel the same way about math and statistics. It makes much more sense if the knowledge is applied and makes it more interesting and worth learning.
- mtempm 10y agoThat's a very interesting comment to me because I may be perhaps the opposite. I got a slow and frustrating start learning application development--I wasnt getting it. I felt I was following instructions on how to write esoteric insutructions and not understanding how it worked. I found the book Code by Petzold and read it. Then I discussed some of this with other developers and realized they were even more clueless than I was. It seems some people love theory/understanding while some love building something practical/useful.
- khedoros1 10y agoI learn best when I build something that illustrates the theory. Reading gives me a dim idea, but building something (and freely experimenting on the way) teaches me how it works.
- rwnspace 10y agoI'm the opposite, and had to be persistent with searching for the right learning tools for programming, with the least terms and behaviours left undefined. If there are such things as 'learning styles', theoretical learners vs applied learners is the most intuitively clear distinction. However choosing a teaching and measurement paradigm that fits both without a lot of wiggling is not so intuitive...