arnold@csu-cs.UUCP (Ed Arnold) (04/20/84)
As to the Theory/Practical aspect, I personally love the practical
side, yet appreciate the theory. I think most students tend to shy away
from heavily theoretical courses due to the lack of immediate payoff. When
taking a practical course: it is readily shown if your work is good or bad,
it works or it doesn't. When taking a theoretical course: it is difficult to
see what progress has been made. Many is the time I have seen a student
walk out of our Theory of Automata class with a puzzled look. Then that
same student must write a compiler the next semester and they look as if a
permanent lightbulb has been lit over their head. I myself have taken some
theory and seen how it pays off when doing something "real." It is great
when that moment of understanding reaches you and you see that all of your
theoretical handwaving hasn't been for nothing.
Food for Thought, ( yuck :-)
Ed Arnold {hplabs,hpfcla,unmvax,hao,denelcor} (csu-cs!arnold)
Colorado State University Ft. Collins, Colorado