2 Oct
2011
2 Oct
'11
11:40 a.m.
It's a crying shame to waste that on formal
education, sitting in
some undergrad lecture hall. Some teachers understand that and give
the more promising students special projects where they can give free
rein to their ideas. Most don't. An awful lot of universities turn
out to be glorified trade schools.
I would argue that at least ina UK a Ph.D is supposed to give somewhat
free rein to the student's ideas.
Certainly in my case, it started with my supervisor hadning me something
wrapped in tinfoil and saying 'OK, play with those'. Unwrapping it
revealsed 3 T414 Transputers. I got the approrpiate data book and started
designing.
Of course there are members of staff around to offer guidance, comments,
etc if you need it. But most of the time you are left to think for yoursel
While I was a terrible student, the things that I
learned during the
same time outside of formal study have proved to be the source of
great joy later in life. And I regret not a moment of it.
I agree with you there. My evenings as an undergraduate were mostly spent
starting my classic computing hobby (with a few friends, some of whom
have continued with it as I have). I learnt a heck of a lot....
Stay curious,
Indeed.....
-tony