Theoretical Vs Practical ? - Page 2

Originally posted by: vazz

'Theoratically speaking', there needs to be a balance of both...but in reality do we find this balance??

Theory is needed to get started on a few basics. For instance the little 3 year old has comprehended the 'theory' of addition. Just because its not on paper does not mean she does not know the theory. Books or literature are not the only source for theory.. life skills or practical learning, helps you remember the minor things that books cannot help you remember.
Theoratical knowledge at a later date will let you apply the theory in practical life as far as sciences go..
There are some aspects in life that can only come via experience and failures and no pun intended, that is my theory... 😊

Anshu, good topic. Am too lazy to type now and I agree with Vazz😊.

Originally posted by: sowmyaa

Raj,
A very good topic and I totally agree with you. I was reading some research about teaching kids and they were stressing too much on abstract teaching rather than theory. For kids that young (preschooler) they don't tend to understand numbers and time concept like we do. But they do understand abstract and things they can touch and feel. It's same for older people too. The more we bring practicle into our life the more concept is easier and remains with you for ever. Theory kind of does not last long.

Example about ur niece counting apples and teachign math is more affective than going through preschool book and teaching them meaning of + .. I used to get immpatient at my daughter and ask her to get ready soon and that we are getting late. Then my Dr. told that kids these young does not understand concept of late or early. They don't understand time like we do....so even if i tel her we are late and yell she don't know exactly what we are saying, but they understand time based on praticle experience. Like one day i was late to pick up my daughter and she asked me why was I late... I asked her how she knew and she said 'coz we were not in playground, we already finished our snack and you were still not here. So I think practicle and abstract aproach is more important than theory. I won't worry if 4 year old does not understand + or signs, becuase they are grasping addition when they count apples or cereal so they are building a strong fondation.

Thanks Ani1 was bumping this topic, nice to see (ur, DB23,Sowmya,Sareg,Vazz,Maya )'s views.

Sowmyaa @ bold part - thats what I observed looking back in these years. Hey thanks for sharing ur experience related to this post, see all Mr's are smart😉😃...😆 Would love to share this with my SIL... who am sure right now also must be busy rataoing ABC or 123 to my cute niecy.. 😆.

Originally posted by: sareg

After 21 years of schooling when I went onto my first job and was commisioning a Heat Exchanger, It was working as advertised, along in my opinion I had the connections wrong, I spent 3-4 hrs smoke, coffee, walking around rethinking why according to basic Thermodynamic principles, I realized, they had named the cables incorrectly(cant remember specifics it was centuries ago😆)

Moral of the story 😆 :
If all you care about making things work, see how it is done in real life and do it that way, Practical approach is great 😃

If you want to know why it works the way it works theoretical approach is great, You need to have a lot of time and patience on hand, nowadays who has time 😆 ?

Hey Sareg,

Your Moral of the story - Time is a killer, even if you want to, you don't have the time for it (damn net addiction😆).

Let me ask you this, you are pratically a pro (which u r), but if someone asks a conceptual question, which is only found in theory and you don't know the answer. What will be your reaction to that?

Originally posted by: raksha.l

Nice topic Anshuman/Raj 🤔

In my opinion there is never a 'either or' option in this matter..You need to learn the theory to put it into practice..And unless you implement what you have learnt, new theories wont evolve..Theory and practicals go hand in hand...Being too paranoid about learning the theory just for the academics sake and not focus on implementation will make one nothing but knowledge constipated..

I like the illustrations given by you,Sareg&Sowmyaa..

When I was a student one of the questions that used to constantly bother me was, what is the purpose of those complex mathematical theories and also all those complex chemical compositions...more than 70% of it, we never use it in day to day life as a common man..I have always liked Physics, because I used to feel that its a more practical subject..

Instead I feel that the schools and universities should focus on teaching the students about the practical aspects of life like Money mangement,time management etc..Oh yeah, I guess that's another topic altogether 😃

Thanks actually thanks to Ani1 for bumping this old post😳😊

For the bold part two examples

1. Motor Mechanic in India - Zero theoritical knowledge but can beat most intell. in fixing motors based on core practical knowledge.

2. Heard of some folks who just study, study and study all thier life? - might find many in Germany where they pay good compensations to on advanced studies and folks just study all life about stuff which is never practised.

Originally posted by: manjujain

Anshu, when you say theoritical or practical, it feels to me like some one is telling me which organ of your body is more imprtant than other.... we need all of them, right? So in my opinion we do need both theoritical & practical.

Manjuji I agree, thats what I feel if you see the original post. Questions is then should be more emphasized. Personally speaking 60% of theory I read in school never came handy for me😊

In the example you quoted like mechanics, you are right they do it well. But you are overlooking the part when they do everytime practically, person who train them tells them why to do it so indirectly they learn theoritical too. So they are told theoritically too but not in the systematic manner...

Was response to Raksha's comment - that there can be instances where people can do well with 'either or ' option. Generally speaking what u are saying is correct, but if you focus at this Mechanic himself who is doing good without theory, or things he has learned based on practical experience has equiped him to do his job like a pro, then why waste time in school or on books?

Originally posted by: raj5000

Hey Sareg,

Your Moral of the story - Time is a killer, even if you want to, you don't have the time for it (damn net addiction😆).

Let me ask you this, you are pratically a pro (which u r), but if someone asks a conceptual question, which is only found in theory and you don't know the answer.

What will be your reaction to that?

Depends😆, It varies from "Tumhe aam khane se matlab hai ya...." or after this task is done "why dont you hit the library and enlighten us"

e.g when you park you vehicle on an incline in San Franscisco you know you have to incline your tires and put the brakes on, you dont need to know gradient at which the road has been constructed, what is your vehicle weight, how your brakes withstands it etc.

As Manjuji stated someone else has already does that theory research you just live off of someone's work😉

Originally posted by: sareg

e.g when you park you vehicle on an incline in San Franscisco you know you have to incline your tires and put the brakes on, you dont need to know gradient at which the road has been constructed, what is your vehicle weight, how your brakes withstands it etc.

Other most important part which I forgot, so editing the post, is to having a certificate from college means proven that you know theory which helps you to get the job anywhere while in other scenario you are dependent on other person recommendation and has nothing else to prove your ability.

Originally posted by: raj5000