[Techtalk] Theory vs. practice

[Glenda R. Snodgrass]

you wrote:

<<I actually feel that I would have benefited from doing lots more math in
high school and college. I think working with computers requires learning
step-by-step logical thinking which is what I believe exactly what math
teaches you.a+b+<plug in a formula> = the answer. I'm coming from a system
administration point of view where 75% of my job is solving problems. I
quit taking math after math analysis (anal math, I liked to call it), and
am now playing catch-up with real world problem solving.  I've read a
couple of books on logical/critical thinking to sharpen my skills.>>

I find that very interesting.  I have very strong analytical skills, and
yet I believe I developed those skills in courses in foreign languages,
political science, history, philosophy.  I've never thought I learned that
from math at all.

Now, I never went past calclulus, so I've never had analytical math or
theory of any kind (and I've been told by others that I quit too soon and
would probably have enjoyed theory classes) ... but that goes back to my
original pet peeve, where I suspect that many young girls, like me, quit
math before they ever get to that point, because they don't enjoy it in
grade school & high school, and thus never consider a career in computers
because they hate math.  I think there's a disconnect between what is
perceived as necessary for a career in computers and what actually -is-
necessary.  Altho I don't have children so I don't know what is actually
being told to kids today, and perhaps it has changed a lot since I was in
school.

-- 
Glenda R. Snodgrass

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