Write computer programs to learn physics and math
Where I grew up, we were taught math the hard way. We HAD to struggle through problems.
No matter how complex or convoluted the problem was, it was almost a given that students would stay up – until they had solved it. ‘Fun’ as part of the learning process was not a concept that teachers in India were familiar with.
While I was not happy with the teaching methods, it did help me in two ways :
- It promoted a deeper understanding of the underlying concepts – some problems could only be solved by re-grasping the basics.
- It helped build ‘tenacity’ in problem-solving. This was a skill that would help me in any and every profession.
Math is a lot like golf in this regard – you can only learn by doing. You can read all you want – but your understanding will only be superficial. The ‘doing’ in math consists of solving as many problems as possible.
Computer Simulations and the Learning Process
I used to think that Physics was the same way. Solve a bunch of problems – and you will gain insight into the underlying physical concepts. It wasn’t until I got into computer programming that I discovered another way to gain insight into physics.
Write a computer simulation – as detailed as you can make it. A computer program requires every step to be meticulously spelt out – leave out one step – and the entire program fails. This helps expose any ‘gaps’ in understanding of a problem.
Anuj holds professional certifications in Google Cloud, AWS as well as certifications in Docker and App Performance Tools such as New Relic. He specializes in Cloud Security, Data Encryption and Container Technologies.
Anuj Varma – who has written 1216 posts on Anuj Varma, Hands-On Technology Architect, Clean Air Activist.
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