> I know for a fact that I don't learn if there aren't exams and grades.
The Wikipedia page about you says: “[Walter Bright] taught himself computer programming from the type-in programs in BASIC Computer Games” citing https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28574770 as a source.
Was there a series of formal tests and grades involved there? Or do you disagree with your own claim that you learned computer programming from that untested, ungraded experience? Presumably most of your expert knowledge of compilers comes from practical experience implementing them yourself and independently studying other people’s implementations rather than from taking formal tests in graded university courses.
Just as you learned programming by satisfying your own curiosity, other people manage to learn about e.g. differential geometry, materials chemistry, entomology, Mesopotamian history, meteorology, electrical engineering, comparative linguistics, sports journalism, fine-art photography, pie baking, ... by similar self-directed experiences.
A formal education full of tests and grades can provide helpful structure for many students, but it is neither the most efficient nor the most effective way to get passionate students to learn and explore for themselves.
I have audited some programming classes, and learned very little, because I never did the exercises nor took the exams.
I know that there are some unicorns who learned math on their own. But I haven't encountered one in the real world.
(Ok, so I know one - Hal Finney. But that man was simply so smart, he learned it by flipping through the book, i.e. it was effortless for him.)
> it is neither the most efficient nor the most effective way
I simply don't buy that. After all, how do you determine if those students learned the material without tests? I've often thought I understood something, but when faced with solving a problem, realized I understood nothing.
I attended Caltech, where they selected for passion. I was passionate, too. With just auditing the classes, I figure I'd have learned maybe only 10% of what I did. That's neither efficient nor effective. Ditto for the bulk of the students. Even though I picked courses that I wanted to master.
I went to a high school with no grades. It was great. My peers and i wanted to learn and we did. And there was no grade hype/complaining/competition. It works.
The reality is as humans we love to learn things. Focus providing an environment that delivers that and the motivation is not a big issue.
1. How does one know one mastered the material? I've often thought I knew it, but found out I did not.
2. How does a college know one mastered the material?
3. Even when doing things one loves, there are always some boring things that need to be done, too.
BTW, in learning to program on my own, I later discovered there were yawning gaps in my knowledge that were conventional knowledge taught in CS classes. It was embarrassing.
The Wikipedia page about you says: “[Walter Bright] taught himself computer programming from the type-in programs in BASIC Computer Games” citing https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28574770 as a source.
Was there a series of formal tests and grades involved there? Or do you disagree with your own claim that you learned computer programming from that untested, ungraded experience? Presumably most of your expert knowledge of compilers comes from practical experience implementing them yourself and independently studying other people’s implementations rather than from taking formal tests in graded university courses.
Just as you learned programming by satisfying your own curiosity, other people manage to learn about e.g. differential geometry, materials chemistry, entomology, Mesopotamian history, meteorology, electrical engineering, comparative linguistics, sports journalism, fine-art photography, pie baking, ... by similar self-directed experiences.
A formal education full of tests and grades can provide helpful structure for many students, but it is neither the most efficient nor the most effective way to get passionate students to learn and explore for themselves.