INFORMS Open Forum

  • 1.  Experiment or Theory: which is the better way to learn a concept

    Posted 07-14-2024 23:34

    Hello colleagues,

    Currently I am going through the biography of Leonardo Da Vinci by Walter Isaacson.

    I feel that every page of the book touches the life of Leonardo, and is a hidden gem of knowledge. Among those is the approach used by Leonardo to learn anything new.

    Rather than sticking with one fixed approach; experience or theoretical study; he devised his own flexible approach. This entailed going in both directions from effect to cause as well as cause to effect.

    Please feel free to share your thoughts on which approach suits you better in your learning endeavor.



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    Jayant Singh
    Analyst
    San Leandro CA
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  • 2.  RE: Experiment or Theory: which is the better way to learn a concept

    Posted 07-19-2024 09:03

    Jayant, this book is on my reading list. It sounds like I should read it soon--the flexible approach sounds fascinating. Thank you for the book recommendation!

    Laura



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    Laura Albert
    2024 INFORMS Past-President
    Professor and David H. Gustafson Chair
    University of Wisconsin-Madison
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  • 3.  RE: Experiment or Theory: which is the better way to learn a concept

    Posted 07-19-2024 10:05

    Hello Dr. Albert.
    Glad to know that you're going to read it. Without revealing the details, I can attest there is a lot to learn from this masterpiece.

    Jayant



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    Jayant Singh
    Analyst
    San Leandro CA
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Experiment or Theory: which is the better way to learn a concept

    Posted 07-19-2024 11:44

    To the question of Experiment or Theory, I fully believe that experiment is better to learn and understand.  We learn by doing.   We learn to facilitate through practice.   We could take a course in facilitation, but unless you do it yourself you don't know what is right for you.  

    Then there is mathematical programming or statistics.   Doing statistics, even on dummy data and seeing how it works we learn.   Applying some statistical equation out of a book doesn't really help you to understand.   Look at how Khan Academy teaches subjects.   It isn't theory it is through online examples.  



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    Brian Putt
    Decision Scientist Consultant
    retired
    Fremont CA
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