[James Pennock]

I found the following post on http://www.engineersedge.com (thread #6858). The original question is one that has been asked before and will continue to be asked. There were a number of responses however the one by randykimball is worth reading.
Jop

(The original question)
Posted by: Guttdogg ® 08/04/2006, 16:34:59

Seriously, which is better… more experience, or more education?

(The most note worthy response)
Posted by: randykimball ® 08/05/2006, 10:17:33

I think the important thing to remember is that education is a tool. Experience in using those tools is important, plus aptitude and talent in the correct concepts are also required to be proficient.
Like any other tool, education comes in different qualities and different assortments. You can have a tool chest full of tools but if you don’t understand how to apply those tools to accomplish projects you aren’t all that much better off. Tools come in vast assortments; if you are expertise at using tools well then owning special tools designed to do tricky and complex projects becomes a more productive endeavor.
Experience improves the performance of using tools. Just going out and buying a tool chest full of the best tools even with every assortment and special tool known to man does not mean you will be able to make a good living using them. You could get hired quickly because having all those tools indicates that you may be a fine tradesman, but sooner or later you will have to prove your ability to complete a task at the skill level that a tool chest of the best tools indicates you should be able to accomplish. As your experience level improves your skill and performance with your tools will improve. A tradesman with many years of experience will out perform a tradesman with very few years experience, even if the tradesman with many years experience has only a few well chosen tools. … This is true unless the next paragraph comes into play.
Talent is the ability to relate the tools to your projects. If you have every tool you could possibly need and do not have the correct aptitude and talent you will never be truly efficient with those tools. Aptitude and talent can not be taught. Aptitude and talent will decide how quickly you are able to acquire expertise with your tools (education). As an example I truly desire to be a great banjo player, I even built my own banjo. I took the time and had the skills to build a fine banjo from scratch, but I will never be the great banjo player I desire to be, because I just do not have the talent or the finely tuned ear for it. However, as an additional example, I did have the talent to build a quality banjo, something most good banjo players would love to do and will never achieve, because of where our talents are. Someone with the proper aptitude and talent will quickly over take the one weak in these areas. In the long run aptitude and talent with experience and a tool chest of well chosen credits of education will win the prize.
Talent is “hard wired in”. We all know that some of us will never be able to sing well, or master a violin when we are 6 years old, or paint a masterpiece painting. Not everyone understands how to fix almost anything they get their hands on…. these are talents… and one would be very wise to pick a career and education that is a match to one’s talents. … It is often wise to ask someone that you are sure has the talent you believe you have if they truly agree that you have that talent, someone that will NOT lie about it. See..? …. We often are fooled into believing we have talent we do not have because we want to believe we have it. We do not have the proper perspective to make that choice without the additional perspective of someone deeply imbedded into that very talent to help us sort it out. I once truly believed I could be a great banjo player, but after several years of hard work I visited a group of talented players and realized I would never be worthy to poison their music with my miserable efforts. It was important that I learn that lesson; I now play MY banjo for me… and only me. If you pick a career that is coupled to your talents you WILL be more successful…. bank on it. If you do not, you will find it very difficult to able to accomplish your grandest goals.
Each and everyone of us most likely know some one that is a tool collector… they have collected a vast array of educational credits and never seem to stop going to school until they eventually end up teaching in a university. Well, we need them too, … their talent is going to and teaching education… often they aren’t so good at applying them to the real world… that’s ok… they are important to the process, but it helps if they realize why they are there.
— Now you have the opinion of an experienced old (guy) —
The worst suggestion of your lifetime may be the catalyst to the grandest idea of the century, never let suggestions go unsaid nor fail to listen to them.

[Author]

Posts