I remember being a third year CS student, studying for some database exam coming up, and a friend of mine (a wickedly smart second year student) explained joins as Cartesian products to me. Took her all of 60 second to turn my entire brain over. Blew my mind.
I had been using SQL but not understanding it. Mostly because of poor previous explanation via things like Venn diagrams- the wrong model lead me to think incorrectly and make mistakes.
With the right model in my head, the exam was dead easy. I don't even know that she realized how impactful that was to me. So on the off chance you're reading HN, thanks Wen!
> Mostly because of poor previous explanation via things like Venn diagrams- the wrong model lead me to think incorrectly and make mistakes.
To me the Venn diagrams made it quite clear to understands while this article diagram wouldn't have helped me at all.
The best way to learn is in a way that make you understands. Your friend found a way that make you understands, but do you believe his explanation would have been universally understood? We would live in a much better world if it was that simple.
For me, Venn worked to make me understands. For you, your friend explanation worked to make you understands.
Should we make your friend stop explaining because he can't help everyone? Or should we simply let both way coexist?
I had been using SQL but not understanding it. Mostly because of poor previous explanation via things like Venn diagrams- the wrong model lead me to think incorrectly and make mistakes.
With the right model in my head, the exam was dead easy. I don't even know that she realized how impactful that was to me. So on the off chance you're reading HN, thanks Wen!