What is better? Theory or practice in learning IT? I'd argue both. When I teach I try to blend both. I think where people get hung up is on too much theory. Don't get me wrong, I've seen plenty of students and working professionals have no theory and sometimes it hurts. When you start to ask deep questions or are required to articulate, without the deep theory you can falter. It can come in handy in troubleshooting, mainly from a critical thinking aspect. The danger of all theory is if it is exclusively that and no practical. Mediocrity is the enemy of any profession and my fear is that theory only can lead to mediocrity*. I tend to try to focus more on the practice when I teach. And then with the objective questions I can probe their theory knowledge. I have much more to say on the topic of educating IT, but for now we'll call this a close.

  • Unless your career goal is to be a full-time traditional college professor