https://www.theengineer.co.uk/should-students-dream-of-electric-whizz-bangs/

Opening statement:

Engineering students should be encouraged to dream, but not at the expense of learning practical project management skills, writes our anonymous blogger

Interesting read.

 

There's a fine line. Creativity is a great thing, and having a lot of limitations in your head can inhibit creativity. But dreaming about free energy machines or other impossibilities is time wasted. A good education enables a dreamer to evaluate ideas and sort out the ones that are impractical or impossible.

I like the idea of using personal projects as motivation for learning, though. An inventor seeking a solution is a lot more motivated to learn something than a student having it banged into his head day after day.

 

But dreaming about free energy machines or other impossibilities is time wasted.

I wonder at what point does the professor mention the laws that must be overcome. Does he wait and fail them for such a dream project?

I agree that doing a project of your choice should retain your interest.