> With a computational approach, we can go “top down”, starting with libraries that implement the most important algorithms, like Fast Fourier Transform. Students can use the algorithms first and learn how they work later.

This is exactly how I understood it. Three years back, WebAudio API was a new addition in browsers and I decided I should make something with it. I settled on building a Whistle Detector using a cited research paper as my basis. I barely understood anything in that paper and had to dig into DSP, FFT and other basics to get around. As I had no external help, I struggled plenty but managed to complete it after two weeks [1].

Funny enough, we had a DSP course which never made sense to me. Two weeks into my puzzle I walked away with more useful knowledge than the course ever did. What has always motivated me to learn is the application. I can work tirelessly if there is an interesting thing to build, even if I have to go through mundane theory. But, I find it utterly tedious to learn theory with no immediate goal in mind.

[1]: https://stuff.shubhamjain.co/whistlerr/