I see students every now and then that are in my class just for the certificate,and not in class for the knowledge,because the student feels the academics will not as be useful in the real world as is the lab portion.
These students have to be recognized, then brought into reality,on how the academics help understand why something functions as it does. once the student sees if he/she has the understanding why it works, the labs are easier to make it work. I also remind them when it is time for their state exam, it is all academics.
