How do you like to learn?
How do you like to learn?
When learning a new computer language, skill, hobby or even trying to enhance an existing expertise - how do you go about planning, gathering informational resources, and tracking your progress? With a word doc? excel? trello? Do you learn by reading? By doing? What do you do to feel like you are affectively learning something?
10% reading books & watching videos. 90% doing and messing stuff up
Ditto - love it!
This right here is key. I try to think of something other than a basic todo app to programme. With that in mind, I'll use whatever I learn to create the app. This way it solidifies whatever I read up and listen to further. Works for me many times so far.
I learn the most by reading, by far. Perhaps because I err too much on the side of doing.
Recently, I picked up habit of talking to mentors and running ideas by colleagues. It's absurdly helpful.
Over time, I've gotten out of the business of tracking my progress with things, which I used to do obsessively. Now I believe that time spent tracking things would be better spent doing and learning new things. I was just indulging my OCD. Life is messy and I should embrace that.
Check this out: "How to learn anything - fast"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtJy69cEOtQ
I've always learned best when I can practice (and practice some more!) in an environment where the I can focus on the task I want to learn and ignore the other details. I'm actually building a platform for practicing SQL right now that follows this model!
That sounds cool! Let me know when that is available - Im always looking to keep my sql skillz sharp
Thanks for the interest! I'll probably announce it here when it's ready- at least when it's ready for a friendly demo. It's my current passion project which is, unfortunately, taking a slight backseat to client projects- but I'm still making progress!
I'm also one of those people who learn by doing and messing stuff.
With zero coding background, I've recently started to learn how to code on Codeacademy for example. I really need to use them APIs!
I read a little then get impatient and look for an environment where I can learn by doing, like codeacademy for coding. It won't stick unless I incorporate it into what I do as I do it and I won't use any external tracker...I just don't remember to log things.
I read the top 3 books on the subject. If it is programming, I then build 2 or 3 apps with the tech. Usually by app 3 I have ironed the kinks out and am productive.
I like to learn by reading, watching videos, and by doing.
In terms of learning material, I like having both a book/docs and a video course (theory + practice). Whenever I get tired of the book/docs, I jump into the video course and run through practical examples. Whenever I get tired of the video course, I jump back into the book. I do this until I finish one or both. In the middle of this “process” (if I can really call it that), I end up spending a lot of time just experimenting with the tech or design tool.
In terms of choosing the actual learning material, I first ask people who work with that technology for recommendations. I also browse Udemy and try to pick a course based on the video material and reviews. I also occasionally browse IH, Reddit, and ProductHunt, and if I’ve heard about a book/course multiple times, I’ll check it out.
When learning by reading + watching videos:
I split my laptop screen in half, where the window with the learning content is open on the left, and my notes (in Evernote) are on the right. I know a lot of people say that writing notes is better than typing up notes, but I like typing up my notes so I can view them more easily and more often (I learn best through repetition).
When learning by doing:
Whenever I discover how to do something through fiddling with code (examples that immediately come to mind are CSS tricks and git commands for undoing things), I also like to type up my process so that the next time I need to do the same thing (which happens often), I have a cheat sheet.
Trial and error on repeated attempts at doing something.
I like to get an overview at the very beginning by googling, reading blog posts and talking to people. After that, I lean heavily towards long form content (e.g. books) and I like to stay in a learn-use-learn-use loop. Then I try to clearly explain what I've learned to ensure that I have a solid understanding of it.
I read books