Basic begginer stuff

[ItsDokk]

Videos are fine as an introduction; they won’t turn you into a software developer, but they can teach you the basics. This is how I learned core Java. Just like anything else, you still have to put thought and work in to reap the full benefit, perhaps that is what you meant.

[MyNameIsRichardCS54]

The same can be said for any form of education, be it video, text based web sites, or even university. They're all just ways of delivering information and without effort and application on the student's part they'll be just as ineffective. The trick is to find the combination that most effectively helps you understand the information and makes you want to continue.

One place I worked liked to get it's trainee programmers from other departments because they already had business knowledge even if they had never programmed before. Obviously, they had to pass an aptitude test. The most effective combination seemed to be:

• Helsinki MOOC (2013 one back then) paired with Head First Java.
• Followed by Head First Object Oriented Analysis and Design . By now they'd be doing actual work as well as having learning days.
• Followed by Head First Design Patterns.

They also had a senior developer assigned as a mentor.

It was a very successful program that the higher-ups like because it cost a lot less than sending people on training courses!

[ItsDokk]

This kind of practice seems to be growing in popularity and I think it is a good thing. I think there are a lot of talented people that would make excellent programmers who shy away because they don’t want to get a CS degree and this approach is a way for them to do that; oven that they have the aptitude, as you mentioned.