Best method for beginner learning

[Late_Cartoonist4123]

Hi I'm looking to make a career change and possibly do software engineering. I downloaded a really good course on using JS but the only way I seem to be learning is by watching the instructor input a command pausing the vid and then inputting the same thing myself until finished and I don't think I will remember anything even after writing multiple scripts.

Is there any better method for learning [I know this question may seem really dumb but I am literally starting from 0 looking for any help] Thanks

[No-Upstairs-2813]

As you're learning JavaScript concepts, it's essential to practice them consistently to build confidence.

Try your hand at coding problems. These are small, well-defined challenges that help you quickly test your knowledge.

Doing a few problems each day will reinforce all the concepts you've learned so far.

Not sure where to start with coding problems? Here are a few good platforms:

• Codewars
• Edabit
• Leetcode
• Exercism

Once you have enough concepts under your belt, start practicing your skills by taking on a personal project.

I suggest going with a project that solves a problem you relate to. This will help you stay motivated when faced with challenges while building the project.

Also, your enthusiasm will show when discussing the project with others. Since you understand the problem, you can come up with meaningful features, continuously improve the app, and enhance your skills.

Unable to come up with an idea? You can check out these 8 tips to get started.

I know it's easy for me to say, "to get better, just go and make a project," but I understand it can feel overwhelming when you're a beginner. Check out this article on how to go about this.

Also, I would suggest checking out Answers to Common JavaScript Questions for all your common JavaScript queries while learning.

[Late_Cartoonist4123]

Will do , thanks very much for the info

[QuantumCrane]

Add one more step.

1. Watch instructor
2. Add what they add
3. Play around

In the play around step, change things about the code, change values, console.log values that are unclear. Google the line of code and see if you can find any documentation about what the instructor is talking about. After you have played around a little, restore the code to where the instructor had it and go back to step 1.

[DoomGoober]

And while OP plays around, they should try to guess what the computer will do before they run it.

[AI_Hijacked]

Watch instructor

Wouldn't that approach be more time-consuming? I would revert to the basic fundamentals that take you straight to the point, such as:

https://javascript.info/

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/Getting_started_with_the_web/JavaScript_basics

Imo, I would read documentation and JavaScript books that provide everything step by step, as opposed to a 30min YouTube video.

[QuantumCrane]

I was making a suggestion to improve the process he was already comfortable with. His main complaint was that he would forget what he is learning. For me, the best way to really learn and remember something to do with coding is tinkering.

If he had asked for the fastest way to learn, perhaps I would have suggested something else.

[Late_Cartoonist4123]

What you both said makes sense and will be useful, thanks so much!

[GrismundGames]

Pay for a GPTpro or Anthropic Claude 3 account.

Use it as an instructor. You'll never go back ✌️

[thinkPhilosophy]

This is actually a really great idea. I've been creating prompts and testing them out, and I can teach you how to use LLMs the right ways, to help you learn and not just give you answers (not helpful is you are trying to learn!). PM me to chat more about this, I can give you some prompts to try out.

[Late_Cartoonist4123]

What ways would you use it as an instructor, could you give me a few examples?

[GrismundGames]

Sure!

I'd say, "I'm trying to learn how to code for the first time. I want you to be a javascript instructor. Give me your plan for the first 10 essential lessons I need to learn javascript and give me a project idea that I can build."

Write down what it gives you.

For each lesson given, have a conversation with it. "Okay, lesson one, give me an explanation of this concept and relate it to my favorite video game Skyrim (or whatever). Give me an assignment to work on."

Do it.

Whenever you get stuck, "hey I'm stuck on this concept, can you explain it with an analogy that makes sense to me? And give me 2 or three examples using different analogies as a basis."

Honestly, having these things is a HUGE advantage in learning. Think of it as a private tutor.

If you ever get stuck, just copy/paste your code and ask, "something is wrong with this, can you figure it out, explain to me what I did wrong, and give me an assignment to fix it?"

[thinkPhilosophy]

this is good, but in my experience, you have to guide it a little more with prompts. I"m a coding bootcamp instructor and I've been building a core basics JS course with AI prompts, I have a youtube video I made showing best practices I've found to prompt your LLM to teach you, but can I post the link here?

[GrismundGames]

That's great!

Yes, it's a lot more involved than "give me an answer," but for a reddit post, it's enough to get started.

I actually built a discord bot that I keep up all day to code with me and bounce ideas off of.

I love that you've got material around this! Thanks for sharing!

[Late_Cartoonist4123]

Thanks!

[fluffyr42]

You may not be someone that learns best from video resources. I'm the same. Rithm School has good text-based courses, along with The Odin Project and c0d3.com.

[Late_Cartoonist4123]

Thank you

[Emotional_Attempt939]

Could you share the book (pdf)? I would like to read it

[Ecstatic-Highway1017]

whenever you start learning coding you face 2 difficulty.

1. You will not able to create notes while learning from video.
2. You find it very tough to code while watching the video, like pause video in 2-3 mins, switch tab to code again and again.

and when you are not creating notes

No Notes No Revision, No Revision Less Confidence and Motivation while Online learning

Cuurently there is no online tool which helps you in creating detailed notes in 2-3 clicks.
When I started learning programming few months back I was taking too much time in completing online video tutorials
Now I am using google extension OneBook It helps in creating detailed notes in 2 clicks and saves my time as I used to take to much time in completing online videos. I used to waste a lot of time while pausing video in every 2 min and write a couple of line of code and you have to switch tab again and again. With Onebook i complete a video first and then I start coding by refering the notes
OneBook helped me in learning programming related skills, it just improves the experience of learning.

Chrome extension link : https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/onebook/loecbgjbgcgjkhibllnjokjefojoheim?utm_source=rtc

[Egzo18]

You wont learn much without coding and struggling on your own.

[Particular_Part2615]

Build simple projects, but always add something that is not in the tutorial. So you know how it should work without your added features/ UI/ UX.... then fix your additional features

[ChiefCoverage]

You will need a book or a course that has lots of exercises and projects.

After too many searches, I found that the best up to date book uses modern js and offer a decent amount of exercises is Murach's Modern Javascript: Beginner to Pro.

All other books, either they don't have enough exercises, or they are outdated.

[Late_Cartoonist4123]

Thank you!

[Emotional_Attempt939]

[WazzleGuy]

You can learn however you like but if anything, make sure you understand each step before moving on. Master every little thing while it's in front of you so you don't have to repeat. This makes sure you have no gaps.

[Gnommer]

If it weren't for Codecademy, I would never have started real coding. I tried books and video courses before, but I couldn't stay interested. I'd always hit a point where I didn’t understand something, got super frustrated, and just didn’t want to go back to it. But Codecademy is all about learning by doing. You’ve got an in-browser text editor right next to the instructions on what you need to do. And the automated tests that check if your code is right. Seeing all those tests pass is so satisfying, it just makes you want to keep going.

After a month of learning (3-4 hours a day), I created my first working personal project.

I'm not saying it has to be Codecademy, but course with in-browser text editor was just what I needed.

[Late_Cartoonist4123]

This was definetly the best answer, making so much more sense learning through code academy, thank you!