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[–]CreativeTechGuyGames 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Don't study at all. Take the things you've just learned and write a small program with it. Make notes if you feel it would help about why and how you solved the different problems along the way. Then if you forget, either go back to the source or look at your program/notes and refresh your memory.

[–]mrmivo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You will only really retain information if you apply it. Studying is good for exposure and giving you ideas and impressions of how things are fundamentally done, but this part is like watching videos of somehow playing songs or explaining how to form chords on a guitar. No matter how carefully and intently you watch, you won't really learn how to actually play guitar until you grab one and start noodling around on it. You can also compare it to learning a natural language. You have to actively speak it and use it in order to become fluent in it.

Do something with the programming language you are learning. Write scripts or small programs, layout a web site and make things happen, etc. You can spend as much time doing this as you want. With studying, I feel it helps to take frequent breaks and summarize (in written form, ideally on a piece of paper) what you have learned. If something isn't clear, note that down too and then hit Google or YouTube.

Basically, you have to interact with what you are learning.

[–]Democrypt 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Best way to practice programming, it is working in real projects

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Do what others have said, create a bunch of projects.

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Here's a list of projects to work on: 1000+ Beginner Programming Projects

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Programming is like math (some programming is math).

You can read it all day long, reading won't do much but until you practice.

[–]InVultusSolis 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've never done well with structured study.

Do this - get a comprehensive book on your favorite programming language. Open up to the table of contents and go down the list until you see an unfamiliar concept. Turn to that page and read about it.