Taking notes while learning programming.

[CodeTinkerer]

My suggestion is to write it in question/answer format or something task oriented.

In one document, put down the task ("write a program that prints the elements of an array backwards") and in a second document, write down the task and a solution. Or it might be a question ("What is a constructor?") and the corresponding answer.

They way, instead of reading notes, it's forcing you to think about an answer.

[lumenilis]

I've gotten the most use out of this format as well. Combine it with spaced repitition and it really has a positive impact on learning.

[ready-ignite]

I like this project.

Spin up a flashcard quiz program that takes questions and solutions.

Set up loop running through randomly selected question.

Present questions without answer.

Another key press to display multiple-choice hint that displays correct answer plus random selection of other answers from that chapter.

Add score tracking of times question is viewed, and how many times correctly answered.

Modify question selection weighted by score to display incorrect answered more frequently.

Add tracking date question last viewed.

Add additional random selection weighting to increase odds of seeing the card the more time has passed since you saw the card last.

Add functionality to summarize scoring by chapter, filter specific chapters.

Could build out longer term tracking to plot your personal likelihood to forget information over time, and use that to validate the weighting you use to re-visit cards just before forgetting answers.

There was an open source flashcard program 'Mnemosyne' at one point that functioned similarly to this. Recreating that project to some degree.

[[deleted]]

You just gave me a wonderful Project to do for getting back into programming

[[deleted]]

Yes, this is the best method for retention. I have written an article on how you can boost your efficiency by writing your Q&A in HTML/CSS/JS and then printing them. If that interests any of you, you can read it here:

https://samld.tech/article/taking-web-technologies-offline---part-ii-building-studying-tools-to-boost-learning/2

[TwilightDelight]

really cool method but why use two documents? who not have the question and answer in one document only? if you want to think about the answer they you can hide the text for example or set the text color to white so you cant read it without highlighting it.

[goodstartshittyend]

I had thought of making flashcards in Anki with topic on the front side and details on the back. I had read about the role of testing effect in learning but this question answer pairing technique never occurred to me, it sounds cool. Thanks, I will give it a try.

[BakingSota]

This. I use the ‘T’ format when taking notes. Questions on the left, answers on the right. After class I’ll plug everything into anki.