Don't Be Afraid to Try Different Learning Methods

BruceRW3 — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:41:08 +0000

What to Choose?

Everyone has their own way of learning and retaining knowledge.
There are so many methods when it comes to learning: reading books, video tutorials, coding along, and many others. I've found myself going back and forth depending on where I'm at or if I'm struggling with a certain concept. Sometimes the best method is to go through a progression until whatever you're learning clicks.

Where to learn?

There are so many options when it comes to learning how to code. There are free online resources like YouTube or freecodecamp. There are low cost options through places like Udemy, and there are subscription sites like Codecademy, Scrimba, or Educative. Finally, there is the option of going to a bootcamp. The options for learning and choosing something that works for you is pretty much endless, and most of these have ways you can try them out for free before taking a big commitment as far as spending money.

Methods of Learning

If you're anything like me, then one method doesn't always work. I am completely fine learning HTML through video, and CSS is much the same. However, Javascript is completely different. With Javascript I get lost in following along with a video. I had to switch up my learning method. I am completely green when it comes to coding language so I had to find a way to understand the why of what I was doing than just jumping in and going. Reading and then doing is what helped me most with learning Javascript, but it was also good for reviewing HTML and CSS to make sure that I retained that information and understood it better as well.

Applying What I've Learned

"Practice makes perfect." It's something that a lot of us have probably heard throughout the years, but it's amazing how true it is. This is probably the most important aspect of retaining the knowledge that I've learned. Even if I have to do the same boring thing over and over, I know that it just helps me become better at knowing why I'm doing what I'm doing and making sure I understand the concepts of everything I'm applying. I'm a musician in my free time, and it is similar when learning a knew song. Scales are boring, but it is necessary if I want to get better and understanding how to apply it to music. It makes me a better player.

An Example in Coding

I mentioned earlier that video was helpful in learning CSS. It is true, but there were some concepts that were a bit confusing. It was only when I used knowledge from other parts of CSS that I could apply to learn exactly what I was trying to accomplish. Take CSS Grid for example. I could not visualize, on a blank page, how to layout everything. The thing that helped me most was creating a border around each element so I could see everything in a box. As I started moving everything around, and applying what I was learning, it started to visually make sense. The borders helped me to initially see how I wanted to layout a page. It came from a combination of watching, reading, and doing.

Don't Get Discouraged

It's easy to get to a place where you want to just give up or scream in frustration while learning something challenging. I feel that it is ok to let frustrations out, maybe take a walk, drink some coffee, and most of all, come back to it later. The key is to not give up. We have all been at a place where it doesn't make sense, but when we stay at it and push through, the reward is great. Good luck on your learning journey!

Switching to a Tech Career at Thirty-Five

BruceRW3 — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 14:46:29 +0000

Switching careers after already having a steady one is a scary move, but what should one do when they see the writing on the wall for the career they are currently in? I currently work as a pharmaceutical reverse-distributor for independent pharmacies in the southeastern region covering South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. However, independent pharmacies are struggling and closing at a rapid rate so I decided that it was time to look into something that I knew would be future proof and something that I would enjoy. I also have a wife, three kids, and a dog to think about since I am currently the sole earner in the family. But now that I have been learning online for about a month, I feel like I have made a good decision.

Background

I have always loved using tech, and keeping up with the latest and greatest gadgets, but I always thought getting into the field would be tough and that it was reserved for those already in the field. However, I received a local community college catalog one day, and saw that there were academic certificates I could get, so naturally I started researching more about the career the way most people do, I googled. I also reached out to some friends and family. I thought going to school was the best route, and I was trying to decide if I should get another degree or go on to get a master's in computer science. But after talking to my brother-in-law Wes, who is an Architect, he suggested that I either learn online or look into bootcamps. Now that I knew I had options, I decided to research to see what the best path would be, and decided to go into Web Development.

Finding Time

I mentioned before that I already have a full time job, but it's pretty flexible. I also mentioned that I have a wife, three kids, and a dog. Two of my kids are in elementary school and the other is only two. So the main issue was to find out which program would work best while still being able to spend time with family and friends.

Research and Pick

Most all of the options have online self paced versions. I didn't find online learning to be a problem because that is how I finished my undergraduate degree, but I also didn't want to go into major debt either. This pretty much caused me to drop the idea of getting a master's, at least for now.

I liked the idea of going to a bootcamp because in my research, I found that networking and working alongside others was important in the tech industry and could open doors. I also liked the fact that a majority had options to pay back tuition after finding a job or the debt would be forgiven. However, a lot of them also had entrance tests. Now, they did give materials to learn enough to pass these entrance tests, but I really needed to figure out if this was something I actually enjoyed.

My last option seemed like the best place to start. Wes sent me a youtube video to see if it was something I would enjoy. It was the "HTML Crash Course For Absolute Beginners" by Brad Traversy on youtube. It is about an hour long, but as soon as I finished I was hooked. I looked up how to get to more learning resources online. I went to freecodecamp.com to start and signed up for a few courses on Udemy. These are great resources because freecodecamp.com is free and Udemy has full courses for a really good price.

Here's to the Future

I have now been doing this since Thanksgiving, and I have tried to do something everyday. I finished my first course on Udemy already and know quite a bit of HTML and CSS. I also decided to try some trials on both Scrimba and Udacity to see if I am ready to take my career change to the next level by learning even more.

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