I'm taking an intro to programming class for gen ed credits this semester. Finishing up a philosophy degree, and you have to have a bunch of credits NOT in your degree field.
It's a 14-week semester and the course focuses on learning python.
Last Friday's assignment included writing code to produce the factor of an integer input by the user.
Last week, I also started the Boot.Dev backend developer path in python and go. That little factorial code I wrote came in handy during one of the lessons that asked for exactly that when I was going through it the day after the class assignment was due. And then I kept going, finished the python course, got through the linux course and the first small project of making a "book bot" in python that analyzes word and character frequency and outputs it neatly in terminal, and now I'm working through the git course.
The next assignment for the coding course? We have to add code that formats the output in a tiny little mpg calculator program we've been gradually modifying as we go.
I am not just taking the Boot.dev course. It just happens to work really well for me because I'm a sucker for gamification. Give me XP and digital goodies, and I am hooked. Better hooked to learning than to gambling!
But the independent study is going WAY faster than the formal college course with a professor teaching it is. And the professor can't really make it go faster - not if he wants to keep up with effectively grading all the student's work as we go.
I'm learning to code because I want to pick up some data analysis skills for my own independent research projects, as well as some game dev skills for some games of my own I want to create. That intrinsic motivation works very well for self-directed learning path, and coding is one of those paths that you can do without expert guidance and just learning how to google for answers. Because when you run the code, you get feedback immediately. Something didn't work, your terminal probably tells you where it broke, you adjust and run again. Eventually, you get something that works.
That's doesn't mean college isn't worth it - wouldn't trade my philosophy training for anything. I started and paused that degree almost two decades ago and in the intervening time read a LOT of philosophy on my own in addition to consuming philosophy content on the web. And unlike with coding, you don't get a good level of feedback outside of the classroom in that field. A comments section does not compare to a professor critiquing your paper for a grade.
I need 18 more credits to graduate after this semester.
I probably won't take another programming or computer science class at all. There's so many resources for learning to code, including oodles of free coding challenges that walk you through projects, that I can go at whatever pace I want. If I want to hyperfixate and work through four boot.dev courses in a week, I can do that. That's not really an option in college courses that teach a standardized curriculum, not one that is tailored to the desired outcomes of the individual student.
Top comments (2)
diy means?
"Do It Yourself" = following your own learning path. Could be taking free or paid courses, or just finding free learning resources on the web.