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Jessica-Agorye
Jessica-Agorye

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How To Avoid Pitfalls When Learning How To Code For Beginners.

Have you been in a situation while studying, where it feels like you hit a wall, and you can't get past it and, it also seems like you're learning but not really? I know that I have. I found myself going in circles, I would go over topics repeatedly without actually gaining sustainable knowledge. I knew that I had to find a solution to this continuous loop but, how?
This article proposes tips to avoid pitfalls while learning, especially for beginners who are learning to code.

Deciding to learn how to code is the first step, how to learn correctly is the second. From experience, allow me to say that making the decision is the easy part. During the process of learning, how do you avoid pitfalls that may slow down your learning speed?

  1. Set a Goal: Having a goal will set things in motion, reminding you of why you are learning to code in the first place. Write them down where you can see it, also break down the steps you will take to meet these goals, more like a roadmap to help direct you into achieving your goal. Also, set realistic goals so that you do not end up overworking yourself.

  2. Consistency Is Key: I'm sure we are all very aware of the quote "Practice makes perfect" that is a fact! , take it seriously. Practice, Practice Practice this cannot be over-emphasized. I know sometimes we can be carried away by many things, for instance, " let me take a peek of what's new on Netflix and then spend hours watching series or anime ", or doing something random, or being tired from work, the list is countless. Being distracted will only slow down your progress, you don't necessarily have to learn or practice the whole day, few minutes or a few hours to study/ build products will help you develop your memory muscle.

  3. Don't try to learn everything at once: You cannot gain all the knowledge you need at once. It's a learning process that never really ends. Don't try to learn things randomly, have a learning path that will guide you so that you won't be in disarray, confusing yourself, and end up being exhausted by too much information.

  4. Track your progress: Tracking your progress will help you stay focused. You can create a sheet by listing out what you want to learn and updating the sheet every time you meet that goal. There's always a feeling of joy and satisfaction when you realize that you're making progress. Having either an app or a spreadsheet for that purpose is highly recommended.

In conclusion, the goal is to ensure that the quality of input is high, it will determine how well you can retain and recall, stay away from distractions during study time. It's crucial that you do not multi-task during this period or even try to memorize things. The basic formula to learning is Learn, Reflect, Implement and Share. The best way to learn something is to teach or discuss what you've learned, known as the "Protégé Effect" this is a helpful practice. There are also communities online that you can be a part of by either giving or receiving help.

Learning to code is not a walk in the park absorb at your pace, and you'll achieve your goals.

I hope these tips are helpful and good luck!

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