How to study coding

Hello devs, am always super excited to share with you some coding tips. Today we will be looking at how to study coding or computer programming. Remember, what actually makes us coders or developers is our rich understanding and experience with the computer languages and frameworks we use. It would be bad if you do not take notice of the little things and details faced during development. For example, I was very particular about all the stages I went through when launching my first website. What I mean is, do not do anything out of sight and out of mind as a coder, be very much aware of details. That is the first approach to becoming a good coder. Even forgetting to add a full stop ( . ) in a line of code can cause you days and weeks of debugging.

"Do not do anything out of sight and out of mind as a coder, be very much aware of details." (Mark Anthony Graham)

Introduction

The ability to learn is one of the most fundamental and important aspects of human intelligence, and it allows us to adapt to our environment, solve problems, and improve our lives. Learning to code is no different if you want to add value to yourself.

Tips from psychology

Psychologists define learning as the relatively permanent change in behavior or knowledge that results from experience or practice. This definition emphasizes that learning is a lasting change, rather than a temporary change that occurs due to a specific situation. Psychologists also view learning as a process that involves acquiring new information, skills, or behaviors, and integrating them into existing knowledge and abilities. This process of integration and consolidation is what makes learning durable and useful in future situations.

Integration and consolidation are essential processes that occur during learning, which allow newly acquired information or skills to become part of an individual's existing knowledge and abilities.

Integration refers to the process of connecting new information or skills with what is already known or understood. This process can involve recognizing similarities or differences between the new and existing knowledge, and identifying how they can be related or connected. For example, if someone is learning a new language, they may integrate new vocabulary words with words they already know in their native language, or they may connect grammar rules with similar structures in their native language.

Sample Code to explain integration in psychology

So the main point with integration is to be able to form relationships, blend and form connections between concepts in coding. let's look at this example of declaring a function in JavaScript and Python which will give you the same result

Defining a JavaScript Function

function addNumbers(num1, num2) {

  return num1 + num2;

};

let result = addNumbers(5, 7);

console.log(result); // Output: 12

Integrating similar approach in Python

Through what we have learned we will implement similar function concepts in Python

def add_numbers(num1, num2):

  return num1 + num2

result = add_numbers(5, 7)

print(result) # Output: 12

Consolidation, on the other hand, refers to the process of strengthening and solidifying the connections between new and existing knowledge. This process can involve repetition, practice, and feedback, as well as the formation of new neural connections in the brain. Over time, consolidated learning becomes more automatic and less effortful, and it can be retrieved and applied more easily in relevant situations. It normally occurs at the end of the lesson.

With consolidation, it takes your hard work to keep on coding, keep on developing utilities, classes, functions, variables, algorithms, and modules, and keep on repeating the learning process to the extent that coding becomes effortless and automatic anytime you want to code.

The integration and consolidation processes are essential for durable learning, as they allow newly acquired information or skills to become integrated and consolidated with existing knowledge and abilities. By doing so, the learning becomes more meaningful, relevant, and applicable to future situations.

The SQ3R study method

SQ3R is a study method that stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite, and Review. This method was developed by Francis Pleasant Robinson in the 1940s and has since become a popular approach for studying and retaining information.

Here's a breakdown of each step in the SQ3R method:

1. Survey: This step involves skimming through the material to get an overview of what it's about. Look at the headings, subheadings, and any bolded or italicized text. This will help you get a general sense of what the material covers.

2. Question: As you survey the material, ask yourself questions about what you're reading. What is the main point of the chapter or section? What do you already know about this topic? What do you want to learn?

3. Read: Read through the material carefully, highlighting or underlining important points as you go. Try to understand the material as you read it, and take notes on anything that stands out.

4. Recite: After you've finished reading, try to recall the key points of what you've just learned. This can involve summarizing the material in your own words or answering questions about what you've read.

5. Review: Finally, review the material regularly to help reinforce what you've learned. This can involve reviewing your notes, re-reading sections of the material, or testing yourself on the material.

By using the SQ3R method, you can improve your reading comprehension and retention, as well as your ability to recall important information. This method can be especially helpful when studying for exams or when trying to learn new and complex information.

Ways to learn coding

Let's look at some helpful ways to start learning to code.

1. Start with the basics: It's important to have a solid foundation of the basics before moving on to more complex topics. This includes learning the syntax of the programming language you're using, as well as basic concepts like variables, data types, functions, loops, and conditionals.

2. Practice, practice, practice: Coding is a skill that requires practice to master. The more you practice, the more comfortable you'll become with the language and the easier it will be to write code. Try solving coding challenges or working on small projects to build your skills and confidence.

3. Break problems down into smaller parts: When faced with a complex problem, it can be helpful to break it down into smaller, more manageable parts. This can make the problem easier to understand and help you focus on one task at a time.

4. Use online resources: There are many online resources available for learning how to code, including tutorials, videos, and forums. Take advantage of these resources to supplement your learning and get help when you're stuck.

5. Collaborate with others: Working with others can be a great way to learn and get feedback on your code. Join coding communities, participate in coding events or hackathons, and work on group projects to collaborate with other coders and learn from their experiences.

6. Stay curious and ask questions: As you learn to code, it's important to stay curious and ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask for help or clarification when you're stuck, and continue to seek out new challenges and opportunities to learn.

Conclusion

Learning to code requires higher mental functioning which makes it a bit difficult, especially when the programming language is difficult in nature. I would urge you kindly go through this article very well and pick up the method that works for you.

HaPpY Coding