How to Study for Computer Science | Effective Study Tips / Coding Labs

Summary

In this video, Josh shares effective study tips for computer science students, drawing from his personal experiences. He emphasizes the importance of utilizing online resources like YouTube, Google, and forums, as well as using IDE features like debuggers to resolve coding issues. He also highlights the value of forming study groups or finding a coding partner, attending office hours, and actively coding while learning new concepts to build muscle memory. Josh encourages consistent practice and engagement with professors and peers to improve grades and skills in computer science courses.

Takeaways

• 😀 Leverage online resources like YouTube and Google to familiarize yourself with computer science topics before class, making the material less challenging.
• 😀 Always do the required reading before class, especially if you're struggling, as it helps retain information and perform better in lectures.
• 😀 Use video tutorials to complement your understanding of topics, such as recursion or linked lists in Java, to strengthen your knowledge before applying it in labs.
• 😀 Utilize a debugger in your IDE (e.g., PyCharm, IntelliJ) to step through code and fix errors efficiently, saving you time in debugging.
• 😀 Collaborate with classmates to form study groups or partnerships, either online or in person, to tackle coding problems and share insights.
• 😀 Don't hesitate to reach out to professors or teaching assistants during office hours to get clarification on difficult topics, which can positively impact your grades.
• 😀 Meeting with a professor or TA regularly can help you gain a better understanding of the material and improve your grades, as it did for the speaker.
• 😀 Forming a relationship with your professors and TAs early on can also open opportunities for recommendations or mentorship in the future.
• 😀 Practice programming alongside theoretical learning, as hands-on coding is essential for reinforcing concepts and building muscle memory.
• 😀 Embrace the iterative process of learning to code, where trial and error combined with consistent practice will make programming skills second nature.

Q & A

What is the first study tip Josh recommends for computer science students?

Josh suggests using resources like YouTube and Google to study. For example, if your class is about recursion in Java, watching a couple of videos the night before class can help make the material feel familiar, making it easier to retain information and understand during the lecture.

How does doing the reading before class impact your performance?

Josh mentions that doing the reading before class, especially if you're struggling, can have a significant impact on your understanding of the material. It prevents you from feeling lost during lectures and helps with retention of key concepts.

Why is using a debugger in your IDE helpful?

Using a debugger allows you to step through your code line by line to identify errors, like null pointer exceptions. It helps you pinpoint where things are going wrong, saving time and improving the accuracy of your coding process.

What is Josh’s suggestion for overcoming the difficulty of labs in coding courses?

Josh recommends forming a study group or finding at least one coding buddy to collaborate with. This way, you can help each other solve problems, share knowledge, and avoid struggling alone during lab assignments.

How can forming a study group benefit you as a computer science student?

Forming a study group can improve problem-solving, reduce isolation, and provide a collaborative environment. Discussing concepts with peers helps you learn different approaches to coding problems, which can lead to better understanding and higher grades.

Why should you attend office hours with your professor or TA?

Attending office hours allows you to get personalized help with any issues you’re facing in your coursework. Josh emphasizes that attending office hours helped him raise his grades from a C to an A by getting specific guidance on his coding challenges.

What’s an example of how attending office hours can improve your grades?

Josh shares a personal example where he attended his professor's office hours after struggling with a coding problem. By discussing the code with the professor, he was able to resolve issues and ultimately get an A on the lab, demonstrating the significant impact of office hours.

How does practicing coding alongside studying theory improve your programming skills?

Josh suggests that learning concepts like for loops or object-oriented programming while actively coding alongside the theory helps reinforce your understanding. It turns coding into muscle memory, making it easier to recall and apply during real-world programming tasks.

What is the value of building a relationship with your professors in computer science courses?

Building relationships with your professors can provide you with valuable support, guidance, and potential letter of recommendations. It's also beneficial for networking within the academic and professional coding communities.

How does Josh suggest dealing with complex coding problems in a large class?

Josh suggests connecting with classmates to form a study group or study sessions to tackle complex problems. This can help mitigate the isolation that comes with large classes and ensures that you have people to discuss problems with when you're stuck.