Forgetting Everything You Learn? Do This Instead.

Summary

This video offers seven practical steps for learning coding effectively without the stress of memorization. The key points include focusing on application rather than rote learning, avoiding excessive note-taking, and not revising unnecessarily. It emphasizes the importance of hands-on practice, building real projects, and explaining concepts to others to reinforce understanding. The video also suggests learning in depth and giving your mind regular breaks to internalize knowledge. The final tip highlights the value of resting your mind after intense learning to ensure long-term retention and mastery.

Takeaways

• 😀 Don't stress about memorizing everything when learning coding. Focus on understanding concepts and applying them.
• 😀 Making notes while watching tutorials can distract from the learning process. It's better to understand and later summarize by writing a blog or after the lecture.
• 😀 Avoid unnecessary revisions. Revise only when you're applying the topic in real-world projects and encounter difficulties.
• 😀 Embrace the 'make it, break it, own it' philosophy by creating projects, breaking them, fixing them, and learning by doing.
• 😀 Never write code by watching tutorials. Pause the video, attempt to write the code yourself, and then compare with the instructor’s code.
• 😀 Explaining concepts to others, whether by solving doubts in communities or teaching a friend, will deepen your understanding.
• 😀 Take the time to learn topics in-depth. Don’t rush through learning; practical application is key to mastering coding.
• 😀 Allow your brain to rest after intense learning sessions. Take breaks to help consolidate and internalize what you've learned.
• 😀 Understand that you will forget things, but when you need to use them again, you can revise them as necessary.
• 😀 Memorizing and rote learning are ineffective for coding. Focus on practical application rather than pure memorization.
• 😀 Don't aim for perfection in the learning process. Let the concepts settle naturally as you keep working and practicing regularly.

Q & A

Why is it unnecessary to try and memorize everything when learning coding?

Your brain is not a computer and doesn't work like a hard drive. Trying to memorize everything will only cause unnecessary stress. Instead, you should focus on understanding and applying coding concepts. When you use them in real projects, the knowledge will stick naturally.

Why does the speaker recommend not making notes while learning from videos?

Making notes while watching videos distracts you from fully understanding the concept. It shifts your focus from learning to note-taking. Instead, focus on understanding first, and then experiment, write a blog, or review later when needed.

What is the issue with revising unnecessarily after learning a topic?

Unnecessary revisions give you a false sense of progress. Revising a topic too soon before applying it won't help unless you're actually stuck while trying to use the concept in a project. The real revision happens when you need to implement what you've learned.

How does the 'Make it, Break it, Own it' approach help in learning coding?

By building projects yourself and allowing them to break, you learn to solve real problems. Fixing broken code helps solidify your understanding of concepts. This hands-on experience cements the knowledge in a practical way.

Why should you not just copy code from tutorials?

Copy-pasting code without understanding it means you're not truly learning. You should pause tutorials, attempt to write the code yourself, and then compare your solution with the instructor's to ensure you're understanding the concepts.

How does explaining coding concepts to others improve your learning?

Teaching others forces you to break down concepts and fill in any gaps in your own understanding. It also helps you revise and deepen your knowledge, as you'll encounter areas where your grasp of the topic is weak.

What does 'learn in depth' mean in the context of coding?

Learning in depth means not rushing through topics. Instead of skimming through surface-level knowledge, you focus on truly understanding how concepts work, experimenting with them, and applying them in various situations.

What is the role of rest in the learning process, according to the speaker?

Rest is crucial because it allows the brain to internalize the information you've learned. Taking breaks helps to avoid burnout and gives the mind time to process and retain knowledge more effectively.

What is the potential downside of revising too early after learning a concept?

Revising too early can lead to unnecessary repetition without real application. It can also create an illusion of understanding when, in reality, you haven't used the concepts in a practical situation yet.

How can writing a blog help in the learning process?

Writing a blog forces you to explain coding concepts clearly, helping you to solidify your understanding. It also provides a reference for future use, and the process of writing can reveal areas where your understanding is lacking.