Are you going to implement any of these strategies I've covered? Would you add any learning strategies to the list?

2:01 #1: Active vs Passive Learning Ratio (2h reading; 1h coding) 4:17 #2: Use "Spacing" (DON'T CRAM) 5:57 #3: Teaching Concepts (write about what you learned, explain how it works) 7:09 #4: Keep Track of Questions (you have when learning) 8:59 #5: Rest and Recover

I'm in college learning coding and it definitely crams so much knowledge into our brains in one week. College doesn't give you enough time to learn as each assignment is due each week on top of other subjects/classes due. Even if you don't understand the first week yet, you're forced to move onto the next week, and so on. It's overwhelming.

5 Learning Strategies: 1st Sweetspot between Active and Passive learning 2h/1h ratio at the start, later 1h/1h 2st Apply Spacing - spread learning in more daily short stages 3rd Teaching/Reexplaining Concepts - teach, write blog, FB group post etc. 4th Keep Track of all the things you have questions about - Textpad or google doc 5th Rest and Recover - you need sleep that brain can recover and memorize, lack of sleep = lower IQ

I too am a self taught programmer. Been in the game for maybe 12 years now. I watch videos just to get other opinions on what other programmers like myself have to say. Sometimes i have to remind myself not to stress so much and that all answers are always in front of you. Even the most complex. What I've learned is that when you find that you need a real solution to a problem, the answer can be found in simple programs that you can develop within 10 minutes to which you can apply to your complex problem. The best tools I've come to use is a very good pen and a pad. That's where all of my logic gets worked put. Also in drawing out a visio diagram, i can draw out what is supposed to happen and how it supposed to happen and all that would be missing is the code.

I feel like sometimes I get really excited about a certain subject and just binge-study about it and then the next week rolls by and I've forgotten everything I learned. I'm going to implement spacing and see how it goes. Thanks for the insight!

There is always something new to learn with Andy every time I come here . I am a beginner and this is helpful. Thankyou 😊

Some of the best advice I've heard anyone give on youtube (and many other platforms) about learning period not just programming. Going through EMT training my instructor always made us Learn a skill, Do a Skill Teach a skill because it made you look at it from several different angles. When I first began as a technical trainer teaching folks how to use the companies IT systems I came across an article that I need to track down that mentioned the average human mind needs information repeated 5 times before it triggers to store as long term memory. Back to my old EMT trainer the best lesson I took away from him was that any idiot can learn how to do something, to master a skill you learn WHY you do it. I love the fact that you mentioned you need to track your "whys".

I absolutely love the idea of keeping the "why" journal. Such a good strategy for keeping focus while simultaneously expanding overall understanding.

I love this advice, im just a few weeks in learning for university assignment and im currently 20 hours coding vs 1 hour reading lol. - subbed!

Awesome channel. I have ADD aswell and its just like I hear myself speaking. Just started out 1 week ago in a way I thought was most productive. This video just confirmed all of it. For me its like this; Start from scratch everytime with programming untill you got the basic settings right. And expand this with the new skills that you learn. Test yourself. Try to imagine concepts. Try to understand why you give certain inputs and whey they work like the way they do. Instead of remembering the inputs and typin them out. Love the vids, it helped me a bunch. Thank you very much good sir!

I recently went back to college to study computer science. Your channel is so practical and well-made. Thank you for such a good content!

I really like strategy #1: The sweet spot for learning- passive vs. active learning. Sometimes it's easy to hide behind watching several video tutorials and not practicing what you've learned.

This is a video not only for programmers, but everyone. I'm an ELT department student. We learn other languages as well. I learned some good tactics to improve my Russian learning process thank to you. Good work :)

I think what is going to help me most from this is #1 and #4. I also appreciate #2 and #5 since that's how I've been learning. It helps so much to have balance. Thanks for the video!

Andy- thanks, this was a great refresher/new tips for me. Just what I needed at this point in my quest. I got the idea while watching this to write a small Question / Lookup tracking program to help me stay consistent with your 4th tip, and to have a good reference later for what I've learned.

Hey Andy, Thank you for taking your time out to make this video. I'm a grad student and currently preparing for a certification exam. I'm gonna apply these principles.. and will let you know. This video is really a confidence booster. Thank you..

Nice job. I'm a software consultant and instructor, and these strategies are sppt on. I can suggest the following others: 1) Relearn, rewatch topics. It greatly increases comprehension. 2) Do formal exercises, and useful pet projects. 3) Don't get stuck. Ask for help from friends, or on websites for what you can't understand 4) Use dead time, for example, while commuting or in line, to listen to relevant podcasts.

I just began my coding. My second week to be exact. I’ve been unknowingly implementing all of these strategies lol thank you for confirmation that I’m on the right track! Also, I’ve found out reverse engineering basic pages and things like that help me to learn coding concepts better. It really make you think about what to use and how to write your code!

Talking about ratios of study:practice really hits home for me. I'm enrolled in a course, which requires homework tasks turned in, but that how that time is used is obviously different than my time studying. I spent the first month stressing myself out, studying tasks on the same day as doing the homework, because I wanted to turn in tasks at a reliable "every other day" pace. No, no, no.... Or... I can spend 2-3 mornings studying, sleeping on it, letting it gel in my head, then complete a homework assignment. I'd rather get 2 assignments done a week and actually learn the concepts than get 4 done a week, but not actually remember anything.

Definitely going to put that legal pad tip into practice, thanks Andy!

Love these tips, bro! Thank you for making this video. It's very encouraging! You really nailed the nails of priorities with learning. I'm a HTML/CSS novice & I work IT helpdesk for the VA. I'm going to repeatedly review the steps you laid out. My favorite point is #4, keep track of questions/whys. I find myself many times at work copying & pasting work notes for "busy work" tasks. I've discovered how effective keyboard hotkeys (ctrl+backspace, home, shift, end: so meta) are & taking notes that I can use ctrl+f & keywords to work arguably as effectively as my colleagues at a fraction of the effort. #4 really validates how I'm feeling about note taking, because it seems to be a strategy that is already serving me in the long-term.

Very helpful. Thanks Andy!

TY for being one of the ONLY people on here with ACTUAL information and ACTUALLY GOOD information.... Just TY, FRFR....

I am a software developer I have looked at some of the tutorials online, some are adequately good, but the meat isn't there, what I mean by that, is these tutorials don't take you by the hand one step at a time in actually developing something, a final product, so the learner will know exactly what to create, how to link let's say "classes" how to use OOP in a most efficient way and many other little tricks they may pick up along the way. I think most of these tutorials are in fact a waste of time, what a learner needs are, good examples, lots of examples different examples, and to be guided from point A to the end of the project. This is the only way in my experience that you can learn good programming habits and and pick up good tips.

Hey Andy, thanks for the advice, I used the active and passive learning strategy today, I really loved it. Cheers

You make good points here. I have just started learning and there is a fair amount of passive learning. So at the ends or during the lessons I will experiment a little with what I just learned. Even just reworking 1 line of code from a tutorial has helped me learn alot.

Thanks a lot for those advices, really useful and something that I will be applying to my life as a programmer because sometimes I feel that I am not keeping anything of what I just learned, that I do not rest enough, that I do not have enought time and that I do not have the concepts clear enough. Thanks a lot Andy.

Thank you for the video Andy! Very helpful

Hi Andy. Thank you for sharing these tips. I'm currently learning HTML, CSS and JavaScript to help me level up with Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager. Your tips are really helpful and have helped me move closer to my goals. It's easy to get caught up in the 'conceptual' phase. Being accountable for time and what is being learnt on a particular day works wonders. Keep up the great work 🌟🏆

Thank you for the awesome advice. Been learning for some time. I get frustrated that I am not at the level I would like to be. You just encouraged me to keep going. Thank you so much!

So true. Active learning and project based learning. I love it.

You’re the best Andy!

Thanks, Andy Excellent video. I'd add 1) Block out chunks of quiet time like a solid, uninterrupted 1-3 hours for example 2) Remove distractions. Sit facing a white wall, if necessary, turn off tv, only listen to music with no lyrics so you don't try to sing along or if you're a musician, you're thinking of the melodies and rhythms . 3) Avoid starches and carbs around lunch time otherwise it's nap time soon after 4) Compartmentalize, if you can. If you work at an incubator or library or house, when you leave it or leave that room, leave it completely and do something totally unrelated.

Thank you for sharing these Andy.

I just learned about the Pomodoro technique, I think it's applicable in this scenario.

I'm 40 and taking first steps into software development to change my career path. Your video are so helpful!!

since last month , I am overwhelmed with too much stuff to learn and tutorials that I bought from udemy...After , I watch your video , you give me a spirit to be more productive in learning to code. I love your tips . I want to implement it right now... Thanks, Andy

Great video! I really agree that there is a need for some kind of a coach to help people get their first/next job. What you are teaching in this particular video, is especially spot on. People learn differently and people push themselves past the point of diminishing returns and don't realize it. I think what people really need, is check in points with their coach for accountability and to make sure they are on the right track, spending their time correctly. Just like a Physical Trainer, a Technical Coach is something that is needed and valuable. When handling a client, I would think the toughest ones would be ones that have no formal college education because they don't have an established routine and years of practice of being disciplined to meet deadlines. It is one thing if someone has a Political Science degree and now they want to change to learn computer science, they know the routine and what it takes so they just put their head down and grind it out like they did in college. Those that never went to college, for whatever reasons (financial, learning disabilities like Dyslexia like I have, and maybe life stress) need to develop a routine and accountability. Those, IMO, would be the most satisfying to help, because they really needed you the most and it may really be a life changer for them. I say all this because I have a 20 year old son who is exactly in this situation and I want to help him and people like him. I love helping people in general and may have found something I may do in the future, so I'll be following your channel closely.

Hello, Andy. This is a very useful and helpful video. Whatever you have told has been backed by science. I’ll try to apply all of these. Thank you so much man. Keep up the good work.

I believe your points are great pieces of advice for newbie programmers. Very often students are forced to learn two languages at a time. In those cases, a comparison between two (similar) language features stimulates the brain to (more) easily recollect those constructs in both languages, (I found).

This is stellar self study advice. Loving this.

I’ve been doing this longer than you’ve been alive, and I have at least one friend that’s not a spring chicken working towards becoming a developer (she’s tired of all that goes with working at Home Depot). I’m referring her to your videos because you’ve learned how to learn and make progress in a systematic manner, and you’ve posted the videos here. I’ve not been new to development in general for decades now, but my career revolves around constantly learning more, and a system is required for learning: if you stop learning, you stop earning and you dinosaur yourself. Particular technologies come and go but learning how to think and learn is timeless and transferrable.

Hi Andy, the teaching method is what I use. I am currently taking a course on nodeJS and my notes are very clear and the code is typed out so that if anybody see them they can follow alone and build the app from scratch. I do this for the following reasons, #1 I know I won't be able to remember it all #2 as you said, acting like I'm teaching it myself really helps to remember #3 never know if later I am to build the same app, the videos may no longer be available so my notes will be very valiable. #4 I may just create a blog or a how to page with my step by step notes. thanks for sharing this with us, I am also a self taught until I decided to take courses on udemy.

This video made me take a step back and reevaluate how i learning and undertanding concepts of a programming language.

7:10 this is so true. I have stopped going into a rabbit chase on Google for questions while studying. My strategy now is that i had a pinned tab on my browser for Google Keep and i write all my questions there and go through them later. I have found that it's much easier looking for answers later than right when you were studying because you'll sort of remember what you were learning before and get a much better understanding. And an advantage for this is I'll also have the questions on the app in my phone and can easily search for them when I'm not on my laptop

Wish I could sub and like multiple times. This is comprehensive mature advice which addresses approach and most importantly mindset.

Thanks Andy for such a insightful video on the subject. The 5 points that andy makes are spot on. Did a course on node, working on angular course. Naturally picked up 4, except explaining / writing what I have learned. Will give it a try for sure. The 5th is most important at least in my opinion, because lack of good rest/ fitness level will greatly reduce your mental and emotional capacity, the thing you need most in this trade or any. Don't engage in unhealthy working patterns. One more thing, the thing thats working for me to learn new concepts is, To give 2 passes to a tutorial, as concepts are difficult to grasp. In the first pass, it may seem like a waste of time as you are understanding very little. But, believe me, somehow the first pass enables understanding in the second pass. Accompany 2nd pass with hands on coding, you can do 1st pass without actual practice of coding.

New programmer here learning Java for college. Very good video was not only good for programming, but for studying in general.

I work 40hrs and study 24hrs a week, I didn't know why it wasn't working. thank you for the explanation!

So true. I am sometimes so motivated to learn something that i would be fixated on it for months and when i am stuck on something and i don't get answers i get distracted and go on a google parade and waste time and slowly i start loosing interest and there goes my whole month of motivation. Thank you for these strategies, i think keeping track of questions would best suit me.

I've noticed that with ANYTHING, when I teach about it I become that much more knowledgeable on it and it reinforces the concepts I already know about what I'm teaching even deeper into my mind. I've been taking online courses, and have been writing down key information along with scouring the comments below each course page to learn about what is being taught even further. Writing it all down is basically making me write a guide on how to learn the code I'm learning. It's very time consuming, but I tell you what, I still remember the concepts and everything I've learned since I started the course. It is well worth the extra time investment to nail that shit in there instead of having to come back often to re-remember stuff. I also play around with the code as I'm learning it and trying out all the different things I can do with it. Combining things I learned from earlier in the courses to the newer things I just learned. Just becoming familiar and comfortable with it. On top of all that, I've done what he mentioned in the video, keeping track of questions. When I feel my mind is overloaded in information, or questions, I write small reminders (5 words or less) or just keywords as "anchors" where when i read it I know what I was talking about. That way I can sort through all the information and write down the info and concepts on it and miss nothing. If I had questions while taking the course that wasn't answered by the course or the comments below on the course page I'd go on Google and research it until I fully understood it, then I would write down what I learned as if I were teaching it to someone. If I had questions but was done for the night I'd write them down for the next day. This has really helped me, give it a shot.

LOVED THE VIDEO!!! I think this can applied to learning anything. Thank you

Thanks for being honest and truthfully in your videos. Your so realistic bro.

Amazing video! You are a fantastic teacher. Thank you for the clarity.

Best inspirational speaker on KZfaq!

Subscribed! You’re amazing thank you for this. Started my journey a month ago

Great stuff! Thank you for making these videos!!

blogging/journaling idea is really solid. thank YOU.

Good tips for new software developers Andy. Appreciate the video. Let's keep sharing the knowledge on software engineering

Thank you Andy.

Those are some great points, I think when it comes to programming, beginners more focus more on watching tot than practicing what they have learned. This vid explain really well the importance of active learning. great vid

Yeah I have found number 3 to be VERY useful. I always start explaining what I learn to my parents even though I know they don't understand it, but they know that it strengthens my neural pathways.

Thanks for another great video! So far I'm taking breaks when I really feel to have a stop. Regarding active and passive, usually when I follow a video tutorial I always code along, add comments to remember key concept and then upload on github. I was thinking to start a YT channel to show the learning process of someone starting from a low level, doing exercises etc...but I will take in consideration also maybe to do a blog, great idea!

Might be helpful for a beginner. Great videos, very inspiring!

This is such a banger video thanks man

Very helpful! Love your channel so much!!

Downloaded this video, one of the best I have seen in a while.Thankyou

Yet another excellent and valuable vid -- much #respect!!!

Straightforward. I admire it. Thanks a lot.

Great tips, I've been wasting a lot of time and giving my brain too much to process, thanks to you I'm being more and more productive 👨🏻‍💻

Thank you for this info. Timely and practical.

Omg. Thank you very much. Quite inspiring and constructive suggestions. Exactly what I need now. Keep on good work buddy.

Thanks for the video I’m new at programming and struggling in computer engineering with computer science modules sho this will help

I was honestly gonna complete the lesson in a week, LOL. Now I'm spacing it out. Glad I come across this video.

thanks youtube for the recommendation of this great video. Best 5 tips I ever seen and many many thanks to Andy

Thanks Andy!

What have worked for me amazingly is reading + writing summaries of chapters of every book I read.similarly, evaluating coding examples and coding up small programs off the top of my head that relate to the concept that was just explained; while reading and writing. I also love reading about the same subject from different authors. I've been doing this for a few years now. My memory and concept-dissecting skills are through the roof. To the point that I can remember pages and chapters etc even months without re-touching the subject. Also, I have adapted to certain reading / coding pattern ratios that I've noticed are efficient. So basically I've been learning how to learn. And when I need to review something I go to my notes. Also , this allows me to constantly read code from a lot of people . I don't skip paragraphs or code until I fully understand it. My code is always evolving. I have focused on only Java , paradigms , and algorithms the past almost 3 years. I usually recommend people to be more conceptually inclined rather than just syntax inclined. And avoid those learn x thing I just x hours Bs you find on youtube. Thank you for your tips

Great stuff man!

thanks man, good video. lots of good insight

These are great; thank you so much!

Thank you, Andy.

I am trying to learn code my self, your advice is really helpful. thanks

This might be the most underrated part of learning. SO important.

I love these strategies, I've been kinda doing the same with self teaching web development. I work for lyft and uber and during the some windows i have where i don't get rides, I would read a web developer book and during traffic hour i would take a 3 hour break where i go to the library and watch videos on web development but I would start by recapping what I learn the day before by doing some exercise and than jump right in too the new course.

Thank very much Andy

Best Video around :) Happy Learning!!

Thank you so much for your content! I regret I haven't found your channel earlier

Additional tip: Start watching videos on youtube at 2x speed. You will get 3 hours course knowledge in 1.5 hours. It has helped me alot.

this video has solved all my learning problems !)) Thank u so much !!

Funny that you mention. I actually did study the philosophy of learning and it has been very beneficial in practical terms. :) In all I have learnt, the best strategy for learning that I can pass along is... an active interest. If you are not in the moment or falling asleep or even just not enjoying what you are learning, take a little break. Recenter, rest, motivate, or even move onto something else with the intent to come back if you need to. Your interest in what you are learning has a direct correlation with your ability to retain memory. If you are disinterested you’re mind will categorize the information as unimportant. On the opposite side, you’re mind will get excited, brain will light up, and you’ll retain since the information is seen as important and needs your attention. I have the privilege of being able to motivate myself so keeping an interested state while learning is easy to me. Hopefully you can get something from this.

Thank you so much, very helpful tips!

I like all your principles, # 5 is what I need to work on because I go on and on until I can figure something out. lol

Re: Active vs Passive learning. I really appreciate that you don't just say "passive learning is bad, always do active learning", which I hear from a lot of similar channels The thing is, sometimes you just don't have time for "active learning". If you are watching KZfaq tutorials or an Udemy course, it is of course "better" to follow along, but if you don't have the time to do that then it's still way better to do passive learning than no learning at all

Andy Sterkowitz, absolute legend!

Enough Rest, Spacing, Balance between active learning and passive learning, Formulating the idea, Keep track on what is going on by asking questions

Awesome definitely gonna implement a couple of these. I’m gonna make a google doc dedicated to blogging/ explaining concepts that I learned. I’ll also make another google doc dedicated to questions that pop up as I’m learning.

nicely elaborated well done! thank you

thanks for your advice, noted

Great content, thanks for sharing!!