I'm studying software engineering at WGU and I'm nearing the end of my program. Right now, I have a project where I need to code an app in C#. To be honest, I've not been very enthusiastic about it. I often find myself getting stuck, and instead of thinking through the problems, I just end up looking up answers online. The frustrating part is that the solutions I find are usually things I already know, but I just can't recall them in the moment. It feels like I'm in a loop of having to relearn the basics whenever I hit a wall, which is tiring. I want to break out of this cycle and develop a more intuitive understanding of programming, so I don't have to constantly refer back to tutorials or the basics. How can I learn in a way that it really sticks?
5 Answers
Practice is everything. Drop the habit of retreating to the basics when you hit a wall. Embrace the struggle! It’s through tackling those challenges that you’ll grow. Try building simple projects—like a calculator or a small game—and apply what you learn instead of defaulting to what you already know.
You need to keep engaging with the project and understand why certain solutions work. That way, the more you struggle through problems, the more you learn and improve your skills over time. Just keep a list of tasks to do and tackle them one at a time, rather than going back and forth to tutorials.
You really need to start building things! It's tough, and you'll definitely face challenges, but that's part of the learning process. Don't just get stuck and retreat back to the basics. Push through the tough parts, and you'll internalize what you learn as you go. It's kind of like problem-solving through trial and error, so get your hands dirty and just build it!
I get what you're saying! It's hard not to give up, but taking on those struggles can really help you learn as you find and fix errors. Stick with the project and try to understand each solution you apply.
Focus on creating! Even if it means starting small, just building something, anything, while applying the concepts you've read about can make a huge difference. When I felt stuck, I started doing mini-projects, and it really helped me connect the dots and gain confidence.
It sounds like the core issue isn't just coding but motivation. You mentioned feeling detached. Reassess your goals and clarify what you want to achieve. Learning takes time and effort, and if you find yourself skipping parts, you might have to work extra hard later to catch up. Motivation is key.
That makes sense! I’ll focus on continuing the project and making sure I understand each solution. I’ll also try coding outside of my school work every day.