Hey all, I'm coming from a biology background and just started my journey into programming with Python. I'm following this online course and trying my best to keep up—coding along with the instructor, understanding the material, and finishing the exercises. However, I find that after about 15 to 20 lectures, it's really hard for me to recall the earlier concepts that I initially grasped. Is this a common issue when learning programming for the first time? What are some effective strategies you use to maintain earlier knowledge while progressing through new content? Any tips on study methods or learning techniques would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
It sounds like the course might be a bit too theoretical and not practice-focused enough. Look for courses that challenge you to actively practice what you learn instead of just copying code. I recommend checking out the University of Helsinki’s MOOC; it’s free, hands-on, and really emphasizes actual problem-solving.
One thing that’s helped me is revisiting earlier topics periodically. It might feel tedious, but trying to solve previous exercises without any help can really solidify your understanding. Keeping a journal of keywords and concepts you learn can also be beneficial; it gives you a timeline to track your learning and when to revisit certain topics.
Yep, this is very common! Learning programming is about repetition. You should work on small projects or exercises using what you’ve learned to make it stick. These mini-programs can act as your notes, and you can comment on them with your thoughts about each concept.
It's totally normal to forget earlier concepts as you progress, especially if you're learning a lot at once. A great way to reinforce what you've learned is to practice applying those concepts frequently. Try revisiting some of the exercises from the earlier lectures, but without looking at your previous solutions.
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely try going back to those exercises without peeking.