I'm taking a Python course at Helsinki University, and I often ask ChatGPT for help when I get stuck. I try not to request actual code; instead, I ask for pseudocode so I can figure out the exercises myself. However, I feel like I rely on AI too much, especially for challenging exercises. Is this a good approach, or am I doing it wrong?
5 Answers
Try writing your own pseudocode first! Tackle the logic yourself, and then seek help with the syntax if you're still struggling. It's a solid way to learn, as you'll likely identify mistakes and learn from them.
Getting pseudocode is helpful, but you're basically skipping to the answers. The real challenge is in figuring out the logic that leads to that pseudocode. If you want to truly learn, slowing down and working through the problem independently is vital—there are no shortcuts to programming skills!
Every now and then, asking for help is fine, but try to solve problems using your own resources first. Limit yourself to one AI question per assignment to ensure you're not depriving yourself of valuable learning experiences.
Do you want to *learn* or just finish the course? If it's the former, forget about AI tools for a while. The course includes all the material you need to solve the exercises independently. Back in the day, we had to struggle through these challenges without any easy fixes. Embrace the struggle; it's where the real learning happens!
Relying on AI for pseudocode might seem like a good strategy, but remember that you're still letting it do a big part of the thinking for you. Programming is about grasping both the language and the underlying logic. If AI is providing the logical structure, you might be shortchanging your learning.
Yeah, I see your point!
Thanks, that's what I needed to hear!