I'm currently using a YouTube playlist to learn Java, which is my first programming language. My goal is to watch one video a day and I'm progressing at a comfortable pace. As I watch, I'm typing along and trying to follow along with the demonstrations. If something isn't clear, I rewatch it. I want to be able to program and possibly develop software applications. I've been following the Bro Code Java tutorials and while there are 71 videos, some are quite short, so I often end up watching two videos a day. Any tips on how to really get the most out of these tutorials?
5 Answers
To really cement your learning, try to explain what you've learned to someone else. Take thorough notes while watching and then create a mini-lesson plan for yourself. Include bullet points summarizing the main concepts, analogies or metaphors to clarify things, and even some quiz questions to test your recall later on. It’s a great way to reinforce your learning.
For optimal learning, write down quiz questions based on each video and test yourself later. Not just watching but actively retrieving information can enhance memory retention. Watching videos like lectures can be helpful, but try to reproduce the coding concepts from memory—this will strengthen your understanding.
Honestly, a lot of advice tends to steer you away from YouTube tutorials altogether. If you want to grasp the basics, reading well-structured online courses or books can be way more effective. For syntax and foundational concepts, skip the videos and try learning through text instead. YouTube can work for specific topics or frameworks, but for overall understanding, it often falls short.
Totally agree! Do you think structured courses on platforms like Udemy or Coursera might be better than YouTube? I'm curious if those offer a more cohesive learning experience.
Don’t just watch the videos; take it a step further by downloading any code available and breaking it down for a better understanding. Experimenting with the code yourself can lead to a much deeper grasp of the concepts.
I would recommend moving away from just watching videos. Instead, check out high-quality courses, like the Java Programming MOOC from the University of Helsinki. These courses require you to engage actively and solve problems, greatly enhancing your learning process. Typing code that you just see on the screen doesn’t help you think critically about coding.
Sounds interesting! Are there any other free Java courses you know of besides the MOOC? I prefer fully English ones.
I can relate! I started learning data analysis with R through YouTube, but I wish I'd focused more on books or structured courses. It was tough figuring out the right order to learn things. Doing projects helped a lot, but a good book would've saved me time.