I've been taking an intermediate Java course on Codecademy, but I find it pretty dull and I'm not really absorbing the material. I'm considering if it might be better to ditch the course and dive into a big project instead, as I think that might be more engaging and help me learn better. What do you all think? Should I power through the course, switch to a project, or maybe do both?
4 Answers
Honestly, it's tough to say what’s best for you since everyone learns differently. If you think you can stay motivated to work on a project on your own, that could be a good way to learn while having fun. Just make sure you don't get frustrated without guidance!
From my experience, learning by doing is super effective! I've been programming for over 40 years, and most of my peers were self-taught by working on projects. So, if you have a specific project idea, dive into it!
Why not do a bit of both? Tackle the course while you’re building something fun. Mix it up! Watch some YouTube tutorials and tackle problems on platforms like LeetCode to gain exposure and experience.
I've found that practical projects really solidify learning for me. You get to apply what you learn in real time, which is far more effective than just following a course. If the course isn't engaging, move to a project and experiment on your own!
Exactly! Courses can introduce concepts, but hands-on projects help you really get them down. You’ll figure out what you need to learn as you go.