Retaining what I've learned.

Question

I'm struggling to remember the stuff I have learned on the courses. I take notes on everything and I often use the "Try it yourself" button so I can physically interact with what i'm learning. I took a break for Christmas and when I came back it feels like I've forgotten everything I've learned. I went and looked at my notes and it felt like I was starting the course over again. Does anyone have any tips? I don't think I know quite enough to start making a program of my own so i'm not sure how I can "practice" what I learn?

Answer 1

Here are some advices for you:

1. Stick with one language at the beginning.

2. Gather information from various sources.

3. Try staying with the community and try to solve problems related to everyday life. Honestly this is gonna help you a lot. Everyday you got to know many things from the community and challenge yourself to solve various problems. And learn many new things.

4. Examine other people's codes. Try to understand how do they do this.

5. And the most important thing. Make Errors! and Don't hesitate to do some research on any topic! Yeah, that's how we learn the things which we are gonna never forget. But at first you need to practice coding everyday, so that you can get scope of making errors.

That's how I learned doing programming. Although I am still a novice. But I am improving myself day by day.

Answer 2

Remembering *what* something does, *how* it works, has to come first every time. The brain refuses to learn, what it doesn't understand, and no amount of repetition will make up for it.

But even after you understood something, you will eventually forget it if you don't repeat it (preferably by using it), because our brains are just made like this.

If we don't need a tool often, googling it every time will not make much of a difference.

But if we need it more often, it will become more of a bother.

Make no mistake:

This is not just about the time you spend for googling!

Everytime you need to leave your code window and concentrate on something different, you will need time to readjust back and forth.

It doesn't only cost time, it also costs energy. You will tire more quickly and produce more bugs if you have to break out of the actual coding process too often for googling stuff.

Answer 3

The brain *does* forget, it is the truth, and it does forget what you don't repeat often enough.

This doesn't mean that you have to repeat it all the time. Everytime you repeat a topic, it will stick a bit longer, and after a while it will be very unlikely to forget.

The most important thing is regular practice writing code. But if besides that you want a safety net and a method to not forget:

https://code.sololearn.com/W4P13u4XCmf9/?ref=app
https://code.sololearn.com/cL3QVCSUn0bp/?ref=app
https://code.sololearn.com/cBsq5rYsIB1A/?ref=app

Answer 4

HonFu I know, that's just how I learn 🙂. What I mean is that I never just look at the syntax and memorize it, but I write it in the code again and again and again with different parameters and patterns untill I memorize it. After all, most of the syntax is easy to learn, because it was written like that in the first place. You can't have a command that says print or put, but takes an input, anf this applies to all commands/syntax. So, if you understand what it does, you'll understand what the syntax refers to, then it's a matter of seconds untill you find the correct syntax in google or similar.

Answer 5

Chris Kotsopoulos taking notes (at least in my opinion) is bad practice, whenever you learn something try to make a working program, even if it's a 'Hello, World!'. Practice means writing a code where you apply what you learnt, and modify the code to try and understand it more. I don't think any tip is better than Practice, at least that's how I learn, and that how I memorize new syntax and concepts. Also, search engines like google and duckduckgo are a must, I always have a google window opened, so I can quickly search for what I want. Untill this very moment, I don't have any notes, only working codes.

Answer 6

[1] Aymane Boukrouh, I understand your position, and I agree with the spirit:

Writing code is the most important thing, and you need to be ready and able to google your way to what you need along the way.

That doesn't mean that methods of memorization can never help - they indeed can!

Programming languages share a few attributes with natural languages, one being that the items occur with a different frequency.

1.) Some things occur all the time, like loops, or conditions. It happens in every program you write, so you *will* remember it.

However, if some aspect keeps tripping you up, and you find yourself repeating a mistake, it can help to just *memorize* the rule you keep violating accidentally.

2.) Then there's stuff that you only rarely need, like a special library you use for a specific purpose.

If you expect to do more work with it, you might profit from memorizing it; otherwise you can just google it again next time you need it.

Answer 7

[2] 3.) There's also stuff that does come up frequently, but not frequently enough that you would remember *only* by using it.

In that case, it can be a waste of time having to google it over and over and over again, instead of properly learning it once and be done with it.

Also, the amount of code you write makes a difference. If you program for many hours every day, the natural reoccurrence frequency of every item will be very high. Consequently, you'll remember most things naturally.

However, if you have less time for programming, because there are other obligations in your life, the intervals between natural repetitions may become too long. Then you forget.

With proper memorization technique you can prevent that.

I want to state again, that memorization does have its place as one tool. And although actually programming with your own hands remains the most important thing, applying learning techniques in the right place (this is individual) can help you along the way.

Answer 8

Oh yes, and you should practice coding. The key is to start with easy tasks.

Look at our 'code coach' section here - after you've studied the tutorial for a bit, there's probably a few tasks you *can* solve.

Do it!

Answer 9

Practice more.

Answer 10

Involve more senses.

Answer 11

Aymane Boukrouh i had the same problem that my answer was to late. But for the reason that my internet is fu***** slow

And 20 people said it already im sry for you

Answer 12

You can learn from code snippets and samples in books or done by some experts. You can try to modify their code part by part and try to understand what effect each of your modifications has.

Answer 13

Do you have project ideas? If yes then make them and practice. If you dont have some look for some in the internet. if you dont remember everything you are not alone. I often forget simple functions then i look them up and go on and when i got stuck again i remembered. It takes some time to really get all of it

Answer 14

And how it looks like you just started. Take your time. You dont get over night a programmer

Answer 15

And there are so many good sources for help like stackoverflow if you cant get the answer here or the documentations of you programming languages are good choices

Answer 16

I program now for 4 years and i dont remember everything and this is ok just help yourself and go on

Answer 17

I wasted 5 minutes writing in the other post, and then found out it was deleted.

Answer 18

Retaining the new information is a problem for everyone. That's why you have to continually review old information and information you've just learned while forging ahead.
First you will become dissatisfied with your current learning materials This is a sign that your growing, your interest and your understanding is evolving so find new tutorials and videos. If you stay with it you'll learn this stuff without realizing you are. But it takes time. Continue reviewing the sololearn course , go over it again and again enhance your study process use the program lang documentation for clarificatiosns and explanation,s try to help new ones via the lesson comment section and with Q&A discussions. Practice using your IDE by coding and answering the questions in the factory quiz. And just stay with it don't give up. Give it a year. You got this you'll see

notice you'll need new learning material even before you've completed the old stuff outgrow your old tutorials and YouTube videos and start searching for new ones

Answer 19

Big Chris

Don't get trapped in tutorial hell.

You don't need to memorize syntax. That's why computers, smartphones, tablets, and the Internet (i.e., Google & YouTube) was invented.

You need to get comfortable with not knowing the "ANSWER".

Coding is really about hacking a "SOLUTION" from what you have available to you at that time.

In the real world, there's no right "ANSWER".

Or one right "SOLUTION".

You have to get over that.

Coders code code.
Coders learn to code by coding code.

Just DO IT! Code NOW! STOP overthinking it.

Answer 20

Retention will come with familiarity and repetition. If you need to recall something use the reference materials the (Program Language Documentation) or Google.
What's most important is that you understand the programming process .
Happy coding 🙂