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Dax Stucki
1,034 PointsI'm passing the challenges but I feel like I'm not absorbing the material. Help?!?
I've been completing the challenges, but it feels like I'm cheating. I usually have two tabs open, one with the current challenge, one with the previous video. I keep pausing the video as I work, adapting what I see in the Treet examples to what I need to do in the BlogPost challenges. I usually have to read through many of the questions under the videos to grasp the concepts. I don't want to just copy the code so I try to understand every line before I write it. Even so, I don't always understand why what I write is working. As we move further ahead it feels like the previous concepts are not all sinking in.
Is this normal? Is my brain broken? Will it all come together as we move further along.
thanks, Just had to get that off my chest.
Dax
4 Answers
Julie Myers
7,627 PointsProgramming is really hard to learn. We didn't spend years learning about it in school like we do math and reading. Programming has a logic all it's own, so you need to learn how to think in that manner which is really new and takes time.
What you are going through is really normal. Just about everyone feels like their brain is broken when trying to understand the concepts of a complex language such as Java. The truth is there is no perfect order in which to teach and learn a Java or any other complex language. There are some things you need to learn first such as what are variables and how pointers work. But, because so many topics in a language work with so many other topics it takes a lot of learning before you will be able to really start piecing it all together.
The keys to learning Java are to be patient, know it will take an insane amount of hours to learn, if you really want to become a programmer don't give up, practice a ton, and take really good notes. No employer will expect you to memorize everything about a language (it's impossible to do), but you should have a good foundation in it memorized.
Dax Stucki
1,034 PointsThanks Kevin, I'll try that commenting idea. I think I need to go back a few units and do them again, to make sure it's all sinking in.
Kevin Goudswaard
11,061 PointsSounds like you need some sleep and also patience. I would say this: "Even so, I don't always understand why what I write is working." is also a fairly good size problem. I am not anywhere near Java, but I know I stubbornly have to know the "why" in everything I do before I can absorb it. Try commenting sections out piece by piece and looking them up on google for additional viewpoints. I hope this helps :# it can be so frustrating!!! good luck :) and seriously, sleep is awesome.
Dax Stucki
1,034 PointsThank you Julie!!! What you say makes sense. I feel a bit better about my busted brain, I'll definitely keep at it. I like what you said about keeping notes, I haven't been doing that. That should help these new ideas sink in.
thanks for the words of encouragment.
Dax
Julie Myers
7,627 PointsYou're welcome. :)