Too much information

I'm learning Java as well and I agree that sometimes the information can be a bit too much. I think the best way is to use multiple (reputable) sources to learn Java, or any programming language.

I use treehouse, Beginning programming with java for dummies by Barry Burd, Java for kids by Yakov Fain, Head First Java, Stanfords Programming Methodology (free on youtube and itunes), project greenfoot, and the learn programming sub reddit. I'm a slow learner and need things to be explained multiple ways.

When I don't understand something Craig says, I search the treehouse discussions, if I don't understand it there, I go to the dummies book, if I still don't get it I go to the next source ect. I keep doing that until I eventually figure out what I need to know. Worse case scenario and I post a question on here or on reddit and I get the answer. I also take a lot of hand written notes. Hope this helps. Good luck with your learning!

A few things that you might consider doing to help remember...

1. Write things that you don't understand down on a notepad. Later on, google it for additional info, examples and explainers.
2. Turn on subtitles (closed captions) on the video. This will allow your brain to absorb information in audio and visual. More chances that you will remember it.
3. Even if you don't understand it, don't skip typing it. Keep writing the code that Craig types. You're building up your "muscle memory" while getting used to writing in code.
4. Read questions that other people ask and analyze their code. Try to find their mistakes.

Hope this helps!

Hello, there is no such thing as too much info ... and you can't memorize coding.

You have to use it to 'know it'... please think of Java as a language ... like ... say Spanish. Let say you took Spanish in HS and maybe in college, you got a job as a business analyst and you spent the last 15 yrs communicating with English speaking folks ... now tell me, how much Spanish do you remember today?

Now, your company assigned you to the office located in Mexico city, and you are now suddenly have a need to communicate in Spanish. I am pretty sure you will fall back on your HS/College knowledge and you will go online for references on how to order food, call taxi, reserve a room ... and so on. Give it a month or two, and you will be speaking Spanish OK. Give it a year or two and you will be fluent speaking Spanish .

In the course of my career, I wrote codes in Basic, FORTRAN, C, C++, C#, Java, SQL, HTML, Python ... and so on. I will be darn lying to you if I say that I can write a C++ code eight now ... I have not done C++ in years. But I can tell you this, give me 2-3 weeks and I can crank up a decent C++ code . I still have few C++ books on my shelf :-) and the is the internet to help.

Hope this helps ... and keep learning, and using the knowledge you gain. You can't use it all at one time,.... but each programming language is a tool that you can use when there is a calling for it.

If this answers your question, please mark the question as answered.

What I find to be the biggest barrier is all the extra stuff thrown into the Java courses. I guess "barrier" is a bad word for what I mean, so I think that saying "less efficient" and less conducive to learning is way better. I learn rather swiftly, and things tend to stick pretty easily for me, however, right now I am on my THIRD time going through this Java course. So far, I have never made it past this Java Objects section (the second section in the track).

In my opinion, Craig Dennis is a dang fine instructor, I have to admit, out of all the courses and tracks that I have dablled with on here, I find that I learn more from his method of instructing and speaking than the other instructors. The part that has been slowing me down is adding in all the stuff about JSHELL and REPL.

I am taking the Java track to learn Java. While JSHELL and REPL stuff are tools, and can be darn good ones, I find that bouncing from Java over to JSHELL (just or the sake of showing me what JSHELL can do, and to test logic) has a negative impact on my learning, and the speed at which I am learning things.

I can definitely see how JSHELL can be an effective tool, but I would be way better off with having a separate course or workshop that deals specifically with that instead of trying to learn it in the middle of trying to learn Java. I think that having all the ins and outs about JSHELL taught in a separate course, and having it as a "prerequisite" to starting the Java track courses would be beneficial to everyone. That way, when we dive into learning Java and he says open up JSHELL we already know what it is and how it works, and it would be easy to follow along testing the logic. Especially since, from what I understand, a lot of programmers using IDEs and such don't really have a need for JSHELL, why include it in the main part of the Java subject matter?

On this round of going through the Java stuff, I have been doing a few things different. When there is something new, I try to make use of it in some other side project of mine just to practice. Another is when he brings up JSHELL, I just sit back and watch. I can follow along in my head when he is using JSHELL, but ultimately, I just avoid using it and stick with trying to learn the Java itself.

Just my $0.02

I feel the same way. When I took Javascript course, there were challenges where you had to use the provided information to come up with your own separate program. I think that this is the best way to learn - mentor gives us basic information how the program should work and we try if we can come up with the solution on our own. As said by Craig Dennis - failure is the best teacher. Maybe it's possible to add some challenges or workshops to this course where we can make our way to the solution? And if we fail, we can check the teacher's solution.

Sometimes I feel like this. I get really anxious and things start to slip. I usually try to take regular breaks during the video lectures so I am not at a desk all day.

I went away for two months to learn basic java from other sources, also some textbooks, now I am back and so far so good things seem understandable and I am enjoying the tutorials and exercises. I sure hope they wont get tough again. From here I am heading for Android, and then after Android back to intermediate Java until I learn enough to write my own programs. Journey is already planned and I am looking forward to everything.

Mohammad Abdur Rahman right now I am making good progress in the Oracle tutorials where they explain almost all basics and definitions of terms. Will see when I go back to Treehouse track if it's any help. Have also completed Codecademy track. I am leaving no stone unturned! ??

Hey Joshua thanks for the alternative sites I will check them out!

Thanks for the clarification on JSHELL and REPL Craig Dennis. I am now at Local Development Environments and yeah things are beginning to get exciting!

I would check out some resources on learning to learn. Knowledge of the "Learning Pyramid" should help you become a better learner. Try to review what you have covered a few hours later as there is a better chance you retain the information, than if you review the following day.