Why is knowing how to learn so important? The answer is simple: as languages evolve, libraries are created and tools are upgraded. Knowing how to learn is critical to keeping up with these changes and becoming a successful programmer.
In this article, we'll provide several learning strategies to help you start your journey to becoming a rock star Python programmer!
Make it stick
Here are some tips to help you really stick with the new concepts you learn as a beginner programmer:
Tip #1:
Day-to-day coding consistency is very important when you're learning a new language. We recommend making daily commitments to code. It may be hard to believe, but muscle memory plays a huge role in programming. Coding every day really helps build muscle memory. Although it might seem daunting at first, consider starting small, 25 minutes a day, and working your way up.
Check out the Getting Started with Python guide for information on setup and exercises to get started.
Tip #2: Write it down
As you progress in your journey as a new programmer, you may wonder if you should take notes. yes you should! In fact, studies show that handwritten notes are best for long-term memory. This is especially beneficial for those aiming to become full-time developers, as many interviews will involve writing code on a whiteboard.
Once you start working on small projects and programs, handwriting can also help you plan your code before turning to the computer. You can save a lot of time if you write out which functions and classes you need and how they interact.
Tip #3: Interact!
Whether you're learning basic Python data structures (strings, lists, dictionaries, etc.) for the first time, or you're debugging an application, the interactive Python shell will be one of your best learning tools. We use it a lot on this site too!
To use the interactive Python shell