Maximizing Learning in Online Free Computer Science Classes: Tips and Strategies
Are you just signed up for a free online Computer Science 101 class from Stanford? Great choice! With the right approach, you can make the most out of your learning experience. Here are some tips to help you minimize time spent on the boring parts of programming so you can focus on the fun and interesting parts that will help you grow as a programmer.
1. Minimize Time with Syntax
One of the first things you'll encounter in your coding journey is syntax, which can be frustratingly repetitive and time-consuming to memorize. Don't be afraid to look up things like where the parentheses and brackets go in a for-loop or what the name of the built-in function you're looking for is. It's not worth intentionally memorizing these details right away. Instead, use your time more effectively by knowing where to find and how to read the documentation for your programming language. This skill will be essential if you ever want to code on your own or as part of a project after the class.
2. Streamline Debugging with Incremental Development
Debugging can be one of the most frustrating parts of programming, especially in the early stages. If you've ever written 100 lines of code and it all broke when you ran it, you know how disheartening it can be to troubleshoot that much code. To avoid this, make debugging a regular practice by writing your programs in small steps and testing often.
If you keep testing after every few lines, you'll not only know where your bug is when you find one but also save yourself a lot of time. Instead of spending 5 hours trying to figure out a problem that might be in the last few lines, your incremental approach means you can quickly pinpoint the issue and correct it. Even though you might spend a little more time testing as you go, it will pay off in the long run by saving you significant time and frustration.
3. Testing Your Code in Steps
To make the debugging process more manageable, break your code into smaller, testable parts and verify each step individually. Here's an example of how you might structure the testing:
Write a program that takes one number as input and simply outputs it to the screen. Check that it works. Add a second number to the program, and make sure the program can handle and output the second number. Multiply the two numbers and output the result. Ensure that the multiplication part works correctly. Add a constant (7) to the result and output the final value. Confirm that the addition and result are accurate. Email the final result to yourself. Make sure the email functionality works as intended.This approach, while simplistic for our example, illustrates the process of testing each component of your code incrementally. It ensures that at every step, you know the code is functioning as intended, and if an issue arises, you can easily trace back to the point of failure. This method not only helps in debugging but also reinforces your understanding of the code's logic and structure.
By following these tips, you can make the most of your free online computer science class and gain the skills and confidence to tackle more complex programming challenges. Remember, the goal is to focus on the 'cool CS stuff' that will help you grow as a programmer, and these strategies will help you do just that.