I want you to succeed at learning how to code. I want learning to code to be a fun, exhilarating experience. I’m going to share my experiences and provide you with what I wish I had known when I started out. I want you to learn from my mistakes and succeed in your goal to learn to code. So here are my 7 tips for learning how to code.

1. How to learn to
CODEBY HEATHER TOVEY

2. 68% of Canadians
MAke
New Year’s resolutions
Toronto Star Library, 2013

3. 19% of Canadians
Keeptheir resolutions
Toronto Star Library, 2013

4. I want you to
Succeedat learning to code.

5. 7 tips for
LEARNING
how to code

6. 1
Find your
MOTIVATION

7. Why are you
LEARNING
how to code?

8. Solve a
problem

9. Choose a project that
SPARKS
your interest

10. 2
Choose the right
LANGUAGE

11. Ruby?
Python?
Node?
PHP?

13. 3
Create a
LEARNING ROADMAP

14. No direction
Leads to
frustration

15. Direction
Leads to
understanding

16. Look through different
Roadmaps
to create your own syllabus.

17. 4
Understand your
LEARNING STYLE

18. How do you
CHOOSElearning resources?

19. Take the
VARK

20. V
A
R
Kinesthetic
isual
ural
ead/write

21. 0
4
8
12
16
Great Really Great ZOMG AMAZING!
Visual
How great is this Presentation?
Find resources that are visually appealing and
that use graphs and diagrams

22. Read/Write
Use books, blog posts, and lists to
break down material

23. Find resources that
use case studies,
examples, and
demonstrations. And
learn through trial
and error.
Kinesthetic

24. Auditory Learn through group discussions, lecture
series, and reading out loud.

25. The VARK can
Help
you find resources.

26. 5
Set
SMART
goals

27. S
M
A
R
T ime-bound
pecific
easurable
ttainable
elevant

28. Learn to
code
A non-SMART goal:

29. I will build a one-page
personal website to showcase
my future portfolio within six
months.
SPECIFIC

30. I will build a one-page
personal website to showcase
my future portfolio.
SPECIFIC
I will build a one-page
personal website to showcase
my future portfolio within six
months.
Measurable

31. I will build a one-page
personal website to showcase
my future portfolio.
SPECIFIC
I will build a one-page
personal website to showcase
my future portfolio within six
months.
Attainable

32. I will build a one-page
personal website to showcase
my future portfolio.
SPECIFIC
I will build a one-page
personal website to showcase
my future portfolio within six
months.
Relevant

33. I will build a one-page
personal website to showcase
my future portfolio.
SPECIFIC
I will build a one-page
personal website to showcase
my future portfolio within six
months.
Time-Bound

34. Make
SMARTERGoals

35. Evaluateand
Revise

36. 6
Test your
KNOWLEDGE

37. Visual Create diagrams, graphs, and infographics to
test your newfound knowledge.

38. Aural Create a video blog, give a talk (at Hack
Night!), or mentor at workshops.

39. Read/Write Write blog posts and tutorials to test
your knowledge.

40. Kinesthetic Create multiple mini-projects around
the same concept.

41. If you have trouble
explaining a concept,
go back and relearn it.

42. 7
Embrace the
CONFUSION

43. Dr. Rhett Allain
“The path of learning
goes through the
swamp of confusion.”

44. Swamp of confusion
Mountain of Understanding
You

45. Dr. Sidney D’Mello
Confusion is important
to the learning process.
You think more deeply
about the material, and
that allows you to
understand it better.

46. Get comfortable with
GOOGle

47. Learn to Code:
Your Journey

48. Tip #1
Find your
Motivation

49. Tip #2
Choose the right
Language

50. Tip #3
Create a
Learning Roadmap

51. Tip #4
Understand your
Learning Style

52. Tip #5
Set
SMART
goals

53. Tip #6
Test your
knowledge

54. Tip #7
Embrace the
Confusion

56. Thank you!

57. Have
FUN
http://thechicgeek.ca/7-tips-for-
learning-how-to-code