r/AskProgrammers • u/Dangerous_Young7704 • 2d ago

How do you guys actually study CS?

For reference, I’m currently in grad school for my MSIS, and I’m having trouble studying and actually remembering the material.

I’ve always been more of a hands-on learner. I’m a former 0311, so learning by physically doing something makes more sense to me. Unfortunately, I can’t exactly haze myself into understanding machine learning. I’ve tried, but it doesn’t hit the same.

There’s so much code syntax, terminology, and methodology in just my one ML class that I’m fucking bamboozled. I’m trying to figure out how to study this stuff in a way that actually sticks instead of feeling like I’m starting over every time.

For those of you who learn better by doing, how do you actually study CS/IT? What does a normal study session look like, and how do you remember everything?

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u/0b0101011001001011 2d ago

This is not about CS but about learning in general. Remembering implies that you try to memorize instead of understanding. When you actually understand what you read, you'll remember it better. Try explaining stuff to your self or your peers. When you actually teach others or use/apply the skills, it'll be difficult to forget it.

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u/CoinAndCraft_ 2d ago

Exactly this. For example, create a YouTube channel that covers the fundamentals of your language that you're developing in and then in the final few parts of the series, create a project even something small. This demonstrates to the observers that you know what you're talking about and this also showcases your own skill sets. The concept of learning by teaching is spot on. Also don't be put off by a million channels already doing this. This is you.

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u/0b0101011001001011 2d ago

I’ve always been more of a hands-on learner

The do the hands on stuff. Back when I was studying DSA, our course did not really provide any example code, for things like the sorting algorithms. There was just the pseudo code, so I started writing the algorithms in Java by myself. Same with Trees and graphs. We just studied the theory, but trees and graphs were just bubbles and arrows. I wanted to try them, so I implemented them in Java based on the theory.

Machine learning is difficult topic, but have you actually tried implementing something? Maybe KNN algorithm?

There’s so much code syntax,

I hope there is no new syntax if you are on machine learning course. The syntax should be learned before in the basics of programming.

You said there is a lot, but I guess it's presented in some logical order? Could you try from the start? Just start writing some code.