Have you just been considering learning Java with CodeGym? Or have you already taken your first steps and are looking for some boosters to speed up your learning process and extend your knowledge? Anyway, now you can find lots of “external helpers” on the Net that can help you learn to code quickly. From useful apps to communities to Youtube tutorials, there are tons of resources to stick to. That’s why we have narrowed down the choice to the most reliable, understandable, and informative resources to help you find the right ones for your needs.
Efficient Techniques
First and foremost, you should remember that you’ll be hard-pressed to succeed if you use a chaotic approach to learning. Luckily, there are some really effective learning strategies that you can apply:
1. Incidental learning
Though we always recommend that our students build a step-by-step learning plan, sometimes incidental learning can bring fruitful results, too. Especially for those who can’t be consistent enough due to their lifestyle or circumstances. The main idea of this method is to learn whenever you have free time, slowly integrating the learning process into your daily life and making it a routine. This method can be particularly beneficial for those students who can’t concentrate for too long on one activity and may otherwise completely lose motivation to learn. To help you absorb Java knowledge anytime and anywhere, CodeGym is now available on a smartphone, which is perfect for learning on the go.
2. Gamification
The students who easily get bored with learning may also try the gamification method. At CodeGym, we already know that gamification is a great way to enhance your knowledge in a fun manner and help you progress quicker. That’s why we have a specific Game section where you can create your own projects — games. Among other cool gamification learning apps, we can highlight Gimkit, Class Dojo, Kahoot, Classcraft, BookWidgets, and more.
3. Computational thinking
Computational thinking is one more effective method that can help you ease your programming journey. The main concept is to take a complex problem and break it down into smaller ones that will be easier to manage. This technique consists o four steps: decomposition, generalization/abstraction, pattern recognition/data representation, and algorithms. When applied in the right order, they allow you to find the best solutions to your problems.
4. Adaptive teaching
Adaptive teaching is one more popular method that has proven very effective. All of us are different and we absorb the information at our own pace; however, most courses are the same for everyone. And if you feel that they aren’t suitable for you, it’s worth trying the adaptive learning. The basics of this technique lie in creating a personalized approach to consuming the educational content. “When to start learning a new topic?”, “Which additional resources to choose?”, “What time of the day is best for learning?”, and many other things can be tailored to your needs. The best apps that can help you with adaptive teaching include NextNLP, BYJU'S - The Learning App, Classplus, Embibe, and KidAptive.
Additional Sources: Books
Don’t forget to read. “Books are a uniquely portable magic”, and they can work miracles for your progress. We can strongly recommend the following ones:
Additionally, don't neglect books for personal development that will definitely help you in the future, when you’ll take part in one of the coolest projects. The following books tell how to understand the business environment and build good relationships with your team:
It’s really hard to imagine the modern world without Youtube with all its bloggers and their numerous videos. The information about Java on Youtube is nearly infinite with all those hew technologies and fresh videos popping up every day.
The Best YouTube channels for Java learners include:
Derek Banas offers a rich collection of the basics of Java, as well as other programming languages and technical disciplines.
Programming with Mosh is another helpful channel for beginners. It boasts lots of tutorials, all of which are well-structured and well-presented.
Oracle’s Java YouTube channel is also full of all kinds of easy-understandable tutorials amongst videos about new technologies and reports from various IT events.
Adam Bien offers not only tutorials but also plenty of insights, useful tips, and answers to the hottest programming questions.
Inside Java is a Youtube blog dedicated mostly to sharing fresh news and views on Java. There are also many links to interesting YouTube playlists.
vJUG is the ‘world’s first Virtual Java User Group’ with plenty of live-streams webinars, conferences, user group meetings, and interviews with Java experts.
Treehouse can teach you for to create websites and apps, write code, or even start a business. This channel accumulates over 1,000 videos.
Android Developers is the perfect channel for those planning to tie their life with Android apps after graduation. It boasts everything related to Android development.
The Best Podcasts for Java Developers
If you’re not into reading or watching and prefer absorbing information through audio sources, then we suggest these great podcasts for Java learners:
Java Posse. Though this channel stopped creating records in 2015, it boasts more than 450 podcasts that can get you into the Java basics. Exactly what complete beginners need.
Java Pub House. It’s the most popular podcast by Freddy Guime and Bob Paulin, the real experts in Java. Their episodes cover everything from the daily life of Java developers to the most interesting tech news in the Java industry.
Online Communities
Of course, this shortlist would be incomplete without mentioning Java communities which you can ask for some professional help or support anytime:
Github is one of the best open-source communities in the whole world, which provides any kind of information related to coding.
Stack Overflow. Similar to Github, Stack Overflow is a very large online community for programmers all across the globe to learn, share their experience, and advance their careers.
Gitter is more of a chart that can help you find like-minded programmers.
Stack Exchange is ideal for those who look for quick solutions. It’s a question-and-answer network where you can find almost any issue solved.
Reddit is a “Dive into anything” community where you can also find many topics and interesting interactions with peers:
r/programming
r/learnprogramming
r/codetogether
r/programmingtools
r/gamedev
r/prograrticles
r/webdev
r/dailyprogrammer
r/java
r/javahelp
Quora is another well-known place to gain knowledge and get unique insights and quality answers.
Open-Source Projects
Probably, you already know that practical skills are essential in learning to code. And when you feel it’s high time to transfer your theoretical skills into practice, you may start a real project. If you don’t know what to choose, try to enter open-source projects. Here are some places with good open-source projects:
Of course, learning Java may seem quite challenging, but the CodeGym’s well-structured course and additional sources can do wonders, boosting your knowledge and keeping you motivated. If you are passionate about coding, then the aforementioned apps, books, communities, and tutorials will definitely help kick-start your programming journey.
Yet, please, remember that being a good learner is more than just being focused on the resources. It's also about improving yourself and always being open to something new.
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