How do you learn/study

[CodedFire]

So im getting into learning VB.Net a good bit now. The problem is im kid of going cover to cover with the book i have, although this is ok now im not really documenting anything just ploughing ahead with the examples in the book!

Could you please share your study tips or info on how you learn vb on a day to day basis!

Thanks guys

[Shaggy Hiker]

Write code.

Nothing else will teach you as fast. I read a few books early on, but once I started writing is when I really began to learn.

[shakti5385]

Just read the Microsoft book for batter starting!
follow step by step then this increase your ability

[CodedFire]

So nobody actually "Plans" what they learn, just more try it, play with it, try it again sort of method?

[Bopo]

Well I would say I have nearly left the novice stage, due to learning how to create objects and data driven apps, which was something I was unsure on.

I do computing at college, but I learn way faster than anyone else, including the dummy tutors, therefore I always self-teach myself everything via e-books and video tutorials, currently on page 384 of wrox 2005 vb.net book, and also watching video tutorials on other software such as Flash

[RobDog888]

There is nothing that can compare to learning to program by actually writting code. Not just simple example in a book but by taking on a project, any type but not too hard for the initial ones, and learning how to complete it. You will encounter issues on how o do something to get a task done in your app and when you figure it out you are less likely to forget it. You simply build up a resource of these solutions in memory and then when you need to do something you have a larger source to pull your experience from. Then you move on to hard and larger projects. Asking questions on sites like ours is another great way too as you get the benefit of many programmers experience iin dealing with issues so its not just a single sided view like a book can have.

[CodedFire]

I think im going to start listing out projects id like to try myself so. I did build a calculator that im so proud of. At first i thought it would be easy but debugging raised a lot of issues that i didn't anticipate and when i figured each one out it was a great sense of achievement!

Im actually glad i posted this topic because reading from the bokk was starting to bore me, but i thought it was how it was done. I realised that although i was reading and trying the examples, because i wasn't expanding on them and puting them into some sort of little project i wasn't really learning anything!

[RobDog888]

Well you are learning but its similar to reading. You need practical examples and I think the short little code snippets they provide in books are not complete unless you place them into complete projects so you can see the overall impact of the code and use.

[CodedFire]

True although if anyone ever needs a program that lists numbers from a single array into a list box at the touch of a button, IM YOUR MAN!

[RobDog888]

The other thing too is that the book examples are always the same boring not really real world examples of what YOU want to do. So when you write your own project its more interesting to you and you get more into it and the isue that arise. Makes more of an impression in your brain for things to stick

[CodedFire]

So true, for instance overloading functions, i could not see why you would want a function of the same name but too different data types untill i started to play with an address book project im working on. Still cant see the real value of user defined classes apart from custom controls, which BTW are the best thing every for keep and app and its code neat!

[DNA7433]

Still can't see the value in custom classes? We're gonna have to fix that. After you learn the language you need to pick up a good book on OOP. I can't write anything without custom classes.

[CodedFire]

I understand them i suppose. I belive i should correct myself and say i do not have the knowlage to implent them

[Hack]

I understand them i suppose. I belive i should correct myself and say i do not have the knowlage to implent them

That is easy enough to fix.

Start working on a custom class and when you run into a problem, post it in the VB.NET section. I'm certain more than just a few folks would be happy to help out.

[CodedFire]

I dont mean like that. For instance i have no problem with custom controls i can make and instantaniate them fine. I suppose this is a class in a way really. I just have never found a use for "standard classes" well nutting i couldnt do in a sub or function.

[DNA7433]

Your projects must not be complicated enough

[CodedFire]

Thats most probably the truth. I belive they should show people how to user custom user controls before classes as they are of immidete use and give a better idea of what a class embodies for the new user.