Module 4: How to Succeed in This Course

Your attitude will play a key role in your success in this course. As you embark on the journey ahead, it's essential for you to align your attitude and expectations with reality. Below are our tips for ensuring your success in this program and making this learning experience a rewarding one.

Overcome Frustration

This boot camp will be a challenging experience. For many of you, the concepts and skills taught in this program are vastly different from what you've been exposed to before, and you may feel discouraged if they don't click right away. Have confidence that given time and practice, the concepts will sink in and connect with one another.

Approach each class as an opportunity to learn something new, but understand that mastery and deep comprehension take patience and persistence. Six months from now, you'll marvel at how far you've come.

Take Charge of Your Learning

You will get out of this program what you put into it. That is, in order to succeed, you must take ownership of your learning experience.

Like any craft, coding requires diligence, practice and experimentation, and a desire to improve. From Day 1 through Day 180 and beyond, continually remind yourself that you are responsible for your success. We will be here to guide, encourage, facilitate, and provide feedback, but it's up to you to put in the effort.

Put in the Time

As newcomers to the field of web development, be ready to put in your share of hours in order to master your craft. We've found that the most successful students put in about 20–30 hours per week minimum. More challenging topics may require additional hours of study and practice. Success will take a measure of sacrifice and commitment.

Look at this time as an investment in yourself, and know that for every hour you spend, you are securing yourself a better opportunity after graduation. Ask yourself if you want to be employer-ready (good enough to start work) or employer-competitive (a notch above the competition).

Be Patient

You won't become a web developer overnight. This is especially important to remember during the first few weeks of class, when you are more likely to feel frustrated. You may not grasp certain concepts immediately, and that's okay. Be patient with the process and with yourself. A topic that confuses you in Week 1 will be second nature by Week 24. Learning a new skill takes time, but rest assured that you will learn.

In addition, be patient when it comes to troubleshooting issues you experience along the way. One of the biggest sources of frustration for new students of web development is the amount of time it can take to debug an issue. Take whatever comfort you can in the fact that this is completely normal and even valuable.

The time you spend troubleshooting is a critical part of the learning process. Each bug you investigate is a lesson that adds to your arsenal of knowledge.

Get Your Hands Dirty

This boot camp requires your active participation. You need to review the lessons, complete the assignments, and watch tutorials. To succeed, you'll need to do more than read, watch, and follow along.

Step away from the sidelines and enter the fray. Work through the problems that stump you and learn from your mistakes. This is the only way to improve and ultimately master these skills.

Try Things on Your Own

"Am I doing this right?" is a question that instructors prefer not to hear, not because they are unwilling or unable to help but because it suggests a lack of confidence and willingness to experiment on the part of the student. Learn to wipe this question from your mind.

Attempt to solve problems on your own and request assistance from your instructional team if you get stuck. Phrase your question like this: "I tried [method A]. It didn't work so I tried [method B], which also didn't work. What should I try now?"

Notice the change in tone. Instead of timidly asking for assurance, give yourself permission to try, even if it means failing at first. Try and try again, knowing that failures often propel you closer to a solution.

Team Up

In this boot camp, you will be asked to collaborate with your classmates to work through assignments and solve problems. Very often, a fresh perspective and another pair of eyes can help you overcome a bug or understand a challenging concept. So form study groups and work with your peers, and learn from each other in the process.

Team collaboration is a great skill to foster since it is how software development operates in the real world. Leverage your classmates—they can not only be a source of information but they can also offer new perspectives.

Master the Art of Google Fu

You may be surprised by the amount of googling you will be asked to do in this program. This is done to help you learn the art of Google fu, the ability to quickly find and apply information you find on the internet.

Web development doesn't rely on memorization but rather on the process of curating bits and pieces of knowledge that have accumulated in various documentation, forums, and websites. It also requires an ability to quickly research solutions to problems you are working on.

The field is constantly changing and new tools are always on the horizon. As you will soon find, Google is an invaluable resource.

Make a Plan

The key to approaching complex issues in coding is to formulate a plan. Break down the problem in front of you into discrete, bite-sized tasks. Once you have a plan, write it down and refer back to it often. Don't try to bite off everything at once!

Self-Care Is Key

The best learning occurs when you take care of your physical and mental needs. This means getting enough sleep and exercise, as well as following a nutritious diet. It also means taking breaks and finding moments to relax. Energized, enthusiastic students make for a more productive, positive class experience.

Be an Engaged Student

In order to succeed in this program, you need to be invested in the learning process. Collaborate with your classmates and form study groups. Continue to build your skills through online research. Do your own work and submit assignments you are proud of, and if you ever feel you are borrowing too much, reach out to your support team for guidance.

You Can Do This!

This last piece of advice is the most important. Remind yourself every day that you can do this. We've seen students from all backgrounds, experiences, and personal situations persevere and succeed in this program.

There will be challenges ahead. During those times, remind yourself of why you entered the program in the first place. Let this be the fuel to keep you going.

You have everything it takes to learn this craft and to gain the opportunities that come with it. Your future self will thank you.

Activity: My Greatest Challenge

In this activity, you will reflect on personal mental hurdles you may need to overcome in order to succeed in this course. Identifying potential obstacles is key to forging a pathway to success.

Instructions

Review the keys to success we just outlined:
Overcome Frustration
Take Charge of Your Learning
Put in the Time
Be Patient
Get Your Hands Dirty
Try Things on Your Own
Team Up
Master the Art of Google Fu
Make a Plan
Self-Care Is Key
Be an Engaged Student
You Can Do This!
Identify which of these you think will be the most challenging for you. Write a brief paragraph about each one (less than 100 words).
For each challenge identified, write a brief strategy that may help you overcome it.