Calling all Tutorial Fanatics
When diving into a new skill or unfamiliar task, a natural response is to try to find a reference video. Youtube is a popular site, but there are many others. Perhaps you have felt the thrill of finding the “perfect” video to explain everything you need to know about topic X. It does not matter whether X is a certain library function in a programming language, a completely new framework, or even a step-by-step guide on swing dancing. Surely, by the end of this 20 minute (or 6 hour) video, you can achieve mastery of the topic.
Disappointing Denouement
It is possible that after watching a single online video that the task can be completed with confidence; More often than not, this is not the case. For anyone following along with a multiple hour long lesson, it can be disappointing to realize that there is a gap in the knowledge when it is time to apply the information on your own project. Most tutorials seem to boil down to the common theme of “just do it”.
Leave Tutorials Behind
Before pouring hours of time into watching tutorials or previewing documentation, there is an optimal amount of time to spend on preparation. Everyone learns skills differently at their own pace. However, most people can agree that it is not worth spending unnecessary time on something without a large benefit. There is some satisfaction in having “completed” a tutorial. Not everyone has the luxury of time to devote to that.
Skill of Set up and Go
This is where the skill of gathering just as much information from a tutorial to get started comes in to play. Leave the door open for experimentation and testing boundaries. Any further questions that may come up can be answered along the way without wasting time on things that are intuitive. When time is precious, hands on experience will prove more valuable than the facade of experience from a code along video in the long run. Use your time wisely!
