Wait for it to stick/Keep Proceeding?

sillymcnasty

Does anyone ever just go through videos, not really understanding it, but going through it all before it sticks? I think for some things I just need more exposure for it to stick. I know I forgot everything in the beginning already, but in the beginning it is usually like 'follow along', it'll make sense later' type deals. Specifically I'm referring to getting the RHCSA.
I'm gonna finish it all, and then go through it again and hope for an 'Oh, THAT'S WHY' kind of moment.

Or do you guys just sit and wait for it to stick before moving on? When I learned subnetting I know I stopped everything and got it down before moving on. But the scope of everything here is a first time deal, so kind of thinking I should just keep going then do a deeper run through the next time.

PC509

I will want it to sink in. If I don't get it, I'll search elsewhere for other explanations of the material. If I get most of it, I'll move on. Sometimes, when I see some theory, I don't fully understand it. In a few videos or chapters later, they show it in practice and then it all makes sense. But, I want to have some grasp on it so the next few things I learn aren't lost due to that missing information.

Of course, there are some things where I just fly through without fully understanding something, and go back to that one section when I'm done and then everything makes sense.

So, it depends on the material and how the learning is set up. If it's teaching theory and then demonstrating later, I'll wait until the demo. That usually makes things stick a bit better.

NetworkNewb

Yea, spending time watching videos, not understanding something, and just moving on would seem like a waste of time. If I don't understand something I like to use other sources and try to get a better idea of it before moving on.

MontagueVandervort

Make it stick is what I do. No sense in continuing on since the material only just keeps getting more advanced, and what you'll learn next is dependent on what you've learned previously. I will battle through it until I figure it out. A lot of times that means finding an alternative source for the same information you're trying to figure out.

NotHackingYou

If you don't get it, stop. Watch the video again. Read the material again. Put it in a lab. Write careful notes. Keep hammering until you get it. If you are dreading the topic, that's where you really need to focus.

Edited to add: You can also try getting in touch with someone who does know the material. Ask them to let you explain it to them as you understand it, then correct you.

sillymcnasty

Well, let me rephrase. I don't mean not understanding it in the sense that my brain can't comprehend it but ... like "Okay. I see the video. I understood the words. I followed along. But it isn't in my brain" I guess maybe seeing use cases helps things stick. So I go forward to see it put in use more often and learn that way.

Kind of like watching Game of Thrones. You know how many times I had to just keep watching before I learned who was who, then I watched it again and was like Ohhh lol. Now I gets it.


Edit: Or better example. Anyone ever try READING the explanation for spanning tree protocol? It makes no sense. I didn't get it until I just kept going and saw it in practice. Like I understood the words fine and dandy, I wasn't lost... it just seemed nonsensical. So I finished it, went ahead, saw it, and then it clicked and I was like oh.

NotHackingYou

I've been there. The best thing to do then is to try to lab it, use it at work, do a thought experiment on how you would use it, or talk it through with someone else who understands it. Your commitment at that stage to go the extra step will help it 'gel' in your brain.

ande0255

PC509 wrote: »

I will want it to sink in. If I don't get it, I'll search elsewhere for other explanations of the material. If I get most of it, I'll move on.

That right there, I've actually had some RFC's (white papers) make sense of a subject I just was not getting through training videos, as well as the vendors (Cisco in my case) support forums.

The Cisco support forum is such an incredible community to get fast accurate answers, not like this forum isn't useful, but questions go unanswered or get completely ignored (much more laid back and chatty than technical Q&A style support forums).

The more resources, and the more official they are, the better!

DatabaseHead

sillymcnasty wrote: »

Does anyone ever just go through videos, not really understanding it, but going through it all before it sticks? I think for some things I just need more exposure for it to stick. I know I forgot everything in the beginning already, but in the beginning it is usually like 'follow along', it'll make sense later' type deals. Specifically I'm referring to getting the RHCSA.
I'm gonna finish it all, and then go through it again and hope for an 'Oh, THAT'S WHY' kind of moment.

Or do you guys just sit and wait for it to stick before moving on? When I learned subnetting I know I stopped everything and got it down before moving on. But the scope of everything here is a first time deal, so kind of thinking I should just keep going then do a deeper run through the next time.

No I do not. I'll either stop or re watch, no point in continuing on if you are deer in the headlights.

Maybe it's age or being lazy, I only watch videos where at least 30% snaps into what I already know. I don't just go out and start learning things I have no idea about. They have to relate in some way. Not saying it's what you should do, but it helps me avoid what you are going through and allows me to retain momentum to continually learn.

Anything worth a crap is going to take more than a video........ SQL alone has been over 5 years and I am still learning daily. Not to mention all the other skills I have.

packetphilter

It really should depend on your expectations for the videos. For me, I watch a video course just so I get a cursory overview of the material. Because of that, I don't pause or back track very often. I know whatever I miss in the videos I'll pick up later when going through the book or doing hands-on lab practice. Of course, if you're expecting to go through the video course and be ready for an exam by the time you're done, then you'd certainly want to pause more often.

DoubleNNs

I usually watch videos before reading and diving into labs. I go thru the videos pretty quickly to get acquainted with the material/topics, understand theory, and at least get exposure to the specifics.

If I don't understand something specific 100%, that's fine to me. I'll come back to it later -- usually in my reading and/or labbing.

sillymcnasty

DoubleNNs wrote: »

I usually watch videos before reading and diving into labs. I go thru the videos pretty quickly to get acquainted with the material/topics, understand theory, and at least get exposure to the specifics.

If I don't understand something specific 100%, that's fine to me. I'll come back to it later -- usually in my reading and/or labbing.

Yeah that's how it has been working for me too.