Define the context of your self-education \u2014 why you decided to engage in it, and what you hope to achieve in the end. Carefully consider how the new information will integrate with your education and work, and what practical benefits you will gain from your studies.\u00a0\nFor example, if you want to study psychology and are passionate about cars, you would choose which books to buy, what to immerse yourself in, and which university to attend for additional education in the future. Okay, let\u2019s try to make an agreement: if you dive deep into automotive mechanics, you could start a car service or create your own. Great! But do you have investments, a unique proposal that will set you apart from others, and how will you deal with competitors? Oh, you just want to repair your own car, well, that\u2019s interesting! Do you have a garage, can you handle tinkering with a fuel-injected engine, and do you have the time? Wouldn\u2019t it be easier to go to a service and watch an F1 race? Plan B \u2014 psychology. For yourself? Not bad, it will enhance your soft skills, regardless. For the future? Quite viable \u2014 for raising your children or organizing a career guidance office for teenagers and students, so they don\u2019t get taken advantage of in the job market. Logical, profitable, reasonable.<\/i><\/li>\nSet your self-education goals: what do you want to learn and why, what will this process give you for: enjoyment, income, communication, career, family, etc. It would be great if the goals are not just stated, but developed as a step-by-step learning plan.\n<\/li>\n Be sure to define the boundaries of knowledge \u2014 what volume of information you need to master. Each subject and each narrow field of knowledge has an immeasurable depth of study, and you may simply drown in information and attempts to grasp the immense. Therefore, create a study plan that outlines the necessary subject areas, learning boundaries, mandatory topics, and sources of information. This can be done, for example, using a mind map editor. Of course, you will deviate from this plan as you delve into the topic, but it will prevent you from sinking into the depths of related information (for instance, while studying Python, you might suddenly decide to delve into mathematics, get caught up in complex theorems, dive into the history of mathematics, etc., which would be a diversion from your plan into a new interest \u2014 a true adversary for a self-learner).\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/p>\n
Advantages of self-education<\/h2>\n \nYou can try new non-standard learning methods<\/b>: combining them, testing, choosing the most comfortable for yourself (reading, video lectures, notes, learning in hours or intervals, etc.). Furthermore, you can easily change your learning program if the technology has changed (for example, ruthlessly abandoning C# to switch to Swift). You will always stay relevant throughout the learning process.<\/p>\n
Depth of learning<\/b> \u2014 since there are no restrictions on classroom time and the knowledge of the instructor, you can study material from all angles, pausing on the points that are necessary for you. But be careful \u2014 you might become buried in information and thereby slow down the entire process (or even give up).<\/p>\n
Self-education is inexpensive or even free.<\/b> You pay for books (the most expensive part), for courses and lectures, for access to certain resources, etc. In principle, training can be made completely free \u2014 quality free materials can be found online, but without books, the process will lose quality.<\/p>\n
You can work with information at your own pace<\/b> \u2014 taking notes, drawing schemes and graphs, returning to already mastered material to deepen it, clarify unclear points, and close gaps.<\/p>\n
Self-discipline skills develop <\/b>\u2014 you learn to organize your work and free time, to communicate with colleagues and family. Surprisingly, after a month of strict time management, you reach a point where you realize that you actually have more time.\u00a0<\/p>\nDisadvantages of self-education\u00a0<\/h2>\n
\nIn Russian realities, the biggest drawback is the attitude of employers who require proof of your qualifications<\/b>: real projects or educational documents. This doesn\u2019t mean that the management is bad or disloyal\u2014it means they have already encountered those \"educated\" individuals who have fled from training sessions about how to earn a million in a day. Therefore, it\u2019s essential to gather genuine reviews on projects (if you\u2019re a designer, marketer, copywriter, etc.) or have a solid pet project on GitHub that clearly showcases your development skills. But best of all, after completing a self-education process, is to attend courses or university to obtain a certificate\/diploma\u2014unfortunately, this is still trusted more than our knowledge.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Limited fields for self-education.<\/b> There are many, very many, but there are groups of professions that cannot be mastered independently for work, not just \"for oneself\" and personal interest. These include all branches of medicine, automotive and generally transportation sectors, strangely enough\u2014sales, many skilled professions, engineering, and more. That is to say, you can study all the textbooks, standards, guidelines, etc., but when the moment comes for you to be prepared for practical actions, you will find yourself a helpless amateur.<\/p>\n
For example, you can know all the anatomy, pharmacology, master all treatment protocols, understand diagnostic methods, learn to recognize diseases, read analyses, and even develop a treatment plan for common pathologies, but as soon as you, God forbid, encounter a stroke in a person, with ascites, or with PE\u2014everything, the only thing you will be capable of is to wetly dial 03 and shoo away onlookers. You will even understand what happened, but you won\u2019t be able to help. If, of course, you are a rational person.<\/i><\/p>\n
Little motivation. <\/b>Yes, self-education is initially the most motivated form of learning, but over time, your motivation will depend solely on you and your desire, not on an alarm clock. This means that factors affecting your motivation will include household chores, entertainment, work overload, mood, etc. Breaks, missed days, and even weeks can set in quite quickly; you might have to restart your learning a couple of times. To stay on track with your plan, you need iron will and self-discipline.<\/p>\n
It's hard to concentrate.<\/b> The level of concentration greatly depends on where you choose to study. If you live with family who are not used to respecting your space and time, consider yourself unlucky \u2014 the urge to study will quickly be consumed by your conscience, which will compel you to help your parents and play with your children. For some, my option might be more suitable \u2014 studying in the office after work, but this requires the absence of chatty coworkers and management's approval (by the way, I never faced any misunderstanding out of four times).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Be sure to organize your workspace and time \u2014 the environment should be conducive to studying, professional, as these are essentially the same activities but with a high level of trust in oneself. It wouldn\u2019t occur to you to suddenly open YouTube or watch the latest episode of a good series during your second degree, would it?<\/p>\n
There's no tutor, mentor, no one correcting your mistakes or showing you how to grasp the material more easily.<\/b> You might misunderstand some parts of the material, and these misconceptions will carry over and create numerous problems in your future learning. There aren't many options: the first is to double-check all dubious points across various sources until you completely understand; the second is to find a mentor among friends or at work to whom you can pose questions. By the way, your learning is not their headache, so formulate your questions clearly and concisely in advance to receive a correct answer without wasting their time. And of course, nowadays, there\u2019s another option: asking questions on Toster, Quora, Stack Overflow, etc. This is an excellent practice that will allow you not only to find the truth but also to appreciate different approaches to it.<\/p>\n
Self-education does not end.<\/b> You will be haunted by a sense of incompleteness and lack of information. On one hand, this will drive you to study the issue more deeply and become a skilled specialist; on the other hand, it may hinder your development due to doubts about your own competence.<\/p>\n
The advice is simple: as soon as you grasp the basics, look for ways to apply your knowledge in practice (internships, personal projects, helping companies, etc. \u2014 there are plenty of options). This way, you will be able to assess the practical value of everything you study, understand what is in demand in the market or in a real project, and what is just pretty theory.<\/p>\n
an important social nuance<\/b><\/i>: you study outside of a social environment and interaction with others is kept to a minimum; achievements are unrecognized, there is no criticism or encouragement, and no competition. While this may be beneficial in mathematics and development, silence and isolation are poor allies in language learning. Furthermore, studying alone prolongs the timeframe and reduces the chances of getting involved in work in the field you are studying.<\/p>\nSources for self-education<\/h2>\n
\nSelf-education can take any form \u2014 you can cram the material in the evenings, interact with it at every opportunity during your free minutes, attend courses, or pursue a second degree and continuously deepen the knowledge gained there. However, there is a set of resources without which self-education is simply impossible \u2014 regardless of what online schools, Skype tutors, and coaches might say.<\/p>\n
Books.<\/b> Regardless of whether you are studying psychology, anatomy, programming, or tomato agronomy, nothing will replace books for you. You will need three types of books to explore any field:<\/p>\n\nA classical basic textbook<\/i> \u2014 dull and tedious, but with a good structure of information, a well-thought-out curriculum, correct definitions, formulations, and proper emphasis on basic concepts and some intricacies. (Although some textbooks can be engaging \u2014 for example, the excellent guides by Schildt on C\/C++).<\/li>\nHardcore professional publications<\/i> (like Stroustrup or Tanenbaum) \u2014 in-depth books that require a pencil, pen, notebook, and a stack of sticky notes to read. These editions are ones you need to delve into, providing you with profound theoretical knowledge and practical basics.<\/li>\nPopular science books on the subject<\/i> (like 'Python for Dummies', 'How the Brain Works', etc.) \u2014 books that are enjoyable to read, easy to remember, and explain the workings of the most complex systems and categories in simple terms. Be cautious: in today's age of rampant misinformation, you might encounter charlatans in any field, so read about the author carefully \u2014 it's better if they are a scientist from a university, a practitioner, and ideally a foreign author; for some reason, they tend to write exceptionally well, even in less-than-great translations).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n \nIt's important to understand that there are areas where foreign authors are mostly useless, such as law and accounting. However, in these areas (as in others), it's worth remembering that any industry operates within a legal framework and it would be wise to study the basic regulatory legal acts<\/b>. For example, if you decide to become a trader, it's not enough to install QUIK and take an online course from BCS; you need to study the legislation related to the trading of securities, the website of the Central Bank of Russia, and the tax and civil codes. There you will find precise and concise answers to your questions. If you struggle with interpretations, look for commentaries in periodicals and legal databases.<\/p>\n
Notebook, pen.<\/b> Take notes, even if you hate it and your computer is your friend. First, you will remember the material better; second, it\u2019s much easier and quicker to refer to your neatly organized material than to search for something in a book or video. Try not just to copy the text as is, but to structure the information: draw diagrams, create symbols for lists, and establish a system of section markers and notes.<\/p>\n
Pencil, sticky notes. <\/b>Make notes in the margins of books and stick sticky notes on relevant pages, adding descriptions of why you need to refer to that page. This greatly facilitates revisiting the material and enhances memory retention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
English language. <\/b>You may not speak it, but reading is highly advisable, especially if you are self-learning in the IT field. I really want to be a patriot right now, but many books are written much better than Russian ones \u2014 in IT, in trading and brokerage, in economics and management, and even in medicine, biology, and psychology. If you struggle with the language, look for a good translation \u2014 typically, these are books from major publishers. You can purchase originals in electronic and printed formats on Amazon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lectures online<\/b> \u2014 there are many on university websites, on YouTube, in specialized groups on social media, etc. Choose, listen, take notes, and recommend to others \u2014 it's really challenging to select a suitable course!<\/p>\n
If we're talking about programming, your trustworthy assistants are Habr, Medium, Toster, Stack Overflow, GitHub<\/b>, as well as various projects for learning coding like Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, Udemy, and others.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Periodicals<\/b> \u2014 try to find and read specialized journals online to stay updated on your industry, and to know who its leaders are (usually, they write articles).\u00a0<\/p>\n
For the most determined, there's one more superpower \u2014 free attendance at university classes<\/b>. You negotiate with the faculty you need and can calmly attend lectures that are necessary or interesting to you. Honestly, approaching for the first time can be intimidating, practice your motivation at home, but refusals are very rare. However, this requires a significant amount of free time.\u00a0<\/p>\nGeneral scheme of self-education<\/h2>\n
\nIn our series, it has been mentioned several times that the articles are quite subjective and the author does not claim to be the ultimate truth. So I will share my proven working scheme for dealing with new information for the purposes of self-education.<\/p>\n
Develop a study plan<\/b><\/i> \u2014 using a basic textbook(s), create a plan and a rough schedule of the subjects you need. The thing is, sometimes you can't get by with just one discipline; you have to combine two or three. In parallel, you better understand their connections and interaction logic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2193<\/p>\n
Select study materials<\/i><\/b> and note them in the plan: books, websites, videos, periodicals.<\/p>\n
\u2193<\/p>\n
Stop preparing for about a week<\/i><\/b> \u2014 a very important period during which the information gathered while creating the plan settles in your mind, new ideas and needs for learning objectives emerge through passive thinking, thus forming a cognitive and motivational foundation.<\/p>\n
\u2193<\/p>\n
Start self-learning on a convenient schedule<\/i><\/b> \u2014 study at a set time and try not to skip your 'self-study' sessions. A habit, as literature correctly states, is formed in 21 days. However, if you have a real overload at work, a cold, or problems, postpone your studies for a few days \u2014 in a stressful situation, material is absorbed worse, and a background of nervousness and irritation can become associated with the learning process.<\/p>\n
\u2193<\/p>\n
Combine materials<\/i><\/b> \u2014 do not work with books, videos, and other resources sequentially; work in parallel, reinforce one with another, find intersections and a common logic. This will make memorization easier, reduce the time needed to master the material, and quickly show where you have gaps and where you have made the most progress.<\/p>\n
\u2193<\/p>\n
Take notes<\/i><\/b> \u2014 be sure to make notes and review them after finishing each part of the material.<\/p>\n
\u2193<\/p>\n
Review what you have learned<\/i><\/b> \u2014 go over it in your mind, compare and link it with new material, try it out in practice if possible (writing code, creating text, etc.).<\/p>\n
\u2193<\/p>\n
Practice<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
\u2193<\/p>\n
Repeat \ud83d\ude42<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
By the way, about practice. This is a very delicate issue for those who have taken up self-education not for fun, but for work. You must understand that when you gain self-education in a new field unrelated to your job but connected to your dream or desire to change jobs, you become not the person reading this article but an ordinary junior, practically an intern. And if you really want to change jobs, remember that you will lose money and essentially start from scratch \u2014 for this, you must have the resources. But if you are firmly decided, start looking for work in your new profile as early as possible, to learn and practice. And you know what? They will gladly hire you, even not at the lowest salary, because you already have commercial experience and those very soft skills. However, do not forget \u2014 this is a risk.<\/p>\n
Self-education should be a constant endeavor \u2014 through large blocks or micro-courses, because that's the only way you can become a deep professional, not just an office worker. Information is advancing, don't fall behind.<\/p>\n
What is your experience with self-education, and what advice can you give to the community?<\/p>\n
P.S.:<\/b> We are concluding our series of posts on education titled 'Live for a Century \u2014 Learn for a Century' and will soon be launching a new one. Next Friday, you'll learn what it's about.<\/p>\n
habr.com<\/a><\/p>","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u0410 \u0432\u0430\u043c \u0441\u043b\u0430\u0431\u043e \u0432 \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0438 25-30-35-40-45 \u0441\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0437\u0430 \u043e\u0431\u0443\u0447\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435? \u041d\u0435 \u043a\u043e\u0440\u043f\u043e\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0438\u0432\u043d\u043e\u0435, \u043d\u0435 \u043e\u043f\u043b\u0430\u0447\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043f\u043e \u0442\u0430\u0440\u0438\u0444\u0443 \u00ab\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0430 \u043f\u043b\u0430\u0442\u0438\u0442\u00bb, \u043d\u0435 \u0432\u044b\u043d\u0443\u0436\u0434\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0438 \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430-\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0435\u0434\u043e\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0432\u044b\u0441\u0448\u0435\u0435, \u0430 \u0441\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u0435? \u0421\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044c \u0437\u0430 \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0439 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b \u0441 \u0432\u044b\u0431\u0440\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u043c\u0438 \u0432\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u043a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0430\u043c\u0438 \u0438 \u0443\u0447\u0435\u0431\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043c\u0438, \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0434 \u043b\u0438\u0446\u043e\u043c \u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0433\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0441\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0441\u0435\u0431\u044f \u0438 \u043e\u0441\u0432\u043e\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0442\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0432\u0430\u043c \u043d\u0443\u0436\u043d\u043e \u0438\u043b\u0438 \u0442\u0430\u043a \u0445\u043e\u0442\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c \u043e\u0441\u0432\u043e\u0438\u0442\u044c, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0432\u043e\u0442 \u0443\u0436\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e \u0441\u0438\u043b […]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":1,"featured_media":29163,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[702],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38875","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t