I'm a self-taught learner in technology with a background in business. I've taught myself various technical data tools to aid my journey in becoming a data analyst. To help me work with complex, fragmented, heavy data, I have learned Tableau, Power BI, SQL, then Python, all on my own, starting with the basics. After getting the basics, I will enhance my skills by learning from online classes and professionals in the field.
During my data learning journey, I've gathered some tips that can help others acquire technical skills more quickly and effectively, even without a technical background.
Firstly, learn by doing. Find a project and learn by working on it. You can easily find interesting projects on YouTube and follow step-by-step tutorials. Learning by doing and repeating what you did learn will help you remember and improve your skills.
Secondly, take notes carefully. While taking notes in business classes may seem easier, taking notes when learning new software or code languages can be more challenging. Initially, I didn't take notes. I tried to repeat steps as much as I can so these actions will stick into my memory brain. However, this approach consumed more time, and finding forgotten information was difficult.
So, I adopted a new note-taking method. I documented knowledge by writing things down digitally and taking screenshots. This method takes time, but it helps memory retention by having written explanations alongside visual illustrations. The best part is that I can revisit my notes to review anytime I want.
An example of my study diary
For example, I applied this method to learning Python. Here is my learning method:
Step 1: Find a tutorial project. I have found an excellent video tutorial by Alex The Analyst on YouTube about using Pandas to clean data. The video tooks 30 minutes long and received positive feedback.
Step 2: While working on the project, I must learn how to install Python on my laptop. I then completed a second video to help installing Jupyter Notebook with Anaconda.
Step 3: I began coding, completing each task step by step. After each simple or complex task, I documented my progress on a Google Docs. I recorded the code lines, my results’ screenshots, notes about my failures when writing new code, and included solution comments from other learners.
An example of my study diary
After five hours of learning and note-taking, I completed my first Python project. I reviewed my code file on Jupiter Notebook, then edited my study diary (the learning document). It spanned a total of 21 pages, includes all learning materials I used, my summaries, a cheat sheet of code functions (such as .drop(), .replace(), .split(), etc.), and a step-by-step section for future review.
You can see my Python study diary here:
In conclusion, it took me five hours to learn from two videos totalling 45 minutes while taking detailed notes. The result is that I now remember all the knowledge I acquired and have a clear understanding what I learned. It's like magic, isn't it?
I hope that sharing my method will help you on your own learning journey. If you have special tips of learning, please feel free to share it with me.
View my Python result: Link
View my sample of Study Notes: Link
View my Portfolio: Link
Tutorial videos:
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