How to train your cat to code: bizarre learning approaches

Has your little hamster forgotten how to write C# code? Is it trying to get back into programming, but time has flown by so fast that C# 12 has already come out? Or maybe your kitty can’t plan an event, and the office Christmas party for 50 people is just around the corner. Moreover, these fluffy guys have been watching TikToks for a long time, and now they can have an attention span of about a minute. This article is a pocket-size guide to the uncharted learning expanses. Here, we’ll be sailing on the waves of engaging learning while dodging the rocks of boring education and sharing our experiences along the way.

Are you ready to dive into it? Let’s take the cat by its ears (or paws, if it allows) and per aspera ad astra!

Intro

Welcome to 2K24, where standards pass over creativity, and traditional teaching methods gather dust on school desks. We’re growing so fast, it’s hard to keep up with everything. Is it okay to consume tons of information and not always “digest” it? Well, we don’t think so. It’s obvious why learning is important. The importance is clear — especially for IT industries, especially for developers. IT has such a wild pace of development that it will leave you saying WOW!

I bet you heard creepypastas that AI will soon rule the earth or will take your job because a full-metal brain will be better at creating and rewriting text/code? How do we keep up with everything? We really need to stay afloat, stay relevant, be helpful, and be modern. We need to be the here and now. Chase knowledge, you never catch it up!

Why? Because learning’s such a drag. Wouldn’t it be easier to just mind your own business and ignore all those innovations? We’re all human! Let’s kick back, relax, and have some fun instead.

This is a problem — btw, there is already a solution. In the last 15–20 years, our attention span has become too scattered. Our brains process data more actively because we consume information more quickly. We shift our focus too fast and get distracted pretty easily. Just like kids. Moms were right saying, “Don’t eat too fast!”

No biggie. Forgivable. We’re considered young people (or young adults) until the age of 35! Plus, a child can be kept engaged in something interesting for at least an hour. So, let’s try this approach and focus on what’s important.

Chill & play

Boring textbooks? No, no, no. Videogames criticized by others? Yeah! In the world of IT, games are a great way to train brains as well as the strictest schoolmarm. Games like Civilization or The Sims help enhance strategic thinking and decision-making skills. If you want to be a successful project manager or software architect, these games are for you.

My friends have told me how they play 3d chess in Civilization to develop and expand their territory. And the gags with democracy and trade are just hilarious. Just imagine: you first give luxury resources to your neighbors so they don’t start a war. Then, when they do start a war, you think you’d better keep all those silks and spices for yourself. Come on, it wasn’t worth it!

This approach is a great fit for your strategy, micromanagement, responsibility, and many other skills that can help you boost your work performance. This learning approach has a great buff/perk: this format is 60% more engaging than traditional books. According to recent researches, 3.32 billion people in the world (41% of the population!) are fond of video games.

And that’s true! Have you seen Codingame or While True: Learn ()? Would you prefer to atomize some alien spaceships or create a cat-translator app? It’s all in the coding game. Engagement is boosted by 60%!

Don’t forget about board games and puzzles, too! Board games build your team and strategic thinking. If you can explain everything in Codenames, then it’s easier to understand the structure of IT projects. Puzzles train logic and focus — skills that are essential for developers.

There’s a cool approach that involves speaking activities during role-playing. It brings to mind one famous role-play game — Dungeons and Dragons. My colleague shared with me an article about an innovative way to fine-tune processes by playing DnD. Now I quote my colleague: “The key aspect of RPGs is that they focus on discussions and collaborative problem-solving. It’s crucial to go through shared experiences and take responsibility for the consequences of your decisions all together.” I really like this approach. We practice it in the company as well. I play DnD with my colleagues at least once a month, and not only DnD.

Btw, you can always find striking competitive games and cruel puzzles at the PVS-Studio booths. You should try it live! When I was a booth staff at the conference and played Pylos with the guests, I understood many interesting things about developers and the complex systems they build. Developers have a passion for puzzles, as my colleague explores in the article “How to lure programmers to your conference booth?”.

Stalker Duo

I thought that courses were a bore to death or a big con scam. However, there are really great platforms that offer courses from some top-notch universities and companies. They feature engaging interactivity and interesting assignments. Why not enroll in the Stanford course on machine learning from the comfort of your sofa, in your pajamas? Such learning helps you grasp theory and immediately put it into practice through assignments and projects. Some of these courses are even free.

Attention, attention, attention! Be picky when choosing online courses. Read the curriculum and reviews from other students. Sometimes, underneath the pretty words, you can get only in the based base with no in-depth knowledge — that’s not always what you need.

There are platforms with fun videos, lectures, and exercises. There, you can learn everything from basic math to complex algorithms — with no problems and even a smile. Find a learning video that grabs you the same way a toy grabs a toddler’s attention. This approach is just the thing to keep you from falling asleep over the textbook. I must admit, that massive programming textbook made for a surprisingly comfortable pillow. Instead, I could watch YouTube “C# Tutorial For Beginners — Learn C# Basics in 1 Hour” or read Andrey Karpov’s book about terrible tips for C++ programmers.

Don’t forget the podcasts! Whether you’re on the move, at the gym, or relaxing with a cup of coffee, you can listen to interesting talks with industry experts. It’s a great way to stay up-to-date with new IT products and trends. Podcasts help you broaden your horizons and provide insights into real-life cases from firsthand.

Another great approach to learning is through game-based courses. These are courses where you earn points and new levels for completing tasks, turning learning into a fun game. Learn new programming languages, score points, and compete with friends! This helps you stay motivated and learn at your own or competitive pace. It’s been shown that gamification of learning can boost attention span by up to 30%, compared to only retaining 20% of the material through listening, and 10% through reading.

Hey, check this out — I’ve got a “104-day streak” going strong in Duolingo. I seem to be addicted to this streak counter, which helps me study every day. Can’t afford to slack off now, or I’ll have that Duolingo owl breathing down my neck!

Learning hangouts

Would like to socialize? Then hackathons are right up your alley! Picture it: late night, teams of other devs fueled by endless pizza, and tons of code. In such conditions, brilliant ideas and projects are born. Hackathons are a great venue for developing, enhancing, and showcasing your ideas while connecting with like-minded people. Another great idea is to organize hackathons for your employees! We’ve had an internal hackathon at PVS-Studio on July 4–5. Victory will be in the hands of my team! I promise!

Upd: I’m keeping my word. My team took the 1st place at the internal PVS-Studio Hackathon.

Shh, spoiler. Coming soon, PVS-Studio Code Golf.

What about conferences and meetups? It’s not just about listening to talks; it’s also a great chance to meet new people and even discuss innovations at the afterparty. Networking and off-site company events with speakers (hangouts, too) are a whole other kind of fun altogether. Here, you can both work and get to Ballmer Peak with your colleagues. It helps you understand your teammates better, which is beneficial for personal growth and company work performance.

It’s my favorite learning approach. I enjoy business trips to conferences where I can listen to talks and engage in discussions with speakers. There are lots of different events, some paid and some free. They help you not only enrich your experience but also gain insights from others. You can do this by such well-known activities as “talking on a coffee break” or “asking a question to the speaker If you’re seeking for social activities, you can check out our events calendar and video about the antipatterns in C++. Enjoy!

I also adore our company’s internal conferences. Listening to colleagues’ talks about the company’s development reveals insights that you’ve not known before. You understand how different teams work and sparks ideas for your future interactions. Afterparty after learning means networking. And the atmosphere makes you so chilled. But that’s not the point. You chat about things you care about, and after that, it all becomes work-related somehow. I’ve had at least a few work tasks born that way. Highly recommended!

You’ll get paid here, too

There’s nothing better than learning through practice. Internships and real-life projects are the way to go. And it doesn’t matter if you’re a student or a self-taught dev. In IT, practical skills reign supreme. Engage in real projects, contribute to open source, and get feedback from experienced developers. This kind of practice lets you transform theory into practice and learn from your own mistakes. One of our Java developers rammed into IT, and you know how? Through a Minecraft modding. Open source can be surprising, but, guys, getting a job offer thanks to a cube game is just off the charts — yeah, it seems impossible! But this is a real case.

And don’t forget mentors. They can steer you away from many common mistakes and teach you things that books often miss. Mentorship helps you learn faster and get valuable tips from experienced devs. Mentors at my company guide mentees everywhere: at hackathons, in real projects, or during internships. But it’s not about “I’ll solve the problem for you”, it’s about “I’ll help you solve it yourself”. I mean, it’s more interesting. We pay for the experience of our cool developers and mentors by real tasks or projects. And money, of course.

Most IT companies offer internships to junior developers, and I believe it’s the best starting point. I joined PVS-Studio in the same way. I didn’t have much experience in IT, but the company taught me and helped me find my path. Now I have the best job ever (imho). I wish the same for you, guys!

Conclusion

Our journey to unorthodox learning methods can be a real challenge. But these off-site hangouts and conference talks are well worth it. After all, learning really doesn’t have to be a serious and monotonous process! In today’s world, even a lunch break can turn into a lecture on your mom’s gastronomy. We all know how important it is to leverage creative approaches in education.

Non-standard teaching methods give unique opportunities for personal growth. They foster not only knowledge but also your creative thinking. By shaking up routine scenarios, we can enrich our experience, making it more exciting and memorable.

Remember, learning isn’t solely about memorizing facts; it’s also about creating unique stories. Everyone can choose the approach that best suits them!