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Ask HN: What do you learn from technical videos and how?

by varunsaini on 12/7/16, 4:40 PM with 5 comments

• by selmat on 12/7/16, 8:08 PM

  I prefer videos with transcript. Not all videos or parts are interesting or valuable for me.

  As was already mentioned, shorter videos are better. It can keep up your engagement. One bad example is Microsoft virtual academy. I wasn't able watch neither one full video. Udacity of tedx or coursera are good examples.

  Also if its very interesting topic i am taking some notes. Pencil and paper should improve memorize process (don't have citation right now, writing from mobile) but my font is terrible and slow (if it has to be readable) Electronic notes are much better for me, i can search, format, paste screens and diagrams, even from screenshots video.

  If i am watching tutorials, am doing all steps in parallel. Very often with google at next screen due to different version , syntax, whatever.

  After all i am taking notes with step-by-step procedure what and how i did it. Sometimes also with description why.I prefer videos with transcript. Not all videos or parts are interesting or valuable for me.

  As was already mentioned, shorter videos are better. It can keep up your engagement. Ona bad example is Microsoft virtual academy. I wasn't able watch neither one full video.

  But everyone have to find own way what is best way for him.

• by alashley on 12/7/16, 6:42 PM

  It is possible to learn from online video, but I think its important to follow along by typing in the examples. That's the only way anything has ever "stuck" for me with video. This tends to significantly increase the time spent getting through a series, but when you're done, you would have absorbed the material.

  I'm not a fan of long video series myself, so I tend to prefer something like Udacity where the videos are shorter but you spend more time doing challenges. Lynda.com also has shorter videos compared to something like Pluralsight where the videos are a lengthy investment but cover a lot of ground.

• by eble on 12/7/16, 6:09 PM

  It depends on the quality of the content. Be more specific what kind of technical video you watch.

• by raybb on 12/7/16, 5:35 PM

  I don't watch technical videos often but I always find it help to write down any key points or things I find interesting while watching ling videos. If you save them all in one place with a source and date then it'll be very easy to find later if you need it.