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The problem with learning roadmaps
2.5k Plays1 year ago
This is the first episode of an experimental podcast where I use the AI voice-to-text service ElevenLabs to generate audio based on the general musings section of my weekly newsletter.
In this one, I talk about the issues with generic learning roadmaps, and how you can easily figure out what you should be learning next.
- My YouTube Channel
- Threads
- ElevenLabs (this is an affiliate link, you will not pay more if you sign up, but it will help support me a little bit!)
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Transcript
AI Voice Cloning: An Experimental Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Hello my front-end friends, Kevin here, or well, an AI version of Kevin. This is an experimental podcast where I'm using Eleven Labs AI voice cloning to turn the general musings of my weekly newsletter into podcast form.
CSS Learning Roadmaps: Are They Necessary?
00:00:14
Speaker
If you're listening to this, I'm going to assume you know who I am, but just in case you don't, my name is Kevin and I like to help people fall in love with CSS. This week we'll be talking about learning roadmaps because one of the questions I'm asked the most often is to create a CSS roadmap
00:00:27
Speaker
One day I'll probably make something because so many people are looking for something like this, but I honestly think there is a simple way forward, but it is different for everyone.
Getting Started with CSS: Basic Concepts
00:00:35
Speaker
First though, we probably can map out the early stages of learning any new topic. With CSS, that might be something like starting with the basic syntax and then the font properties. Usually the first styling we do is things like color and font size.
00:00:47
Speaker
With that, we'd get into pixels, EM and REM units. I think it's worth covering REM early on. Instead of building up bad habits that have to be broken later, we can then get into the box model, which will lead to simple layouts with either flexbox or grid, which then leads to the basics of responsiveness. Then, um, shrugs.
Project-Driven Learning: A Better Approach?
00:01:08
Speaker
I mean, once you can make a simple layout with flexbox or grid, what is the next thing you have to learn? To me, it really depends on what you're working on. One person might try to make a layout that has some overlapping content. Great, now you need to learn how to do that. Another person might be working on a simpler layout where they have a repeating element that has a different color each time and they get to learn about writing dry code and the idea of modifier classes and maybe even something like nth child.
00:01:34
Speaker
along the way there'll be random things like border radius gradients and other small things thrown in for good measure. I get why roadmaps are popular as they lay everything out for you. The reality is though as you go through these types of things they get jumbled
The Non-Linear Path of Learning
00:01:47
Speaker
up. If I made a road map
00:01:49
Speaker
Positioning would be pretty far down the list, along with animations and other things you don't need in every project, but you might be working on something early on that needs a simple transition or a fixed position element. Do you avoid learning it because they are farther down the roadmap? Of course not, you go and learn it because you need it for what you're working on.
00:02:05
Speaker
This is one of the reasons it's so important you don't just follow tutorial after tutorial, and follow along with them, but you try to make things on your own. When you work on projects that aren't part of a course or tutorial, you find the gaps in your knowledge, and that is what tells you what to learn next. If you're following a roadmap, you might realize that some of your knowledge gaps are earlier in the roadmap. That can feel demotivating, but really, you aren't taking steps back, you're identifying holes in your understanding or knowledge, and by knowing about them, you can start trying to fill them in.
Episode Wrap-Up & Feedback Channels
00:02:33
Speaker
Learning is never linear, so while roadmaps can give you some guidance, it's important to know you'll be jumping all over the place as you learn, including often going back over the earlier material too, and there is no harm in that at all. And that's it for episode one. If you'd like to give me feedback, you can find me on Twitter, or X where I'm at, Kevin J Powell, or on threads where I'm at, Kevin Powell CSS. All of that and the link to my YouTube channel are in the description, and of course until next week, don't forget to make your corner of the internet a little bit more awesome.