Embrace the Power of Teaching: Why Developers Should Share Knowledge as They Learn
Let me set the scene: You’ve enrolled in a coding bootcamp, and you want to build, create, inspire and fix. You’ve joined a fantastically supportive community of devs and signed up for a writing challenge (because it seemed like a good idea at the time) and now you’re frantically panicking about your lack of knowledge and expertise. How can I write when I don’t know the basics? I’m here to break it down and show you exactly WHY you should be blogging, writing and teaching concepts and skills during your coding journey.
At first, imposter syndrome lived rent-free in my head. I was guilty of comparing my journey to many others. Self-deprecation is a comfortable place for me but eventually, it consumes you. It holds you back. From being vulnerable, from connecting over shared problems and from a growth mindset. How many aspiring devs read these articles wishing they had the technical knowledge/confidence/expertise to write? Or wish they were at a level that they could understand the Django piece from last week, or the React tutorial posted yesterday? We’ve all been there, and it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come when you’re still travelling along on your path of growth. Welcome, fellow developers, to a world where learning meets teaching! In the realm of software development, knowledge is not meant to be hoarded but shared. In this article, we'll explore five reasons why developers should cultivate the habit of teaching concepts as they learn, and how this approach can transform their learning experience into an upbeat, informative and fun adventure!
Solidify Your Understanding: Imagine this: you've just learned a new programming concept, and now you’re tasked with explaining it to someone else. Teaching forces you to break down complex ideas into manageable bits, which in turn deepens your own understanding of the concept. By teaching new concepts as you learn them, you’ll reinforce knowledge and identify any gaps in your understanding. It’s a win-win situation that will propel your growth as a developer!
Enhance your communication skills: Programming prowess alone isn’t enough to thrive in this highly competitive industry; clear communication is paramount. Teaching others helps you sharpen your communication skills by transforming intricate technical jargon into accessible language. As you simplify concepts and make them relatable, in turn you become a better communicator, able to convey ideas effectively to colleagues, stakeholders and non-technical stakeholders.
Foster a collaborative learning community: The development community thrives on collaboration, support, and the sharing of knowledge. By teaching concepts to others, you contribute to this vibrant ecosystem. Imagine the satisfaction of helping fellow developers solve problems, encouraging their growth, and igniting their passion for coding. Embrace the role of a mentor and become an indispensable part of a supportive network that thrives on collective learning and growth.
Learn by Teaching: The Protégé effect a fascinating psychological phenomenon, reveals that teaching others actually enhances your own learning. As you teach, you'll discover new perspectives, alternative approaches, and creative solutions. Explaining concepts to others requires you to think critically, answer questions, and find innovative ways to convey information. It's like embarking on an intellectual adventure, where each teaching experience enriches your own knowledge base.
Boost Your Confidence: Nothing builds confidence quite like successfully teaching a topic to someone else. Witnessing the "aha" moment on your student's face and knowing that you played a crucial role in their growth is immensely gratifying. Each teaching experience becomes a testament to your expertise, affirming your skills and reinforcing your confidence. The more you teach, the more you'll believe in your abilities, setting the stage for greater accomplishments in your dev journey.
