On Learning in the Era of AI

By Stephen Emlund

Recently I dove back in to learning more Javascript and React. I’ve lived in ‘tutorial hell’ in the past with Javascript and React. I felt like I was learning a lot, but when I tried building something on my own there were several gaps that left me stuck.

Here are 3 ways I’ve broken out of tutorial hell.

1. Use the /teach skill

I started with re-learning Javascript array methods – but did so in a hands-on, bite-size lessons type of way. I used Matt Pocock’s /teach skill. This skill uses AI to give you short self-contained lessons about whatever topic you want. It starts by asking you questions and figuring out your current knowledge. You can even tell it if you have experience with a different programming language and it will regularly compare and contrast what it’s teaching you with what you already know. Then the lessons are built based on where your current knowledge lies. This allows you to learn in what he calls the ‘zone of proximal development’. This means you’re being challenged just enough where it takes meaningful effort, but not so much that it stops being helpful and you feel stuck.

The /teach skill has been revolutionary for me. In the past, I’d have so many questions about how or why something works, or why my code isn’t working. I’d quite literally get stuck when my own problem-solving, several Google searches, and tutorials weren’t helping me get unstuck. Now with the /teach skill, I can ask it to adjust my next lesson to cover something again, or go more in depth on something I still don’t get.

2. Ask AI to explain the guiding principles

Another breakthrough came while I was coding a project. I started asking AI, which has access to my codebase, to explain how I might build a feature. The key was asking it to frame the explanation as guiding principles I could apply to any project instead of just this one. If I’m still stuck, I will ask for hints, but not solutions. I also still go old-school and Google search to read docs or StackOverflow.

3. Make it a daily habit

I use a daily habit tracker and thrive on seeing all the habits checked off each day, week, month, and year. Every month I re-assess and take away or add a habit. Two months ago I added ‘Javascript learning’ to my daily habits. Since then, I’ve spent 30-60 minutes, most days, reviewing what I’ve learned, learning something new and taking notes. This daily habit of learning one small thing and applying it to a real project that is just a bit outside my comfort zone has been amazing for building my Javascript and React skills.