1.
https://www.codingblocks.net/practice/

2.
 Skills are important and neglected
 Deliberate Practice is the most effective way to advance skills
 We can do this!

3.
…and neglected

4.
Things you know Things you can do
Algorithms, Design Patterns, Data
Structures
Devise, analyze, implement
How Security Exploit work Find exploits in the wild
{Language, Framework, Domain} Make cool stuff

5.
http://abstrusegoose.com/249

6.
 Specific knowledge, skill, time requirements
 Short cuts and distractions reinforce bad practices
 Focusing on one skill can be detrimental to others
 Not be time efficient

7.
 Soccer scrimmage: 22:1
 10-40 ball touches per game
 Soccer 90 minute practice 4:1 Player:Ball ratio…
 200-400 ball touches
 What about field goal kickers?
https://www.wegotplayers.com/soccer-training-vs-games/

8.
Implicit Declarative
instructions operate at a
higher level of abstraction.
“Chunking”

9.
 Recognize the cue
 Substitute the good behavior
 Treat yo self

10.
 Growth vs Fixed Mindset
 How close are you to maximizing your potential?

11.
How best to advance your skills

12.
1. Intentional
2. Improving and Appropriate
3. Responsive
4. Repetitive
5. Not fun
http://www.learningspy.co.uk/training/top-gun-teachers/

13.
How to practice programming

14.
 Do X for Y
 CodeWars.com
 HackerRank
 CodeFights.com
 Code Golf
 Soft Skills
 Toastmasters, writing group, peer reviews
 Quality
 Static Analysis, peer programming, reviews
 Coaching
 Interviewing.io
 Architecture

15.
Identify
DesignExecute
Assess
0. Identify your goals
1. Map the relevant skills
2. Assess skills independently
3. Identify a high value target
4. Design an exercise
5. Do the exercise
6. GOTO: 2

16.
 Your definition of “better” is unique
 Goals change over time
 What do you really want?

17.
 Coding time
 Debugging time
 Program size
 Performance
 Communication
 Problem Solving
 Abstraction
 Attention to detail

18.
 Coding time
 Debugging time
 Program size
 Performance
 Communication
 Problem Solving
 Abstraction
 Attention to detail

19.
 Strengthen your weaknesses
 Play to your strengths
 Focus on valuable skills

20.
 Understand that effort requires motivation
 Take your existing abilities into account
 Get quick informative feedback
 Repeat, repeat

21.
 Try to come up with something you can measure
 Take lessons from other fields
 Code Kata
 Increase Difficulty
 Time yourself
 Record yourself, ask for feedback
 Old school flash cards
 Train “in the dark”
 Debugging
 Read code/architectures, describe it in english
 Ask your communities

22.
 Regular, repetitive, disciplined practice is best
 Do what you can
 Focus, focus, focus
 Should see results immediately

23.
https://www.slideshare.net/rnja8c/competitive-outcomes/24
https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2017/03/29/flow-doesnt-lead-to-mastery/

24.
https://www.experttabletennis.com/deliberate-practice-table-tennis/

25.
 Coaches
 Teachers
 Mentors
 Peers

26.
 Senior Programmers are expensive
 Companies are better suited towards mentoring

27.
 Examples of goals:
 Story-Telling
 Write shorter and more persuasive emails
 Eliminate weak phrases
 Structure content for a more logical flow
 How to evaluate?
 Coaching
 Self Evaluation
https://www.enchantingmarketing.com/how-to-practice-writing-skills/

28.
 Better practice
 Modeling
 Fast and Quality Feedback
 Build a Culture of Practice
 Utilize the skills

29.
 Identify your training goals
 Make a plan
 Encode success
 Normalize error
 Come up with a name

30.
 Call your shots
 “Get a whistle”, correct immediately
 Correct, don’t criticize
 Don’t teach during the game, practice
 Save the discussions till after the exercises

31.
 Measure success
 Now discuss the exercise
 Utilize the skills

32.
 White-boarding
 Coding under pressure
 Solving puzzle problems
 Language/Framework
 “What’s your greatest weakness?”
 Take Home Projects
 Dressing appropriately
 Active listening
 Computer Science-y things
(Check out https://interviewing.io/)

33.
 Skills are important and neglected
 Deliberate Practice is the most effective way to advance skills
 We can do this!

34.
 Code Wars
 Project Euler
 Hacker Rank
 Regex Crossword
 The GIT Game
 UVA Online Judge
 {Your next side project here?}

35.
 https://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=362858
 https://www.ybrikman.com/writing/2013/09/29/the-10x-developer-is-not-myth/
 https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/179616/a-good-programmer-can-be-as-10x-times-more-
productive-than-a-mediocre-one
 http://www.construx.com/10x_Software_Development/Origins_of_10X_%E2%80%93_How_Valid_is_the_Underlying_R
esearch_/
 https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-innate-talent-a-myth/
 https://dotnetmeditations.com/blog/2016/12/21/my-deliberate-practice-plan-to-become-a-better-programmer
 https://www.huffingtonpost.com/amol-sarva/talent-is-a-myth_b_6793870.html
 https://www.codingblocks.net
 https://www.codingblocks.net/slack
 https://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/team-field-goals-attempted-per-game/2016/
 https://www.psychologytoday.com/files/u81/Ericsson__Roring__and_Nandagopal__2007_.pdf
 https://www.scotthyoung.com/learnonsteroids/KqreouDIUIO324jlnlkjlkj3r24SFJj32532jLJBAqxcc-
Apr/DeliberatePractice-GettingStarted.pdf

36.
Joe Zack
joe@codingblocks.net
@codingblocks
Mostly a Podcast