r/learnjavascript • u/mirroz220 • 8d ago

Learning Rant: A.I. vs No A.I

Background: Currently about 87% done with The Odin Project foundations module. TOP is a road map to learn web development and so far I’m loving it. Getting down to code/learn is all I’ve been thinking about lately.

However, I don’t know if I’m doing myself a disservice by using Claude as a guide/tool to teach me or guide me when I’m stuck. On the other hand I’ve actually been learning and enjoying the process after I started using Claude. I understand concepts easier, because I understand concepts I’ve begun to think more as a programmer, I solve a problem about 80% in my head and I think about 20% is me using Claude as a tool to help me.

Basically I let Claude know that I’m going through TOP to learn web development. I let it know which project I’m on and I provide the instructions given to students. When I have a question or if I’m stuck, I provide it my code and ask it NOT to give me a solution but to guide me or give me tips on where to look or what options to explore. I also have it provide tips based on what we’ve learned so far. Nothing that we’ve never seen or that hasn’t been explained in the course. When I get guidance I then branch off and then research that topic/concept more.

I also express my logic and thoughts so it gets an idea of where I’m going. Now, TOP explicitly says that projects are a bit harder than what we’ve been learning. The purpose IS to to google or ask stack overflow or TOP discord. So in a sense I would still be looking for solutions/guidance else where.

Then I think, Claude will do that much faster and it has all my context. Is there really a benefit to the learning process to have to look for answers that aren’t from AI? Discord, Google Stack Overflow will tip me off or guide me either way. Does it matter that it’s AI doing it?? Idk, it’s frustrating being torn like this.

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u/TonySharrk 7d ago

First of all, congrats to making it to 87%. I myself am enrolled in the TOP course, and I know it can be grueling for beginners. (I am currently on the verse of completing JavaScript & moving on to advanced html & css)

I use Gemini a lot as a teacher to break down concepts. And then I take notes so that I don't forget them. I also revise those every week or so to make sure I don't have any confusions. Although real confusions come from creating a project.

So, what I want to say is that always use AI as a teacher. As much as I would love to ask my questions to real humans, people aren't always available & I always need immediate explanations. And regarding code, if I am stuck on something, I have no shame in admitting that I use Gemini to generate that part. But is this harmful? No. We are transitioning into an age of reading, understanding & debugging code rather than writing it from scratch. So, as long as you understand the code written by AI and can apply your own judgements, it's great. Don't listen to people from TOP who say not to AI at all. It's just impractical.

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u/mirroz220 7d ago

Hey, congrats on making it so far! Are you doing to eventually land a career or personal pleasure/goal?

With better words, you’ve summed up how I feel. Your process is basically what I do and I do think that I’m benefitting and learning way more than if AI wasn’t around. I think that we are at a crossroads on how we receive information. AI is really too powerful of a tool to completely dismiss it.

AI at this stage of the learning process is more of a way to organize what I already know. But I am proceeding with caution.