#117 Learning How to Learn with 100Devs Founder Leon Noel
Mar 28, 2024
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Quincy interviews Leon Noel, Founder of 100Devs and head of engineering at Resilient Coders, discussing his journey from startup success to helping people learn to code through 100Devs charity. Topics include dropping out of Yale, involvement with Resilient Coders, building a Discord server for coders, and the importance of community support in tech education.
Growth mindset crucial in coding journey, okay to write bad code initially, practice and perseverance emphasized
100 Devs provides free software engineering training program addressing pandemic-induced unemployment, enables career growth in tech
Guidance through 'Trough of Sorrow' with focus on managing frustration, consistency, and self-care, fostering resilience in coding journey
Cohort-based learning with live engagement and peer support creates dynamic educational experience, emphasizes community collaboration for skill development
Active recall and spaced repetition techniques vital in coding learning process, practical job readiness skills prioritized over coding knowledge
Advocacy for inclusive hiring practices, partnerships with organizations supporting diverse talent pipelines to promote diversity and skill development
Deep dives
Building a Supportive Community and Embracing Imperfection
In 100 devs, the focus is on supporting individuals through their coding journey, acknowledging that writing code is a challenging process that involves trial and error. They encourage a growth mindset by accepting that it's okay to write bad code initially and stress the importance of practice and perseverance. Through live streams and Discord interactions, they cultivate a supportive community where participants help each other overcome frustrations and learn from mistakes. This approach aims to demystify coding and create an inclusive learning environment.
Addressing Pandemic Challenges Through Skill Development
During the pandemic, 100 devs saw an opportunity to address the rising unemployment rates, particularly in communities of color. By offering a free live software engineering training program, they aimed to equip individuals with the skills needed to secure high-growth careers in tech. This initiative responds to the economic challenges brought by the pandemic and provides a pathway for individuals to pursue a stable and rewarding career in software engineering.
Navigating the Trough of Sorrow with Consistency and Self-Care
The program guides participants through the 'Trough of Sorrow' in the learning process, where frustration and setbacks are common. Emphasizing the importance of managing frustration, consistency, and self-care, 100 devs helps learners stay motivated and resilient throughout their coding journey. By providing live interactions, positive peer pressure, and a supportive atmosphere, they enable individuals to overcome obstacles and progress steadily towards their coding goals.
Leveraging Live Engagement and Peer Support for Success
100 devs leverages live engagement, peer support, and cohort-based learning to foster a dynamic and interactive educational experience. By hosting twice-weekly live streams, offering Discord interactions, and emphasizing the value of community collaboration, participants benefit from real-time guidance, positive reinforcement, and mutual learning opportunities. This blend of online resources and peer interactions creates an environment where individuals can thrive, learn from each other, and progress together in their coding skills.
100 Devs Cohort Structure and Support
100 Devs operates on a cohort basis focusing on live classes twice a week on Twitch, covering review sessions and new material, with additional support through office hours. Each cohort member is expected to dedicate 10 to 20 hours weekly for networking and job-related tasks, emphasizing a focus on practical job readiness skills over just coding knowledge.
Flexibility in Learning Pace and Engagement
For learners unable to participate in live classes, the Catch Up Crew option allows self-paced progression through classes on Discord, fostering group interactions and shared learning experiences. Additionally, outside of cohorts, regular huddles provide opportunities for real-time support and sharing job search experiences and negotiations.
Importance of Active Recall and Space Repetition in Learning
Addressing challenges in learning to code, understanding the importance of active recall and space repetition techniques becomes essential. Active recall involves verbalizing and recalling learned information regularly, enhancing retention and comprehension. Space repetition tools like Anki aid in recalling information when needed most, improving long-term retention crucial for a progressive career.
Community Engagement and Networking Strategies
100 Devs advocates for community-driven initiatives where learners engage with real companies to gain practical experience. Emphasizing building authority through niche content creation, learners are encouraged to engage on social media platforms and participate in projects for global remote companies to enhance visibility and networking opportunities. The model focuses on practical work experience alongside traditional learning methods for holistic skill development.
Future Initiative '100 Devs Agency Model'
Looking ahead, '100 Devs' envisions launching an agency model that provides real-world project opportunities from partnering companies to learners, allowing them to earn while learning and gain practical experience. This initiative aims to address time constraints and financial barriers by providing a structured pathway for learners to acquire skills and experience simultaneously, fostering equitable access to career opportunities.
Inclusive Hiring Practices and Partnerships
100 Devs highlights the importance of company champions advocating for inclusive hiring practices to establish equitable workforces. Building partnerships with organizations supporting diverse talent pipelines and community collaborations aid in creating opportunities for underrepresented groups in the tech industry, promoting diversity and skill development within the workforce.
Vision for Expanding Access and Removing Learning Barriers
The organization aims to remove barriers to learning coding by offering practical work opportunities with compensation through a structured agency model. By providing real-world project experiences integrated with learning, learners can overcome financial constraints and time limitations while gaining valuable skills and insights. Aiming to bridge accessibility gaps and enhance job readiness, 100 Devs focuses on promoting inclusive skill development and career growth.
Encouraging Community Support and Giving Back
The philosophy of 'Send the elevator back down' underscores the importance of alumni supporting future learners by creating pathways for success. Nurturing collaboration, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing within the community enables a cycle of mutual support and growth, fostering a culture of empowerment and collective advancement.
Commitment to Skill Enhancement and Practical Experience
100 Devs prioritizes skill enhancement through real-world project engagement, emphasizing practical experience alongside theoretical learning. By integrating paid project work and skill-building opportunities, learners can gain hands-on experience and build authority in their chosen niches, fostering holistic career development and job readiness in the tech industry.
On this week's episode of the podcast, freeCodeCamp Founder Quincy Larson interviews Leon Noel, founder of 100Devs and head of engineering at Resilient Coders. Growing up, Leon had it drilled into him that he had to become a doctor, lawyer, or dentist. But his ambitions grew and he went on to have an exciting career in tech. After a successful exit from a startup, Leon wanted to help folks who were struggling during the pandemic. He started 100Devs, a charity which has helped 10,000s of people learn to code. We talk about:
dropping out of Yale
getting into the selective Tech Stars startup accelerator
Getting involved with Resilient Coders, a charity that helps court-involved youth learn coding
Starting 100Devs and building a Discord server with 60,000 people learning to code together
Quincy recorded this podcast live and hasn't edited it at all. We want to capture the feel of a real live conversation, with all the human quirks that entails. Can you guess what song he's playing on my bass during the intro? It's his arrangement of the intro to a 1990s cartoon. Be sure to follow The freeCodeCamp podcast in your favorite podcast app. And share this podcast with a friend. Let's inspire more folks to learn to code and build careers for themselves in tech. Also, we want to thank the 8,427 kind people who support our charity each month, and who make this podcast possible. You can join them and support our mission at: https://www.freecodecamp.org/donate Links we talk about during the interview:
The video that changed Leon's life on Spaced Repetition, by Ali Abdaal: https://youtu.be/Z-zNHHpXoMM
The official Anki app, which is free on web / desktop and doesn’t lock you into a subscription. Leon's advice: "Only create cards on one device, but review on any to save you from weird syncing issues." https://apps.ankiweb.net
Dr. Barbara Oakley’s Learn How to Learn course, which Leon calls "a masterpiece": https://coursera.org/learn/learning-how-to-learn
