1 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:16,510 So in this short lecture, I'm going to explain how you as the student should navigate this course. 2 00:00:17,020 --> 00:00:22,210 This is something which didn't exist in my older courses and doesn't exist at all in other courses. 3 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:23,800 So this may be new for you. 4 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:28,360 For this course, there is a wide range of difficulty from topic to topic. 5 00:00:28,900 --> 00:00:33,920 For this reason, I've designated some lectures and some sections by their level, which can be either 6 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:36,310 a beginner, intermediate or advanced. 7 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:41,830 Obviously, beginner content is the easiest, whereas intermediate is a bit more difficult. 8 00:00:42,100 --> 00:00:44,050 Well, advanced is the most difficult. 9 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:49,930 So please watch out for these designations, which will be in the titles of either the lectures or full 10 00:00:49,930 --> 00:00:52,210 sections, typically in parentheses. 11 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:56,950 For example, the cypher description section is denoted as advanced. 12 00:00:57,730 --> 00:01:02,200 Now, the reason I've done this is sometimes I encounter beginner students who bite off more than they 13 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:02,830 can chew. 14 00:01:03,130 --> 00:01:08,680 And as a result, they become frustrated when the content is too difficult for their current abilities. 15 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,080 Of course, there is no need for that. 16 00:01:11,500 --> 00:01:15,670 Simply be more aware of your abilities and accept yourself as you are. 17 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:21,550 As a teacher, I always encourage you to improve your skills such that you'll be able to handle more 18 00:01:21,550 --> 00:01:22,690 advanced content. 19 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:28,210 But one thing you should not try to do is to tackle an advanced topic when you are not at that stage 20 00:01:28,210 --> 00:01:28,870 in your journey. 21 00:01:30,220 --> 00:01:35,800 I don't want you to hope for or expect that the advanced content will somehow be explained in a so-called 22 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:41,470 intuitive way such that you can understand it even if you don't have the prerequisite skills. 23 00:01:42,130 --> 00:01:47,740 Now, unfortunately, these designations are somewhat arbitrary because nobody can really agree on precisely 24 00:01:48,130 --> 00:01:51,340 what skills are considered beginner, intermediate or advanced. 25 00:01:51,790 --> 00:01:56,440 Therefore, it may take some trial and error on your part, and you'll have to adjust as needed. 26 00:01:56,980 --> 00:02:02,110 So, for example, if you try some intermediate content but it's too difficult for you, then clearly 27 00:02:02,110 --> 00:02:04,870 the advanced content will be even more difficult. 28 00:02:09,330 --> 00:02:12,870 At the same time, advanced students will get the most out of this course. 29 00:02:13,380 --> 00:02:18,060 That's simply because they'll have the abilities to understand all of the content, from beginner to 30 00:02:18,060 --> 00:02:19,590 intermediate to advanced. 31 00:02:20,250 --> 00:02:25,410 So not only the advanced content is for the advanced students, but all the content is for the advanced 32 00:02:25,410 --> 00:02:25,980 students. 33 00:02:26,550 --> 00:02:31,530 In this sense, advanced doesn't mean you already know the content, since at that point, taking this 34 00:02:31,530 --> 00:02:32,760 course would be pointless. 35 00:02:33,150 --> 00:02:38,010 Advanced really means you are mentally prepared to handle the more challenging tasks. 36 00:02:38,670 --> 00:02:42,510 Conversely, beginner doesn't mean your new and unfamiliar with these topics. 37 00:02:42,780 --> 00:02:48,840 It simply means you are not mentally prepared, so you should use that as motivation to get yourself 38 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:50,190 to an advanced level. 39 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:56,040 If you are not there yet, a lot of the time, this is simply due to your experience level. 40 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,470 This is not something I can give to you. 41 00:02:58,530 --> 00:03:01,110 It's simply something you have to cultivate yourself. 42 00:03:01,740 --> 00:03:06,300 Nothing I can give you will replace the simple act of practice in gaining experience. 43 00:03:06,780 --> 00:03:07,950 I would, if I could. 44 00:03:07,950 --> 00:03:12,400 But maturity and experience are things you must earn, but that you cannot take. 45 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,790 For example, some projects in this course will simply require a good amount of coding. 46 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:21,300 Some people are good at this and some people not so good. 47 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:27,030 But luckily, it's a skill that anyone can cultivate as long as they work hard and have patience. 48 00:03:27,570 --> 00:03:32,850 So you may not understand complex code today, but with more practice and experience, you will. 49 00:03:33,690 --> 00:03:37,260 At that point, the more advanced content will feel more accessible. 50 00:03:38,700 --> 00:03:43,680 Note that some lectures and sections have no designation, so you can feel free to watch any of that 51 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:45,600 content, regardless of your level. 52 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:51,390 At the same time, remember to pace yourself and remember that there might simply be some things which 53 00:03:51,390 --> 00:03:52,290 you do not know. 54 00:03:53,220 --> 00:03:56,570 In those cases, you should use the Q&A to ask for help. 55 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:06,110 Now, while there are prerequisites to this course, realize that they are not the be all and end all. 56 00:04:06,950 --> 00:04:12,920 Sometimes you might meet the prerequisites but simply lack practice and experience applying those prerequisites. 57 00:04:13,580 --> 00:04:17,390 So as an example, Python coding is a prerequisite to this course. 58 00:04:17,779 --> 00:04:20,329 But clearly, there are varying levels of expertise. 59 00:04:20,959 --> 00:04:25,940 At the same time, we can't say something like must have five years of experience in Python, because 60 00:04:25,940 --> 00:04:27,050 that wouldn't make sense. 61 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:32,450 Some people have been coding for 10 years who are not very good, and some people have been coding for 62 00:04:32,450 --> 00:04:34,760 six months and are already very good. 63 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,800 So it's not time that matters, but rather mental preparedness and maturity. 64 00:04:40,490 --> 00:04:45,020 At the same time, you shouldn't be alarmed because there is still content in the course for you to 65 00:04:45,020 --> 00:04:46,850 complete, no matter your level. 66 00:04:47,840 --> 00:04:53,210 So if you find that there is any content in the course that seems beyond your reach, simply cultivate 67 00:04:53,210 --> 00:04:55,160 your skills and come back at a later time. 68 00:04:56,210 --> 00:05:01,010 Remember that you have this course forever, so there is no rush to complete all the lectures at once.