If you want to learn Python or improve your skills, a detailed plan can help you gauge your current status and navigate toward a target goal. This tutorial will help you craft a personal Python learning roadmap so you can track your progress and stay accountable to your goals and timeline:
The steps in this tutorial are useful for Python developers and learners of all experience levels. While you may be eager to start learning, you might want to set aside an hour or two to outline a plan, especially if you already know your learning goals. If you don’t yet have clear goals, consider spreading that reflection over a few shorter sessions across several days to clarify your direction.
Before you start, gather a few practical tools to support building your plan. This might include a notebook, a calendar or planner (digital or physical), a list of projects or goals you want to work toward, and any Python books or online resources you plan to use.
You can download a Personal Python Learning Roadmap cheat sheet to help you create your plan by clicking the link below:
Get Your Cheat Sheet: Click here to download your free personal Python learning roadmap cheat sheet PDF.
This tutorial will guide you through the planning process, starting with clarifying what you want to achieve and why. From there, you’ll map out the practical steps that will turn your goals into a realistic, actionable roadmap.
Step 1: Define Your Goals and Motivation
To create an effective learning roadmap, you first need to know what you want to achieve and what your motivation is. For this step, you’ll consider the following reflection prompt:
What do I want to accomplish with Python, and why?
Taking the time to answer this question sets the foundation for every decision you’ll make as you build your roadmap.
Define Your Goals
Start by deciding what you want to accomplish with Python, then write it down. Research shows that this small step can make a meaningful difference. In a study conducted by psychology researcher Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University of California, participants who wrote down their goals were significantly more likely to achieve them than those who didn’t.
If you’re not sure yet about your goals, here are some questions for you to consider:
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Are there specific projects—or types of projects—that you’d like to work on? For example, data analysis, game development, or building a web app.
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In what context or setting would you like to use your Python skills? For example, at work, in school, or as part of a personal interest or side project.
Remember to write these answers down either in your notebook or on the Personal Python Learning Roadmap cheat sheet included in this tutorial’s downloads. Having them written down will provide helpful context as you continue formulating your roadmap.
Determine Your Motivation
Once you have a general goal in mind, think about why you want to achieve it. Your motivation plays a key role in whether you’ll stick with your plan over time. As clinical psychology professor Dr. Jennifer Crawford explains:
If we don’t care about why we’re doing [a goal], then it makes it really difficult to stick with that new behavior.
— Dr. Jennifer Crawford
She also encourages goal-setters to ask how their goals connect with something that’s important to them.
This idea is echoed by psychology professor Angela Duckworth in her book Grit, where she emphasizes that a strong sense of purpose helps you persevere when you encounter obstacles that might otherwise derail your progress.
Some possible reasons behind your “why” might include:
- A personal interest or a love of learning
- A desire to start or advance a career in software development
- A goal of earning a computer science degree
- An interest in volunteering your skills—for example, creating a Python application that supports a cause you care about
As you consider your motivation, see if you can dive deeper into the root of your reasons. A deeper look can add even more meaning and staying power to your goals. For example:
