In my experience, one thing that can make the path feel more progressive and monotonic is having a set of problems that need to be solved, with a wide range of difficulties. This provides consistent short-term gratification while also providing long-term gratification and utility.
For me, as an earth scientist, there have always been small calculations or simulations that are quite valuable, even though they are not overly difficult or complex. This provided the motivation to learn basic Matlab. As my skills and ambition grew, and I learned new languages and techniques, the class of problems that I wanted to solve grew in scope and complexity. I also learned to recognize new problems and their probable solutions as my tools developed. Programming changed the way I look at the earth, and at statistics, personal finance and a range of other things in which quantification is enlightening.
In contrast, I have had a hard time picking up new languages or programming paradigms when I don't have an immediate need. I've spent time mucking around on various 'learn to code' websites, and read and sometimes completed tutorials on databases or Haskell or whatever, but it feels very different: meandering, non-essential, hard to gauge in scope (how much do I need to know to be useful, how deep is the water really), hard to link up to the rest of my life. Programming for me is a powerful and enjoyable means to many ends, but not something that I am inclined to do for its own sake.
I think if I had said, "I want to learn to program so I can build web apps" without actually having a simple and truly useful web app that needed to be built, I would very quickly move on. If I had said, "I want to learn to program so I can find a new job that pays more money" I would stick with it for a bit longer but it would be incredibly frustrating, because it doesn't seem like there is a very straight path without formal guidance (such as going to school of some sort).
I suspect many people feel the same, but I don't necessarily know how smaller, less formal education systems can work on that. Students always need some amount of self-motivation, and useful results are a long ways off in some areas.
For me, as an earth scientist, there have always been small calculations or simulations that are quite valuable, even though they are not overly difficult or complex. This provided the motivation to learn basic Matlab. As my skills and ambition grew, and I learned new languages and techniques, the class of problems that I wanted to solve grew in scope and complexity. I also learned to recognize new problems and their probable solutions as my tools developed. Programming changed the way I look at the earth, and at statistics, personal finance and a range of other things in which quantification is enlightening.
In contrast, I have had a hard time picking up new languages or programming paradigms when I don't have an immediate need. I've spent time mucking around on various 'learn to code' websites, and read and sometimes completed tutorials on databases or Haskell or whatever, but it feels very different: meandering, non-essential, hard to gauge in scope (how much do I need to know to be useful, how deep is the water really), hard to link up to the rest of my life. Programming for me is a powerful and enjoyable means to many ends, but not something that I am inclined to do for its own sake.
I think if I had said, "I want to learn to program so I can build web apps" without actually having a simple and truly useful web app that needed to be built, I would very quickly move on. If I had said, "I want to learn to program so I can find a new job that pays more money" I would stick with it for a bit longer but it would be incredibly frustrating, because it doesn't seem like there is a very straight path without formal guidance (such as going to school of some sort).
I suspect many people feel the same, but I don't necessarily know how smaller, less formal education systems can work on that. Students always need some amount of self-motivation, and useful results are a long ways off in some areas.