How to learn

Below are my learning steps with bitcoin/blockchain as an example:

1. Heard the keyword bitcoin and got curious, read a few webpages, understood very little. Wondered what the use of mining was.
2. Finally got the gist of it by watching But how does bitcoin actually work.
3. To undertand blockchain in more detail, started implementing a simple version of blockchain (in progress)
4. Review original paper, be able to follow research on the subject.
5. Review original source code.
6. Make improvements.

I use similar steps to learn AI. Last year I worked with an intern, this year a second intern is working on training openCV.

In general:

1. Understand the general concept by watching short (~15min) videos.
2. Know enough to define work for novices/interns.
3. Be able to use existing tools.
4. Be able to implement basic version.
5. Follow literature.
6. Make improvements.

This strategy makes sure that I always have something useful even when I do not reach the final step.