Learning & reading hard copies vs soft

I am trying to learn objective C so that I can help write some programs/applications for the iPhone.  I don’t have much of a programming language, so when I was reading documentation on it, well, it literally was a foreign language to me and I was totally lost.  I downloaded some sample assignment and was attempting to do it.  However, I just was not able to, even thought probably anyone else out there with half a programming brain could do it in a few minutes.  I tried searching for help online, but when you don’t know what to search for because you don’t know the vocabulary, it makes it hard to search.

So, I finally gave up and looked for a book online.  I downloaded it (no I didn’t steal it, it was free) and I also printed up a lot of documentation and bound them like books.  So, now I have hundreds of pages to go through to learn.  Whether or not I actually learn it or become proficient, I believe these hard copies on paper and books are my best way of learning, not by reading things online.  I don’t know why, but for me, reading online is not as effective for me as it is on paper.  Why?  No clue.  Is it because there are too many distractions on the computer?  I don’t know.  I just know that when I sit at my desk and just read a book, it sinks in that much better.  Its funny because I actually enjoy reading a newspaper more than I do searching news sites online.  Is it the same effect?

I think that when I actually get down to learning this new language, I will sit at a desk or my bed and just read, with my laptop on in case there is an assignment to do.  Then I can look back and forth.  That to me is just the most effective way for me.  I wrote earlier that I had taken some online classes, and while the teacher was good, its just not the same for me.  I cannot learn online.  I have to do it in person, in the class.  Am I just old school?  Probably.  But, there are a lot of people my age who can do things online, so its not strictly a “I grew  up that way” thing.  Guess some people are just different than others and for me, old fashioned books on paper and teachers in person in a classroom is my cup of tea.  That being said, I think outside of actually taking an actual class at a school for objective C, I am giving myself the best chance I can in learning it with this hard copy documentation.  That and with the help of my friend, let’s hope I succeed and do not hold back my friend!