E.g. when learning one should not also need to implement something new. As an example making tic-tac-toe or a calculator or bubble sort are all tried and true

E.g. when learning one should not also need to implement something new. As an example making tic-tac-toe or a calculator or bubble sort are all tried and true exercises which you can find plenty of prior art on to compare and contrast your solution with. Perhaps too many people don't try something because "it's been done to death".