Continuous Learning for Developers

Continuous Learning for Developers

The world of technology never stops moving, and developers are frequently told that they have to be constantly learning in order to keep up. Entire industries are devoted to helping developers stay on the cutting edge, and they offer a multitude of options and formats: books, video, online interactive programs. There's live training, both on-site and remote, small groups and large, and mixes of all of the above. Your time is valuable, so how do you get the maximum return for your investment? You've probably heard about learning styles, but recent evidence indicates they're not as useful as previously believed. Preferences and ingrained habits have more effect on learning and retention than an inherent style.

In this session, you'll find out about learning engagement: what it is, and how to get there. Discover the internal and external blockers that people usually don't think about, and how to get them out of your way. I'll introduce to the various learning formats available, demonstrate how they map to learning styles, and provide advice on selecting the one that best fits your needs. You'll learn about practical considerations that go into choosing a learning format, and how to optimize them. Figure out how to tell when a learning product isn't working for you, and how to handle that.

Attendees will learn:
<ul><li>How to get and maintain engagement, the key to effective learning</li>
<li>Optimizing your environment and internal motivations for learning</li>
<li>How to identify the content format that works best for you </li>
<li>Evaluating whether your learning plan is working, and what to do if it's not</li></ul>

With a little planning, you can make continuous learning something to get excited about.