Last month we looked at Microlearning, which is really a presentation methodology for providing information in a format that encourages us to continuously upgrade our technical skills.
This month’s blog addresses a closely related subject – where do we go to find technical updates?
Next month we’ll look into another related topic – the rise of non-technical careers in our tech-driven world.
But for now, let’s stay in the tech-world itself.
In today’s fast-paced digital age, staying updated on current technology trends is not just a luxury but a necessity.
Statements like that are so ubiquitous these days they have become clichés – but where do we look for this information?
It’s important to state that the suggestions given below will enable you to stay abreast of developments, but they will not provide in-depth knowledge of anything. Acquiring such knowledge will require much greater levels of study.
The next point is to ensure you consume information broadly – not just in your particular areas of interest – for at least two reasons:
- Your need to stay abreast of the latest technological developments is aimed at future-proofing your business – who knows where you will be next year, much less in five years’ time?
- You need to keep your peers close and your competitors closer.
Some examples of where you should be looking:
- Read tech blogs and news sites – such reputable sites as TechCrunch or Tech Blog. These sites carry information on the latest developments.
- Subscribe to newsletters. Most tech companies generate regular newsletters – get on their mailing list.
- Listen to podcasts and watch YouTube channels. These forms of information are particularly suited for consumption during commuter times – sitting in your bus/train/Uber doesn’t have to be downtime.
- Attend conferences and workshops. Most specialties hold conferences at least annually and they usually also offer workshops where you can acquire firsthand knowledge of new technologies.
- Join online forums and groups. Such platforms as Reddit provide an opportunity to learn and exchange information with like-minded people. Linkedin provides other professional networking facilities.
- Set up alerts with sites like Google Alerts which provide notifications whenever new content matching your specified keywords is published online.
- Don’t be afraid to ask the experts. There are lots of marketing, technology and industry consultants out there who can provide tailored guidance.
Adopting a few mental approaches will facilitate your task of staying up to date technically:
- Cultivate a mindset of continuous learning. This is something everyone says, and it is so easy to say – but developing such a mindset is never easy. It requires dedication, focus and lots of practice.
- Set aside dedicated time. You should commit a specific amount of time every week for these upskilling activities.
- Finally, and most importantly, be consistent. You can’t undertake these activities just when you feel like it – it requires on-going dedication.
Remember that staying updated on technology is a lifelong activity – get started – and good luck.