In the era of social distancing and remote work, those who no longer have travel plans and daily commutes find themselves with extra time on their hands. Many are taking this time to learn new professional skills and brush up old ones. But what are the best resources for tech pros looking for educational content?
We asked 14 members of Forbes Technology Council which online (and offline) resources they recommend other tech pros tap into. Try their recommendations if you’re interested in professional development during your downtime.
1. edX
Having completed a certificate program in data science on edX.org, I can vouch for the quality of both the content and the delivery platform. Most courses are free to audit, and there is an exceptionally wide variety of subjects offered by the world’s top educational institutions. Courses are suitable for everyone from beginners to experts. Learning is essential, and there are many other great resources like edX. - Gerald Morrison, SigmaSense LLC
2. E-Books And Pluralsight
My Kindle has been my best resource. I have tried to read as much as possible—all the things that I had put aside for later. Greater awareness and knowledge makes you a much better professional and a more well-rounded individual. You will quickly discover the skills you need and the actions you need to fill those gaps. I have also found Pluralsight to be a great resource for goal-oriented tech training. - Samiran Ghosh, Rockmetric
3. Coursera
I have personally found a few interesting courses offered on Coursera. There are several different options, not only for professional growth but also for personal growth. Since we invest so much time into our professional lives, I found the lockdown to be a fantastic opportunity to invest more in personal growth, such as time management and even mindfulness. - Amir Kotler, Veego Software
4. Cybrary
With the large number of unfilled positions in cybersecurity and the 40 million jobs that have gone away during the Covid-19 pandemic, there is no better time to make a transition into cybersecurity. Cybrary.it offers free online training, career maps and practice tests to help people get the skills and certifications needed to land a job in cybersecurity. - Terence Jackson, Thycotic
5. Online Conferences
Many small conferences and meetups have temporarily transitioned online, and often they are making their sessions free to watch. Without the burden of traveling, it is easier to carve out a few hours to hear from experts you might never see in person, and you can still gather a plethora of knowledge. - Luke Wallace, Bottle Rocket
6. Public Libraries
Not only is the public library a great source of e-books and audiobooks, but most memberships include a subscription to LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda.com), where you can brush up on skills like Web design, prototyping and UX. Additionally, as accessible alternatives to online classes, companies like Intercom, IDEO and InVision have podcasts where you’ll find “best-in-class” methods on how to revolutionize the user experience. - Cecile Lee, Trendalytics
7. A Cloud Guru
As businesses move more to the cloud to improve their capabilities and grow, cloud architecture skills are in demand. I have found A Cloud Guru to be an excellent resource for managers to stay up to date on the capabilities of the cloud. Also, hands-on developers can upskill with certification courses that prove the knowledge they have gained. - Glyn Roberts, iTechArt Group
8. Product Hunt
Product Hunt is a great resource for seeing what new apps and tools are being built and what’s trending. I recommend looking at these not necessarily from a user perspective but from a professional point of view to see how they are built, their UX/CX, value proposition, etc. Once you’ve identified what’s working for these products you can further hone your skills and products to match. - Robert Weissgraeber, AX Semantics
9. YouTube
YouTube is one of my greatest resources. It is truly the wealth of human knowledge, in full-motion videos that are searchable and easily consumed. Nothing compares to real people sharing wisdom and opinions for all to see and comment on. It’s what we should rely on as the default means of record-keeping. Nothing else compares. - Tom Roberto, Core Technology Solutions
10. Duolingo
I have been learning a new language on Duolingo since social distancing began. It is a free resource, and the platform is engaging and easy to use. I have found that spending an hour a day allows for significant progress in a relatively short time. I think it is a good idea to have a decent understanding of multiple languages since our world is becoming more interconnected than ever before. - Abishek Surana Rajendra, Course Hero
11. Codeacademy
Codeacademy has been helping me brush up on some of the newer coding languages out there, like React.js and AngularJS. Because I’m no longer involved in the daily development projects of my companies and manage them as a leader and CEO, I want to be sure to stay updated on what’s out there. Plus, it lets me flex my coding muscles a little, which is fun for me. - Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster
12. Volunteer Platforms
Don’t underestimate the value of real-world skill practice. I recommend using online resources to find opportunities to apply your skills for the greater good. VolunteerMatch or United Way can connect tech workers with deserving nonprofits in need of talented volunteers. Donating time and knowledge is a valuable way to apply tech skills to real-world projects and significantly benefit the community. - Shiv Sundar, Esper
13. Class Central
Online resources like edX and Class Central offer free courses from top universities, including Harvard, UC Berkeley and MIT. Taking this time to invest in education and training can have massive returns in the future. From introductory courses on marketing to ancient civilizations, there are tons of opportunities to learn from top institutions in your own home. - Ryan Chan, UpKeep Maintenance Management
14. Udemy
I am a big fan of Udemy. The courses in the platform cover many relevant topics, from finance and marketing to development and design. With a variety of options, one can become a more versatile worker and ultimately contribute to one’s company in a multidisciplinary manner. - Ashwini Choudhary, Recogni
