What are the most effective ways to learn new IT skills online?

Personally, I prefer experimentation and documentation. I want to uncover as much as I can by myself and have materials to leverage or lean on when I get stuck. Placing too firm of guard rails can deter learning or have users "check out" and simply check a box.

Games are an effective way to learn IT skills. There are a variety of games that teach while allowing you to practice. Find some great games here https://github.com/myramade/Code_Games

I prefer hands-on exercises and good documentation with examples. I often need to learn a new skill, technology, or application quickly on the job. Documentation that is searchable and includes examples for things like scripting to be the most helpful. I learn when I need to apply new skills to my work at hand, and with different examples, most of the time, I can learn and meet the assignment's needs.

Online learning chunked out by topic is very helpful in upskilling me to meet new requirements. Often I already know the basics, and having to take an entire course to get to the information that I need to learn can be frustrating. Companies that offer both courses and certification tracks find I will use them more often. It allows me to jump to my current focus and then if I decide to pursue a certification, the completed courses are applied tot he certification path.

I find it challenging to meet others who can relate to my job's full aspect. However, I have found experts in certain fields that post helpful and instructive in their blogs. I will follow them as they usually know about upcoming updates/capabilities for the platforms I support. This is one way I work to learn and stay current on best practices.

Yes, finding a way to apply new concepts to my existing work is essential. For example, in web applications, courses like to use an online shopping site as the example. I focus more on the concepts I'm learning and determine the ones I can translate to my application to enhance its capabilities, UI, scalability, etc.

"The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you," said B.B. King. By consistently keeping up with the trends and updates, you can ensure your skills remain relevant and competitive in the fast-evolving IT landscape. In my experience, leveraging platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offers access to up-to-date courses and tutorials. Follow industry blogs, join tech forums, and subscribe to newsletters for the latest developments. One effective practice is to participate in online communities and discussion groups where you can exchange knowledge and insights with peers. A common mistake is relying solely on outdated resources.

I often google for best practices, especially if it is on a technology I last worked with a while ago. Those that I find valid and valuable, will incorporate into my team's standards and apply them during updates.

To deepen my knowledge of new skills, trying to share or teach them to another is a good way to retain and even expand my knowledge since others learn differently than I do. Another way that I learn something is by experimenting and failing. Working through the issue, while initially time-consuming, teaches me more and sticks with me much longer than when I get things right on the first try. Past troubleshooting experience (even on a different technology) is always helpful when troubleshooting some new issue.

Start by identifying reputable online learning platforms or courses that align with your learning objectives, ensuring they offer a comprehensive curriculum and expert instruction. Supplement theoretical knowledge with practical application through coding exercises, projects, or simulations to reinforce learning and develop proficiency. Additionally, stay updated with emerging trends and technologies by following industry blogs, attending webinars, and participating in hackathons or online competitions.

Instead of immediately looking for someone "with more experience" to resolve a problem, take a step back and try to look at the problem from a different perspective and, if necessary, work through the problem piece by piece. This applies to real-world problems or instructor-led or online course exercises. When I don't get it right the first time, I walk through the steps one at a time until I can find where I missed something. It gets me to focus on the details, which can often be overlooked.