Much of the online learning content for software engineers falls into the category of ‘introductory content’. This introductory content helps to broaden your knowledge, which is one necessary dimension of learning. However, it must also be supplemented with other modes of learning.
Some forms of introductory content - like videos, podcasts, newsletters, and blog articles - are strictly passive. They tell you facts and ideas, and all they ask of you in return is to passively watch, listen, or read. You could take notes as well to help your recall, but it is still a mostly passive activity.
Other forms of introductory content are more interactive - like tutorials and courses. They ask you to do some work as you follow along. But, they still follow a very simple, shallow, guided path - with exact steps and predetermined outcomes.
Even boot camps and introductory college courses fall mostly into the category of introductory learning. They require much more hands on work than other introductory content, and there is more chance of getting stuck or failing. But, they still provide a very narrowly prescribed, guided path, with a clear pass or fail criteria.
All of this introductory content helps to broaden your knowledge. It serves a valuable purpose, and can help you to grow your career, as long as you understand the limited scope. This mode of learning will broaden your horizons, but it will never make you a highly skilled expert. It’s a good starting point, but not the complete journey.
Early in your career, much of your learning will fall into this ‘introductory content’ category. But, you should learn to use other learning modes regularly as well. Later in your career, you may still find introductory content helpful at times, but more often you’ll reach for the other modes.
Read more about the other modes of learning for software engineers:
- [[Four modes of learning in software engineering]]
- [[Learning Mode 2 - Deepen Your Knowledge By Reading Books and Documentation]]
- [[Learning Mode 3 - Deepen Your Knowledge By Reading Code]]
- [[Learning Mode 4 - Build Your Skill by Writing Code]]
- [[Break Out of Tutorial Hell and Overcome Impostor Syndrome]]