1. Continuous Learning for the Modern Age
Peter Shore
SQL Saturday Nashville

2. About Me SQL Server Database Administrator - RDX
Intentionally Accidental DBA
Over 20 years IT experience
Server Engineer
Desktop Engineer
Network Infrastructure
Desk side support
President CBusPASS
Co-Organizer SQL Saturday Columbus
How to find me

3. Specialize in remote database administration, operating system, and enterprise application support services
24x7, 100% onshore support across all major database platforms including SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Oracle Applications, and DB2
Full suite of Microsoft Business Intelligence and Database Activity Monitoring services available
Currently support hundreds of customers and thousands of databases daily

4. Continuous Learning
“As IT professionals, our second most critical skill is our ability to learn. (The first is our ability to communicate effectively.)” – David Maxwell
“If you do not like to learn new things, IT might not be right career for you.” – Peter Shore

5. Continuous Learning Cognitivism Constructivism
Theoretical framework for understanding the mind
Often used to describe how we learn
Constructivism
Theory of education
Philosophical viewpoint regarding the nature of knowledge

6. Continuous Learning We learn each day Often learn without realizing it
Most learning is not formalized
Formalized learning is any learning that follows a plan
Research for a project
Web based course
Certification training
Scholarly classes (aka you are in school)
Self designed

7. Continuous Learning What should I be learning?
How do I know what to learn?
How do I balance learning for my job vs. the job I want?

8. Continuous Learning Job needs Next job needs Emerging technologies
Operational Break/Fix
Projects
Skills that do not exist
Next job needs
Job postings
Recruiters
Interests
Emerging technologies
Emerging technologies
Keynotes
Build
Ignite
Pass Summit
New features
SQL Server
PowerBI
Azure PaaS

9. Continuous Learning Learning Styles Reading Listening Watching Doing
Previously – different people learn in different ways
Reality – people learn different things in different ways
Reading
Listening
Watching
Doing

10. Continuous Learning Plan Formal Semi-formal Throw it to the wind
Specific concepts
Specific targets within those concepts
Timeline or order
Semi-formal
Concepts you want to learn
General targets
Minimal timelines
Throw it to the wind

11. Continuous Learning What resources are needed? Environment
Local hardware
Desktop, Laptop, Server
Physical or Virtual
Specs do not need to be like prod
Acquire from
Criagslist
eBay
Auctions
Cloud
IaaS
PaaS

12. Continuous Learning What resources are needed? SoftwareOS
Linux is free
Windows 10 Pro/Enterprise, reasonable chance you have this
Windows Server
180 Day Trail
MSDN
SQL Server
PowerBI
BE MINDFULL OF LEGAL LICENSING

13. Continuous Learning What resources are needed? Data
Not required to use AdventureWorks or WorldWide Importers
Find a dataset that meets your needs
Data.gov
CDC
Census
Various APIs
Stock data
Sports Data

14. Continuous Learning What resources are needed? Learning Resources
Blogs
Vendor documentation
Twitter
#SQLHelp Hashtag
#SQLFamily Hashtag
Microsoft Learn
Books
Pluralsight

15. Continuous Learning Other Resources User Groups Virtual User Groups
SQL Saturday
Conferences
PASS Summit
Dev Intersection/SQL Intersection
DogFood Con
Azure DataFest
Enterprise Data World

16. Management of your learning and your career is up to YOU!
Questions?