Member-only story
Think of Learning Tech As an Apprenticeship Model
Think of Tech Learning As an Apprenticeship Model
I think it’s helpful to think of entering tech as an apprenticeship model. I’m frequently trying to explain how tech is not like traditional school. You don’t need to know anything before you begin. You just begin. It’s smart to have a more senior person who has experience to walk you through the steps, but this can come in a lot of forms; books, courses, bootcamps. What matters more is that you actually do the work.
Think of a doctor during her residency. What is a residency? It’s really just the doctor practicing skills again and again. That’s the whole point. Apprenticeship. Watch. Learn. Do. In tech, when you are starting down a path, the first thing you should do is creating a learning plan. High-level for 3-month and then as much detail as you can for the week. If you have no idea where to begin, make an investment in someone who knows more than you so you can get started right away. Now, produce something. On day one. Have an output, a deliverable, a portfolio asset. Many of you might say, but my first go will not be portfolio ready. That’s okay. It’s a first draft. Now solicit feedback for her. Iterate on it. Do that again and by the third iteration it likely is portfolio ready.
