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Continuing Education at Work (RubyConf)

Katherine Wu
November 10, 2016

Continuing Education at Work (RubyConf)

Abstract:
The list of things we want to learn is infinite. How many of us have marked talks to watch, or books to read, yet have never gone back to them (until our browser crashes and we lose everything that was in an open tab)? Left to my own devices, I often only learn what I directly need in my work, despite the best of intentions. It wasn’t until I started running a couple lightweight continuing education programs at work that I followed through on my goals around continuing to expand my technical knowledge base. This talk will discuss setting up programs to finally get yourself reading those technical books and watching technical talks. We’ll discuss strategies for making these programs low maintenance and long-lived, as well as flexible enough to help both more and less experienced folks. If you’ve been looking for a more structured approach to self-education, this talk is for you!

This talk was presented at RubyConf 2016 in Cincinnati, ~43 minutes: https://youtu.be/9uRho69xSAI
Blog post: http://kwugirl.blogspot.com/2015/10/continuing-education-at-work-talk.html

Katherine Wu

November 10, 2016
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Transcript

  1. CONTINUING EDUCATION
    AT WORK
    Katherine Wu
    @kwugirl
    Software Engineer

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  2. @kwugirl
    PROGRAM OVERVIEWS
    WHY THIS IS A GOOD IDEA
    3 GENERAL PRINCIPLES
    PROGRAM DETAILS
    FINAL THOUGHTS

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  3. PROGRAM OVERVIEWS

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  4. @kwugirl
    technical
    book club
    PROGRAM OVERVIEWS >

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  5. @kwugirl
    PROGRAM OVERVIEWS > TECHNICAL BOOK CLUB

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  6. @kwugirl
    PROGRAM OVERVIEWS > TECHNICAL BOOK CLUB

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  7. @kwugirl
    LunchConf
    PROGRAM OVERVIEWS >

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  8. @kwugirl
    PROGRAM OVERVIEWS > LUNCHCONF

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  9. @kwugirl
    PROGRAM OVERVIEWS > LUNCHCONF
    …and more!

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  10. WHY THIS IS A
    GOOD IDEA

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  11. @kwugirl
    WHY GOOD IDEA >

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  12. @kwugirl
    “Book club gives me shiny hair
    and clear skin!” —someone

    WHY GOOD IDEA >

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  13. @kwugirl
    “Book club gives me shiny hair
    and clear skin!” —someone

    “In just 3 visits, LunchConf made
    me grow 2 inches taller!” 

    —someone else
    WHY GOOD IDEA >

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  14. @kwugirl
    “All of the learning,
    none of the stress!”
    WHY GOOD IDEA >

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  15. @kwugirl
    “Watching conference talks is a
    whole different experience when you
    get to talk about them afterward.”
    WHY GOOD IDEA >

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  16. @kwugirl
    WHY CONTINUING ED?
    WHY GROUP LEARNING?
    WHY AT WORK?
    WHY GOOD IDEA >

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  17. @kwugirl
    WHY CONTINUING
    EDUCATION?
    WHY GOOD IDEA >

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  18. @kwugirl
    it’s fun!
    WHY GOOD IDEA > CONTINUING ED

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  19. @kwugirl
    good for your current job
    WHY GOOD IDEA > CONTINUING ED

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  20. @kwugirl
    “LunchConf has been such a
    super thing for me :) 

    just totally used non-greedy regex
    in researching a customer issue”
    WHY GOOD IDEA > CONTINUING ED > CURRENT JOB

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  21. @kwugirl
    “I get to notice all the gaps
    in my knowledge…before
    they become fatal flaws!”
    WHY GOOD IDEA > CONTINUING ED > CURRENT JOB

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  22. @kwugirl
    good for your career
    WHY GOOD IDEA > CONTINUING ED

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  23. @kwugirl
    WHY GROUP LEARNING?
    WHY GOOD IDEA >

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  24. @kwugirl
    use peer pressure
    on yourself
    WHY GOOD IDEA > GROUP LEARNING

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  25. @kwugirl
    active learning
    WHY GOOD IDEA > GROUP LEARNING

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  26. @kwugirl
    “How come ch4 says ___, 

    but ch7 says ___?
    WHY GOOD IDEA > GROUP LEARNING > ACTIVE LEARNING

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  27. @kwugirl
    “It’s the human interaction, hearing
    from others, explaining my thoughts,
    and getting instant feedback that
    really helps lock knowledge in for me.”
    WHY GOOD IDEA > GROUP LEARNING > ACTIVE LEARNING

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  28. @kwugirl
    “I’m not the most social of
    people, and yet learning
    socially is how I learn best.”
    WHY GOOD IDEA > GROUP LEARNING > ACTIVE LEARNING

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  29. @kwugirl
    learn more
    WHY GOOD IDEA > GROUP LEARNING

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  30. @kwugirl
    WHY AT WORK?
    WHY GOOD IDEA >

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  31. @kwugirl
    more convenient
    WHY GOOD IDEA > AT WORK

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  32. @kwugirl
    take advantage
    of resources
    WHY GOOD IDEA > AT WORK

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  33. @kwugirl
    make material
    more relevant
    WHY GOOD IDEA > AT WORK

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  34. @kwugirl
    develop relationships
    WHY GOOD IDEA > AT WORK

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  35. @kwugirl
    set the discussion
    WHY GOOD IDEA > AT WORK

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  36. 3 GENERAL
    PRINCIPLES

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  37. @kwugirl
    ADDS OVERHEAD
    GETTING STUCK MANAGING
    EASY TO DEPRIORITIZE
    GENERAL PRINCIPLES >

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  38. @kwugirl
    make it
    GENERAL PRINCIPLES >
    adds overhead
    EASY

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  39. @kwugirl
    make it
    GENERAL PRINCIPLES >
    getting stuck managing
    DISTRIBUTED

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  40. @kwugirl
    make it
    GENERAL PRINCIPLES >
    easy to deprioritize
    USEFUL

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  41. @kwugirl
    GENERAL PRINCIPLES >

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  42. @kwugirl
    GENERAL PRINCIPLES >
    EASY E

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  43. @kwugirl
    GENERAL PRINCIPLES >
    EASY E
    DISTRIBUTED D

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  44. @kwugirl
    GENERAL PRINCIPLES >
    EASY E
    DISTRIBUTED D
    USEFUL U

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  45. PROGRAM DETAILS

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  46. @kwugirl
    GETTING STARTED
    DETAILS >

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  47. @kwugirl
    pick your own
    starting point
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED
    EASY
    USEFUL

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  48. @kwugirl
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > STARTING POINT

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  49. @kwugirl
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > STARTING POINT

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  50. @kwugirl
    recruit participants
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED

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  51. @kwugirl
    gather a core group
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > RECRUIT DISTRIBUTED

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  52. @kwugirl
    get different
    experience levels
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > RECRUIT USEFUL

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  53. @kwugirl
    loop in mentors
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > RECRUIT USEFUL

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  54. @kwugirl
    pick a consistent
    time and location
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED
    DISTRIBUTED
    EASY

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  55. @kwugirl
    discuss & set
    ground rules
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED

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  56. @kwugirl
    the first rule of
    book club is…
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > GROUND RULES EASY

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  57. @kwugirl
    come to book club!
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > GROUND RULES EASY

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  58. @kwugirl
    talk about motivations
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > GROUND RULES USEFUL

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  59. @kwugirl
    if 2 people are
    around, will meet
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > GROUND RULES EASY

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  60. @kwugirl
    it’s ok to disagree!
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > GROUND RULES USEFUL

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  61. @kwugirl
    involve remote folks
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > GROUND RULES DISTRIBUTED

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  62. @kwugirl
    ok to leave a talk
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED > GROUND RULES USEFUL

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  63. @kwugirl
    have a place to
    record things
    DETAILS > GETTING STARTED
    EASY
    USEFUL
    DISTRIBUTED

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  64. @kwugirl
    RUNNING THE EVENTS
    DETAILS >

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  65. @kwugirl
    moderating
    DETAILS > EVENTS

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  66. @kwugirl
    commit to doing
    *all* the reading
    DETAILS > EVENTS > MODERATING USEFUL

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  67. @kwugirl
    bring work examples
    DETAILS > EVENTS > MODERATING USEFUL

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  68. @kwugirl
    create space

    for everyone
    DETAILS > EVENTS > MODERATING USEFUL

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  69. @kwugirl
    “I’d like to hear a comment
    or question from someone
    who hasn’t spoken yet.”
    DETAILS > EVENTS > MODERATING USEFUL

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  70. @kwugirl
    assign 2 moderators
    DETAILS > EVENTS > MODERATING DISTRIBUTED

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  71. @kwugirl
    rotate assignments
    DETAILS > EVENTS > MODERATING DISTRIBUTED

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  72. @kwugirl
    have a forum for
    continued discussion
    DETAILS > EVENTS
    EASY
    USEFUL
    DISTRIBUTED

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  73. @kwugirl
    RESUSCITATING
    ATTENDANCE
    DETAILS >

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  74. @kwugirl
    ask questions
    DETAILS > RESUSCITATING ATTENDANCE EASY

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  75. @kwugirl
    light guilt-tripping
    DETAILS > RESUSCITATING ATTENDANCE

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  76. @kwugirl
    remind of goals
    DETAILS > RESUSCITATING ATTENDANCE USEFUL

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  77. @kwugirl
    CHOOSING THE
    NEXT THING
    DETAILS >

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  78. @kwugirl
    choosing the
    next book
    DETAILS > NEXT
    EASY
    USEFUL
    DISTRIBUTED

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  79. @kwugirl
    choosing the
    next talk
    DETAILS > NEXT
    EASY
    USEFUL
    DISTRIBUTED

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  80. @kwugirl
    VARIATIONS ON A THEME
    DETAILS >

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  81. @kwugirl
    DETAILS > VARIATIONS

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  82. @kwugirl
    Business Time
    DETAILS > VARIATIONS

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  83. @kwugirl
    Business Time
    Security Book Club
    DETAILS > VARIATIONS

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  84. @kwugirl
    Business Time
    Security Book Club
    5th Floor Book Club
    DETAILS > VARIATIONS

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  85. @kwugirl
    Business Time
    Security Book Club
    5th Floor Book Club
    Introvert Book Club!
    DETAILS > VARIATIONS

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  86. @kwugirl
    DETAILS > VARIATIONS DISTRIBUTED

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  87. @kwugirl
    rubybookclub.com
    DETAILS > VARIATIONS DISTRIBUTED

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  88. @kwugirl
    “selfconf”
    DETAILS > VARIATIONS
    http://tech.forter.com/selfconf-empowering-group-learning-for-software-engineers/
    EASY
    USEFUL
    DISTRIBUTED

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  89. FINAL THOUGHTS

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  90. @kwugirl
    don’t have to run these
    programs forever
    FINAL THOUGHTS > DISTRIBUTED

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  91. @kwugirl
    adapt for the work
    culture you’re in
    FINAL THOUGHTS >
    EASY
    USEFUL

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  92. @kwugirl
    may your bookmarks
    decrease in number!
    FINAL THOUGHTS >

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  93. CONTINUING EDUCATION
    AT WORK
    Katherine Wu
    @kwugirl
    Software Engineer
    bit.ly/ContinuingEdAtWork
    DISTRIBUTED
    EASY
    USEFUL
    E
    D
    U

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  94. @kwugirl
    THANKS FOR FEEDBACK
    & HELP PRACTICING!
    ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS >
    Adam V
    Alexis G
    Alice G
    Amy B
    Emily H
    Eric B
    Erika A
    Jason C
    Andrew G
    Cory J
    Daniel S
    David P
    Karl S
    Kelsey Y
    Ruby A
    Zoe K

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  95. @kwugirl
    This document and the information herein (including any information that may be incorporated by reference) is
    provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, commitment, promise or
    obligation on behalf of New Relic, Inc. (“New Relic”) to sell securities or deliver any product, material, code,
    functionality, or other feature. Any information provided hereby is proprietary to New Relic and may not be
    replicated or disclosed without New Relic’s express written permission.
    Such information may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Any
    statement that is not a historical fact or refers to expectations, projections, future plans, objectives, estimates,
    goals, or other characterizations of future events is a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking
    statements can often be identified as such because the context of the statement will include words such as
    “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects” or words of similar import.
    Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, which speak only
    as of the date hereof, and are subject to change at any time without notice. Existing and prospective investors,
    customers and other third parties transacting business with New Relic are cautioned not to place undue reliance
    on this forward-looking information. The achievement or success of the matters covered by such forward-looking
    statements are based on New Relic’s current assumptions, expectations, and beliefs and are subject to
    substantial risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that may cause the actual results,
    performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking
    statement. Further information on factors that could affect such forward-looking statements is included in the
    filings we make with the SEC from time to time. Copies of these documents may be obtained by visiting New
    Relic’s Investor Relations website at ir.newrelic.com or the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
    New Relic assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as
    required by law. New Relic makes no warranties, expressed or implied, in this document or otherwise, with
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    SAFE HARBOR >

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