6 Steps to Learning a New Tool
As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, the need to acquire new skills and adapt to new tools is ever more pressing. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting your journey, learning a new digital tool can be a daunting but highly rewarding experience.
I embarked on my own journey a little over three years ago with minimal technical skills. Over the years, I’ve had to learn and apply new tools based on the technology stack at the companies I’ve worked for. Through these experiences, I’ve summarised a set of steps that have consistently proven effective for me in learning to use a new digital tool.
1. Research, Research, Research
At first glance, a lot of tools seem like they’re useful to you. But not all tools are created equal, and understanding the intricacies, limitations, and potential pitfalls is key. Read reviews, watch tutorials, and seek recommendations from peers who may have experience with the tool. It’s important to choose a tool that is not only effective but also user-friendly and compatible with your existing technology and skills. Look beyond the marketing hype to uncover the real value of the tool. It’s only once you look deeper do you realise the little asterisk.
2. Define Your Goal
Before diving into any new tool, it’s essential to define your goals. What do you want to achieve by learning this tool? Are you looking to improve productivity, enhance your skill set, or solve a specific problem? Setting clear objectives will give your learning process direction and motivation. Having a purpose will make the journey more meaningful and increase your chances of success.
3. Find the MTOK
I’m sure there’s probably a better word to describe this but I came up with this acronym MTOK, which stands for “Minimum Tool Operation Knowledge”. It refers to the essential knowledge you need to operate a tool effectively.
Start with the basics. Familiarize yourself with the interface, menus, and core functionalities. Most software tools provide tutorials, guides, and online documentation to help you get started. Take the time to explore these resources and build a strong foundation. Identify the 20% of features within the tool that will yield 80% of the results you’re looking to achieve. Focus your initial learning efforts on mastering this critical subset of the tool’s capabilities. Once you’re comfortable with these essentials, gradually explore the remaining features.
4. Reverse Engineer Existing Projects
This is the process of understanding and replicating projects created by others before you. Deconstructing a project this way can provide invaluable insights into the capabilities and potential of the digital tool you’re learning. When you reverse engineer a project, you delve into the inner workings, mechanics, and techniques employed by the original creators.
I often found reverse engineering projects help me uncover creative techniques and shortcuts which I otherwise would not have known if I had just started a completely new project on my own. Furthermore, as you get deeper into the project, there’s a very high likelyhood of encountering challenges or questions that have you scratching your head. These roadblocks can become valuable learning opportunities as you are forced to seek solutions, knowing that these challenges have been solved by the original creator, and in turn deepen your understanding of the tool.
5. Document Your Journey
Documenting the problems you encounter, your attempts to solve them, and the solutions you discover can create a valuable resource for future reference. When faced with similar obstacles down the road, you can consult your documentation to quickly find the answers you need.
Maintaining a detailed journal or blog about your experiences with the new digital tool encourages reflection too. It allows you to pause and ponder the insights, setbacks, and aha moments that occur during your learning process.
If you choose to publish your documentation (which I highly recommend), it can also serve as a beacon for fellow travelers on a similar journey. Sharing your experiences, insights, and solutions through a blog or a knowledge-sharing platform not only helps others but also establishes your presence in the digital tool’s community.
6. Teach What You Learn
One of the best ways to solidify your understanding of a digital tool is to teach it to someone else. The digital world is always full of eager learners looking for guidance so students are never hard to find. Consider creating tutorials, workshops, or webinars to share your knowledge and insights with others, even if it’s just to your colleagues or friends. Teaching forces you to organize your thoughts and reinforce your learning as it helps you identify gaps in your knowledge and refine your skills.
Ultimately, teaching what you learn is a win-win situation. It not only strengthens your own expertise with the digital tool but also empowers others on their learning journeys. So, embrace this step as a way to enhance both your own expertise and contribute to the shared knowledge of the broader digital community.
Remember, these steps are not set hard-and-fast rules for how to approach learning a new digital tool but rather a guide based on my own experience. Everyone has their own approach but whichever way you choose, it’s important to consider how you can make your learning journery more effective, engaging and rewarding.
Happy Learning!
