My approach to learning a new topic

This is how I get to know a topic, dive deeper, and stay in it.

Understand the fundamentals:

1. Take a course (usually incl. several books) → understand the skeleton and general building blocks.
2. Try some pieces → understand 2–3 topics better.
3. Read overviewing articles → strengthen the acquired knowledge.

Deepen understanding of the topic:

1. Google answers to specific questions vs broad.
2. YouTube < 30" educational videos.
3. Find the books to read (usually I get the list after the course or form the articles), don’t read them fully, but flip through them, and read chapter summaries only.
4. Apply some tools and ideas → try the approaches suggested and memorize them for a long time.
5. If really necessary, read a specific chapter in a book.
6. If a lot of time, read the whole book.

Maintain knowledge:

1. Take a course on a related topic → find out the context and other application areas.
2. Subscribe and listen to podcasts on the subject, not every episode, but selectively.
3. Subscribe and read social feeds, selectively → stay emerged in the topic.
4. Attend an industry conference, preferably online → get into the circle of support.

How do YOU study new concepts and stay at the forefront of knowledge? Share you thoughts with me in the comments, please :)