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Building a professional learning network for educators

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Building a professional learning network for educators

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Building a professional learning network

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Plan and set goals to keep your focus on emerging technologies , learning, innovations, and practices to advancement.

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By Indeed Editorial Team

Technology is an important part of almost every job today. No matter what industry you are in, the technology you use is developing rapidly. To advance in your career, you need to stay up to date on trends in technology. In this article, we will discuss the importance of staying up to date with technology and share some tips for keeping your skills current.

Why is keeping up with technology important?

Whether you are coding, manufacturing products or reaching out to customers, staying current with technology can help you be more effective at your job. Staying current with technology trends is important for several reasons:

Finding a job: Even the simple act of applying for a job has changed. Many companies prefer digital files rather than paper resumes and cover letters. Keeping up to date with tech allows you to find and apply for jobs faster than ever.

Career advancement: Staying current with technology can prevent your skills from becoming stale. Keeping your tech skills fresh and up to date can help you advance in your career.

Communication: Keeping up with technology allows you to communicate with others in the workplace and online. Tech jargon changes as technology advances. Understanding current tech jargon and using it appropriately supports effective communication and relationship building with peers.

Organization: Keeping your data and files organized is an important part of any job. How we stay organized has changed a lot over the years, from hanging files to disks and now the cloud. Understanding how to store, access and share files can help you be more efficient in your job.

Reaching customers: If you are selling a product or service, online marketing helps you find customers faster than ever. Social media accounts, apps and blogs can help you provide personalized content that makes you stand out from the crowd.

Related: 15 New Skills To Learn to Advance in Your Career

How to keep up with technology

Though it may seem daunting, there are many steps you can take to keep up with new technology. Here are 13 ways you can stay current with technology trends:

1. Join a professional organization

Joining a professional organization can be a great way to stay on top of emerging technology that directly affects your industry. Many professional organizations produce magazines filled with current news and tech advances. Besides publications, you can check to see if your industry organization has a local chapter near you. Local chapters may also provide training classes and pair you with a mentor.

2. Find a mentor

You can find a mentor that is tech-savvy and learn from them. Read the technology publications they read and follow the tech sites they recommend. Meet periodically with your mentor to discuss tech advances and applications in the workplace.

3. Attend industry conferences and tech events

Conferences are a great opportunity to see innovative technology specific to your industry. You can listen to industry leaders, attend classes and talk with vendors about their products. You can also check out technology-focused events and apply what you have learned to your industry. Many conferences make their keynote speeches available online for those that don't have the time or budget to attend in person.

4. Devote time daily to tech news

A small portion of each day is all it takes to stay up to date with technology news. For the most balanced approach, you can get your news from technology-focused publications and tech news sites online. Tech publications may publish on a monthly or (more likely) quarterly basis and can fill in the gaps by providing daily doses of hot tech topics. Find a few reputable sites you are comfortable with and stick with them. To save time, you can set up site keywords to receive key news items daily.

5. Connect with social media

There are many influencers devoted to technology and emerging trends. You can subscribe to newsletters or set alerts to notify you when your favorite tech influencer posts new material. Besides influencers, you can follow industry and tech company accounts to learn about emerging technologies.

6. Prioritize learning

Making learning a priority is a big part of keeping up with technology. Many tech and education companies offer free or inexpensive online classes. Some online classes offer tech and industry-specific certifications.

You can also take online classes through colleges or universities. Not only do college classes offer the chance to collaborate with others in your field, but they also allow you to experience current technologies used by businesses with virtual employees.

7. Share ideas with your peers

Set up periodic meetings with co-workers, professionals from other departments and industry colleagues to talk about technology on the job. These meetings are a great way to learn about emerging tech, how others are using it and expected changes in your industry.

8. Watch TED talks

TED talks are a simple way to stay current with technology in your free time. Many TED talks are by professionals you would see at a conference. Most talks are only 10 to 20 minutes long, are free to watch and cover a range of topics. You can save some search time by curating your TED feed to focus on technology, innovation and professional growth.

9. Listen to podcasts

If you are an auditory learner, podcasts can be a great way to keep up to date on general technology news and industry-specific technological advances. There are even podcasts that serve as virtual coding classes. Podcasts are free and you can listen to them anywhere.

10. Watch start-up businesses

Start-ups are often home to innovation. By following start-up news feeds and connecting with their employees, you can stay up-to-date on tech trends in your industry.

11. Be willing to experiment

Practice and experimentation is a key part of staying up to date with technology. If you are a programmer, you can write code for side projects. A passion project keeps your technical skills sharp while experimenting with a new coding language or platform. Many sites offer tutorials and space to work on projects, allowing you to learn as you write code.

Even if you are not a programmer, you can benefit from the many online tutorials that provide the opportunity to practice and play with new tech, most without a significant investment of time.

Related: 51 In-Demand Tech Skills for Technology Careers

12. Branch out

Look at technology use outside of your department or industry. Seeing how other successful companies are using technology can give you insight into implementing new tech in your workplace.

13. Avoid fads

Tech companies invent new tools all the time, but every new tech isn't appropriate for you or your workplace. When investigating new technologies, consider how they meet your current or future needs. Even the most revolutionary product isn't necessary if it doesn't serve a purpose in your workplace. Spend your time and energy on products and processes that will benefit you as an employee and your company.

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How To Stay Current With Technology Trends

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By Indeed Editorial Team Technology is an important part of almost every job today. No matter what industry you are in, the technology you use is developing rapidly. To advance in your career, you need to stay up to date on trends in technology.

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