Learning Culture in Software Engineering - Preamble

So I have been at this for over two decades now, and have been close to software development for 26 years. During that time, I notice a pattern, which has been 100% accurate. All software engineers who are very good at their job are dedicate to life long learning. They all have a robust self-study program that they control, and allows then to master new ideas.

Often they are mistakenly thought of by others as being smarter. But in truth, they are simply diligently working a self-study program.

A self-study program is important because it trains the software engineer in acquiring new information quickly. It helps train the individual in the art of making informed assumptions that speed up knowledge acquisition. It shows the individual the size of knowledge chunks that they can consume, and through repetition trains them to be able to absorb larger information groups. The self in self study is important because it trains the individual in being able to go after information and knowledge on the individual’s own time and to correspond to the individuals life flow.

So if one believes that repetition leads to enhanced skill uptake, then following a self-study program would improve an individuals overall learning capacity.

Learning and being smart are core culture traits of the IT industry. This culture of learning in IT is nourished by Higher Education Establishments, Large Software Venders and by individual engineers. It is a common thread amongst all knowledge workers.

So we will want to look at this cultural trait a bit to understand it.
How do you foster and grow a culture of “life-long” learning?

• How does “life-long” learning benefit you personally?
• What value does “life-long” learning bring to organizational structures?
• How is “life-long” learning taught and passed on to incoming members of the community?
• Who makes their resources freely available and what benefits does that bring?
• Where does “life-long education” fit into “life-long learning?”