Salesforce Learning Tools for Every Style
Spending a week learning Marketing Cloud and taking certification exams at Salesforce’s Destination Success event this month got me thinking about how I learn, something I hadn't really thought about in a while, and how there are unique learning styles that make certain types of educational mechanisms and environments work better than others for a particular person and for a particular subject matter. The Salesforce ecosystem is full of ways to learn how to work with Salesforce’s ever growing and evolving array of products. Do one or all of the statements below describe you? There’s a learning tool for that!
“Sometimes at 1am I get the urge to go learn something.”
Trailhead is always there for you, night and day, and keeps you alert with little doses of humor along the way. Trails are becoming more rigorous and formalized with Superbadges and are ever expanding to cover more corners of the the platform, such as Wave and Einstein.
“I really need to get hands on.”
Trailhead is a great starting point for this and superb in that it can actually tell you if you got it right, but I think the best way to really get hands on with Salesforce is to spin up a developer org and hash out a business scenario that makes sense to you. Another great way to expand your knowledge in a hands-on way is to start by giving back with the knowledge you have--answering questions in the success community (or Power of Us Hub, for nonprofits) can lead you to learning, as can doing pro bono work for a local nonprofit. (At Arkus we take this to heart with our bi-annual Pro Bono Day events.)
“I understand something best once I explain it to someone else.”
Another great way to learn while giving back is to help other people learn Salesforce. Check with your local user group for opportunities to volunteer, introducing eager learners to the world of Salesforce administration. This is a topic very close to my heart, as I have personally seen lightbulbs go off and careers get a boost teaching Salesforce boot camps for young people exploring careers in business and technology. And if you are totally new to the platform, whether just at the start of your professional journey, re-entering the workforce, or looking for a career shift, there are a number of programs out there run by members of the Salesforce community that will help you take the first step.
“I need to hear, see, AND do to feel I’ve learned it.”
If you’re like me, there’s nothing quite like the classroom experience to efficiently gain an understanding of material, especially if it’s a net new topic or tool I’ve never touched before. Destination Success was ideal for me as a learning environment because it provided the opportunity to immerse myself in learning and focus entirely on that for the week I was there, as well as be surrounded by the energy of hundreds of like-minded learners. All of Salesforce University’s classes contain a hands-on component, so it’s not just watching someone else do it; you do it yourself and really learn. Salesforce also provides in-person and online courses throughout the year, so you can get some of that intensive classroom-style experience without waiting until next March, too.
What is your favorite way to learn new Salesforce skills? Feel free to comment below, on the Salesforce Success Community, on our Facebook page, or directly at me on Twitter @ifitfloats.
