From the course: Software Testing Foundations: Keeping QA Skills Current in the Age of AI

Why we learn

- [Instructor] The work of a quality professional is complex. You must not only understand the product you're testing, but also have a strong grasp of the surrounding technology that connects your product to the world. This includes operating systems, software, hardware, and even the skills of your product's user. To test effectively, you must consider all these factors. Testing cannot be done in isolation. While it may seem practical to keep your testing simple and focused, failing to pursue constant learning will cause you to miss key changes in the industry. Overlooking critical information can negatively affect your product and its success. Learning is essential in quality testing. Each new product and test plan introduces unique challenges, features, and often new technologies. Additionally, testing tools evolve continually, and must be adapted to each project. For this reason, every quality role requires time devoted to learning. So with all that, where should you start? In the past, technology magazines provided insights into future innovations and the latest advancements. Today tech blogs, YouTube, the press, and other sources deliver daily updates on exciting new developments. Keeping up with this fast-paced environment is increasingly difficult. A well-defined learning strategy is crucial for quality professionals to ensure products are released effectively, and meet customer needs. Fortunately, many tools, from AI to search engines, make information more accessible than ever. However, these tools also bring new challenges. Learning can't cover everything. Even the most capable individuals don't have the time to master all topics. You need to set boundaries, establish criteria, and define a strategy for what to learn and how it will benefit you, your team, and your product. These factors are not always clear during testing. Which makes planning even more critical. To stay ahead of industry changes, focus your learning objectives and align them with the tools available today. This approach makes learning more accessible and efficient. Before starting, establish clear goals, identify your learning needs, and set aside time to ensure your efforts are productive and valuable.

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