Nobody knows everything
Your team gets a new project. It needs a payment screen. You have never built one.
You can hide it and not say anything. Or you can say: "I need to learn this." The second way is what good developers do.
In this lesson you learn how to find your gaps, and five ways to fill them.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Skills gap | Something you need for the project but cannot do yet. | building a payment screen |
| Knowledge | What you know and understand. | how payments are made safe |
| Skill | Something you can do. | write a SQL query |
| Training need | Learning that you must do to complete the work. | a day of practice with a new tool |
| Coaching | Learning from a person who guides you. A coach can be a professional (an expert who does this job) or a peer. | a workmate who checks your work |
| Peer | Somebody at about your own level or stage. | a classmate |
| Self-study | Learning on your own, from books or videos. | a video lesson |
| Forum | A website where people ask and answer questions. | a coding question site |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Quick check: gap or no gap?
Have a go
Quick check: gap or no gap?
3 questionsHave a go: your answers are marked here and then forgotten. Sign in if you would like your score kept, and to pick up where you left off.Sign in to keep your score
Your answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Three questions to ask yourself
| Question | Example | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| What further knowledge do I need? | How to keep card details safe | List it. Plan how to learn it. |
| What new skills do I need? | Using a testing tool | List it. Plan to practise. |
| Can I really finish this work? | In 4 weeks, with my skills and the time I have | Be honest. Ask for help or more time if not. |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Five ways to learn
| Way | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Coaching | Personal advice and quick feedback | It needs somebody's time |
| Learning on the job (learning while you do real work) | Real practice that is useful now | Mistakes can affect the project |
| Self-study | Learning at your own speed, cheaply | You must be organised, and nobody checks you |
| Online forums | Quick answers from many people | Some answers are wrong: check them |
| Internet workshops | A planned, live course with a teacher | It may cost money and set times |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Tell the team early
data-callouts.tip.label
A gap you tell your team about in week one is a small problem. The team can plan time and help. A gap you hide until week six is a big risk for the whole project.