Learning to LearnExperiences and Tips for Certifications and Tech Skills

Who’s @ChrisWahl?

VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX)

• Data Center

• Network Virtualization

Writer

Host

Instructor

@ WahlNetwork.com

@ DatanautsPodcast.com

@ Pluralsight.com

Networking for VMware Administrators

It’s a pretty good book

100% of royalties are being donated to the Alzheimer’s Association

Have you ever thought about how your brain works?

Let’s start with multi-tasking

Do you consider yourself a great multitasker?

Do you consider yourself a great multitasker?If so, you’re wrong. Your brain can only think about one thing at a time. It can do amazing things like design rockets that fly to the moon and invent cupcakes, but it can only think about one thing at a time.

Complete Human Performance Podcast

http://www.completehumanperformance.com/multitasking-myth-podcast/

Context-switchingSwitching back-and-forth between different tasks, rather than doing

them at the same time

You are single threadedBut really great at it!

Read, Plan, Do, TeachStrive for the highest retention values

What many folks do:

What I recommend:

Create a Study SheetRead the blueprint: cover to cover, top to bottom

Write down a list of objectives

Track your progress

Set the DateWork with a finite, specific timeline

Modern Online TrainingIt’s really, really good

Labs and Cloudy Things• VMware Hands on Labs (HOL)• VMUG EVALExperience• Cisco Virtual Internet Routing Lab (ViRL)• Cisco CloudLab• Graphical Network Simulator 3 (GNS3)• EMC e-Learning• F5 BIG-IP Virtual Edition (VE)• Ravello Systems Virtual Lab• Public Cloud (AWS, GCE, Azure)

The Time CrunchRetaining what you learn in the shortest amount of time

Consider your “Time Bank”How are you spending your time?

Are you spending it wisely?

Have you committed to priorities efficiently?

Pomodoro TechniqueNo distractions

Short bursts of intense focus

Frequent breaks

Focus (25min)

Break (5min)

Decision FatigueHumans have a finite store of mental energy for making decisions

How does it work?

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

http://tomato-timer.com/

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

Focus

Feedback LoopHow are you doing?

Do you need to push back your exam date?

Or even push it forward?

Revisit the blueprint?

Change to a different exam?

Share Your ExperiencesScared? Lean on the Pratfall Effect

Those who never make mistakes are perceived as less likeable than those who commit the occasional faux pas.

Messing up draws people closer to you, makes you more human.

Perfection creates distance and an unattractive air of invincibility.

Those of us with flaws win out every time.

The Pratfall Effect

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratfall_effect

Visit WahlNetwork.com for Deep Dives, Home Lab Tips, Reviews, and More!

Check out “Networking for VMware Administrators” by VMware Press

Over 30 hours of my video training content is on Pluralsight.com

Subscribe to the Datanauts via iTunes or RSS at DatanautsPodcast.com

Thank youslideshare.net/christopherwahl