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Albert Einstein said “wisdom is not a product of schooling, but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” And Leonardo da Vinci felt “study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.”
Just like Einstein and da Vinci, the IT pros in our community are passionate about continuous learning. That is why in last month’s poll we asked: How do you prefer to learn about new tech solutions and products?
Let’s take a look at the results by highlighting the five most popular preferred learning methods.
1. Free trials
The most preferred learning method among community members is hands-on experience through a free trial. This is not surprising, considering that IT pros are highly self-directed and independent. They want the freedom and autonomy to forge their own learning path by trying things out on their own — exploring and experimenting as they go, and putting a vendor’s claims and promises to the test.
At Devolutions, we don’t just note this preference — we embrace it. Remember, we’re IT pros, too! We have always provided free trials for all of our solutions and products, because we understand the importance and value of hands-on learning. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe observed: “In the end we retain from our studies only that which we practically apply.”
2. Tutorials & Webinars (tie)
The second most preferred learning method is a tie between tutorials and webinars. Again, this is not a surprise. Both of these methods make learning easier and more efficient, provided that they are clear, structured, and focused on accomplishing a relevant task (such as how to migrate a Remote Desktop Manager SQL Server data source to Devolutions Server) or goal (such as how to meet NIS2 compliance by implementing key security controls with Devolutions).
Our team loves creating tutorials and webinars (live and on-demand), and sharing them with our community through our blog and YouTube channel.
Is there a feature, function, workflow, use case/scenario, or organizational objective that you want us to cover in a tutorial or webinar? Let us know by commenting below, or by getting in touch with us. We are always looking for new ideas. If enough users feel the same way, we’ll put it on the list and make it happen!
3. Videos
Coming in third spot is videos, which is going to make a lot of people around here very happy — like Yann, Marc, Zachary, and other Devolutions team members who host/co-host our videos!
Videos are versatile learning tools for several reasons. You can watch and re-watch them on-demand, and head straight to the topic that interests you. Videos can also integrate screenshots, demos, and workflows (which virtually all of ours do) to make learning clearer, easier, and more fun.
The Devolutions YouTube channel features curated playlists of webinars, how-to videos, expert tips, video podcasts, and more — all designed to help users get the most out of our products, and increase productivity and security in their organization. Plus, all the videos are created in our in-house production studio, which is why they always look and sound professional.
In addition, we feature several videos in Devolutions Academy, which we talk about when we get to #5!
4. Blog posts
Many community members said that they prefer to learn about new tech through blog posts, including those that link to resources to deeper learning, such as tutorials, webinars, documentation, etc.
The Devolutions blog was born all the way back in 2012, and since then we have published thousands (yes, thousands!) of posts ranging from short blogs to large feature articles, and everything in between. Over the years, our blog has undergone many changes to reflect new trends and technologies, and make the experience even better for our community. Our most recent major refresh was in late 2024.
5. Online learning
Many community members also prefer to learn about new tech through online learning. This makes sense, as studies show that online learning can significantly increase retention compared to in-person learning.
About a year ago, we were thrilled to launch Devolutions Academy, which is our FREE online learning hub designed to help users master Devolutions' products and solutions. The platform features comprehensive courses led by expert instructors, and tailored learning paths to suit a variety of knowledge objectives: from beginner users who want to quickly learn about a specific feature or function, to advanced users who want to dive deeper. Plus, users can connect with our instructors and their fellow learners in the Devolutions Academy Community Forum.
Other methods
Other preferred learning methods that were mentioned by community members include:
- Demos
- Test environments
- User communities and forums
Never stop learning
Thank you to everyone who participated in the poll, and highlighted why it’s so essential in IT to continuously increase one’s knowledge, understanding, and abilities. John Dewey nailed it with: “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”
The winners
Now, let’s turn our attention to the two poll participants who have been randomly selected to each win a $25 Amazon gift card. Congratulations Crimson Star and Steffen! Please email asguerin@devolutions.net to claim your prize.
September has arrived, which means that it’s time for a new poll question — it’s on the way, please stay tuned!
