How To Learn IoT From Scratch

Well, first, do your research. When researching, Google is your friend. Read articles about IoT and watch YouTube videos about it. Read more blogs about IoT. Do you have friends that work in the IT or telecommunication field? Don’t be afraid to ask them questions.

For a focused approach, go to YouTube. Watch videos of the subjects required in IoT. Then find a topic you like, or that seems effortless, and start learning more about that subject. Just dive into it. After getting a handle on that subject where you feel comfortable discussing it with others, move on to the next topic. Make sure you are moving up the ladder of learning, not just picking the low hanging fruit.

Sounds simple, right? Well, it isn’t because one can quickly go down a rabbit hole. By this, I mean, you started wanting to learn about IoT and ended up studying just programming. Learning programming is necessary for IoT, but don’t concentrate on it so much that you can program a supercomputer by the end. You watch those first few articles and watch a few videos. Layout a plan of action to follow and, more importantly, follow it.

By now, you have reached the point of saying, “I want to work in this up-and-coming IT field.” Start to look ahead by looking at a form of schooling. The IT field is not big on “Shade Tree” IT Techs. For many years, I worked on other people’s computers. I have an aptitude for it—both the hardware and the software side, but I was self-taught, which is not always acceptable in the IT field. People always asked, “where is the paper?” meaning educational and or certifications. They wanted some proof of formal education. So, the next step is to search for IoT courses. Either online or in a Brick & Mortar school. Both are good, as I have said in other blogs. Once you get an idea of the courses, then complete the road map. After learning what it is, and after starting to look for the school that fits, read, and watch media for what the courses require. Continued watching and reading will help while taking courses.

You have decided where to take courses, but you have to save a few dollars up or wait to start until next month because of family plans or the next class. No problem, consult the road map. Study independently. Programming is down because you did go down the rabbit hole for a bit. Next, read articles or watch videos on networking, which are needed for IoT. This can be done for free, on your schedule, and builds on the knowledge base that you have built up. This knowledge will make it that much easier in the courses ahead.

Just think: a few months ago, you asked, “How do I learn IoT?” and now look at you, talking about TCP/IP and programming. The hardest two parts of learning IoT or anything else is to decide 1) what to learn, and 2) start learning. I could say this from a position of knowing you would not have even read this or any other blog about learning IoT if you did not think you could do it. To me, that means you can do it.

Well, that is it for me and this blog. I hope you come back and read my other blog posts on Cybrary about IoT.