You are responsible for your own education in software testing. There are different paths for self-education including blogging, writing articles, learning to program, and participating in communities. Education can come from books, online courses, challenges, and dojos that focus on hypothesis through books and courses, or synthesis through practical experience, collaboration and deliberate practice. The best approach is to apply as many styles as possible to improve testing skills.

1. Alternative PathsforSelf-Education In Software TestingMarkus Gärtner - http://blog.shino.de - Twitter: @mgaertnehttp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Education_-_Grad_Hat_-_Jordan.png

2. Education in Software Testing My storyUniversity studiesuntilOctober 20051st position as a softwaretester April 20061st trainingcourse in softwaretesting: October 2007Appointed a softwaretestinggroupleadposition in September 2007!

3. Whoisresponsibleforyoureducation?Youremployer?Yoursuperior?Yourteacher back in school?Maybeyourhusband/wife?Yourkids?

4. Whoisresponsibleforyoureducation?No!

5. YOU!http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Uncle_Sam_(pointing_finger).jpg

6. FeedbackStart a personal blogor private journalWrite an articleContribute to mailinglistsInvolveyourself in social mediaTwitterLinkedInSoftware Testing ClubWeekend Testing

7. Learn to programScriptinglanguages: Ruby, Python, GroovyDesign PatternsTechnology: TDD, MockingPairinghttp://stevelucasmetz.blogspot.com/2008/01/rambo-baby.html

8. Hypothesis vs. SynthesisHypothesisBooksRapid Software TestingBlack-box software testingBuccaneer-scholarSynthesisBlack-box software testingTesting Dojos & ChallengesWeekend TestingMiagi-Do schoolhttp://wordandimage.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/brain.gif

9. Bookshttp://blog.lib.umn.edu/isss/isss/2009/02/

10. Rapid Software TestingDevelopedby James Bach and Michael BoltonTaughtas a course, but slidesavailable online: http://www.satisfice.com/rst.pdfContents include:Whatistesting?The Heuristic TestStrategy ModelHeuristics, Oraclesandthetester‘smind… andmuchmorehttp://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/06/47/064756_80eeb599.jpg

11. Black-box Software TestingDevelopedby Cem Kanerand James BachOnline coursesby ASTVideos online available: http://www.testingeducation.org/BBST/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Peering_Inside_the_Black_Box.jpg

12. Black-box Software TestingBug advocacyTestingtechniquesDomain testingScenario testingFunctiontestingRisk-basedtestingCombinationtestingSpecification-basedtestinghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Peering_Inside_the_Black_Box.jpg

13. Buccaneer-scholarBookby James BachLearning heuristicsSACKED SCOWSLong Leash HeuristicObsessand Forget HeuristicProcrastinateand Push Heuristic… are just some of theunderlyingprincipleshttp://running-wild.net/pics/content/gallery/tattoos/04.jpg

14. TestingChallengesTestingchallengesPracticalexercise of testingskillsHaveinternet will test:http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/322http://www.defibolivie2010.org/challenge_Sajama.jpg

15. TestingDojosSimilar to CodingDojosCollaborationSave EnvironmentDeliberate PracticeContent:Single Testing vs. PairedTestingTest this, Evaluate Tools, Learnnewapproacheshttp://www.matrix-architekt.de/bilder/desktop/dojo.jpg

16. Weekend TestingTesting on theweekend onlineTypicalsession:1 hourPracticaltesting1 hourDiscussionContent:Test thisEvaluatetoolsLearnnewapproachesWatch out for traps!

17. Miagi-Do School of Software TestingFoundedby Matt HeusserNon-commercial, zero-profitImprovetestingskillThrough practiceBelt systemhttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/2200982710_8cf8e0d422.jpg

18. SummaryEducationisyourrepsonsibilityDifferent stylesFeedbackHypothesisSynthesisYoumayhavepreferencesforoneortheother, butyoushouldapply as much as possible