I’m a firm believer, in being a self starter and and, that includes being self starter. I’ve learned a number of different languages (C++, .NET, Java, HTML, PHP) and technologies (web hosting, network administrator) in my spare time with the use of the internet. Being a technology person the internet is a great place to learn how to increase your skill set, and learning .NET is no exception. Being one of the most versatile frameworks in the realm of technology makes it a necessary skill for many an IT person. Even if technology, or programming is just a hobby for you, it pays to learn new tools and skills. One of the best sources for learning more about technologies and computers, is discussion forums. You could visit a PC forum, a programming forum, a web hosting forum, a Java forum, a SEO forum, or even a .Netforum.
Being able to interact with others that are going through the same learning curve or have perhaps just recently passed through that learning curve, is an invaluable asset. I know, as I’ve been there before. Developing games, marketing games, and playing games are things I enjoy doing, that have all benefited from my spending time in forums. You can generally be assured of getting unbiased information. Meaning, most people in forums aren’t trying to sell you anything. They’re simply participating in the forum, because they have similar interests as you have. Once many people have hung around a forum for a period of time, and taken a lot of information from it, they have a strong desire to give something back to the community.
I remember, when I first started using forums, I felt like such a leech. All I seemed to do, was ask a lot of questions and never provide anything new to the forum. After some time though, I got to a level of skill with the forum topic, that I was able to help others. It was a pretty cool feeling, and one of the reasons I keep going back. Sure, I still ask questions, but more and more I’m able to help others, by answering their questions, or at least pointing them in the right direction.
So, if your learning .Net, then I strongly suggest you find some forums on that topic. There are a number of forums available, and it’s best to spend some time at first just reading and getting a feel for the culture of the forum. Every group has their own code of conduct, and it’s best to know what that is before you start posting.