The IT skills gap has grown exponentially with the advent of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI).
And as technology continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, it will only get worse.
The good news is that there’s a way to bridge that gap, at least within your own organization, through technical training.
Before diving into what’s involved in creating a technical skills development plan, here are a few of the tools your company and its employees can use to enhance their expertise.
Below is a list of some of the best tools, communities, and platforms for technical skills training. These resources should give you everything you need to get started on the road to professional development — and to help your people do the same.
Designed for customization and interactivity, Coursebox helps trainees develop technical skills through interactive labs and simulations while driving engagement through gamification.
The AI-driven platform can scale to support a deployment of just about any size and integrates easily with existing learning tools and systems. Like most eLearning tools, Coursebox features detailed analytics to track progress and monitor learner performance. It also includes built-in tools for social learning.
Coursera‘s big draw is its partnerships with some of the world’s top universities and companies. These partnerships allow the site to offer a virtually unmatched selection of technical skills development training. The site features a blend of free and premium content from industry leaders and institutions such as Yale and Stanford.
Students can choose between self-paced training and scheduled sessions.
Udemy is an online learning platform with a library of over 200,000 courses. It is intended as a tool for professional development and offers courses on everything from programming to emerging technologies. Udemy also offers IT certifications from industry leaders like Cisco, Amazon, and CompTIA.
Udemy’s on-demand courses are accessible and affordable. A single purchase grants lifetime access. If learners are struggling, they can also access a discussion forum for advice and guidance.
As the name suggests, Codecademy focuses entirely on software development. Its catalog includes real-world projects in various programming languages. Some courses even allow students to build their portfolios while they learn.
Other features include a readiness checker that measures current knowledge and skills against real-world job requirements, an AI-driven interview simulator, and comprehensive assessment options. Learners can also access an AI Learning Assistant that offers instant, personalized, contextual feedback.
Though it’s not strictly a tool, Learn Enough makes the list because it is arguably one of the most effective ways to learn coding. The platform features a comprehensive selection of courses that teach the basics of web development, culminating in building one’s own web app and earning a certification.
Learn Enough features video tutorials, eBooks, hands-on exercises, and progress tracking. People who subscribe to the platform also gain access to community support and a private chat group.
365 Data Science is another platform with a specialized focus. Through a structured, comprehensive curriculum, it teaches learners everything they need to know to excel as data scientists. Courses are available for beginners to advanced professionals and feature hands-on projects and dynamic, personalized learning paths.
365 Data Science also hosts a community where learners can share knowledge, talk with instructors and peers, and ask for help if they struggle.
Leetcode‘s training is focused on helping software developers prepare for technical interviews.
The platform offers over 2,000 problems designed to improve technical proficiency. It also includes real-world interview questions from some of the world’s top tech companies. Currently, it supports 14 programming languages. Learners who sign up also gain access to a suite of powerful development tools.
Like Coursera, Udacity develops and maintains its content library through collaboration with industry leaders like IBM and Google.
Founded by a pair of Stanford instructors who decided to offer a free Introduction to Artificial Intelligence course, Udacity now hosts training on everything from generative AI to digital marketing. The platform also offers unique Nanodegree Programs that provide in-depth technical knowledge while helping learners develop job-relevant skills.
The big draw of LinkedIn Learning is right there in the name: It’s directly integrated with the professional social network. Learners can complete over 160,000 courses, earning certificates they can display on their LinkedIn profiles. LinkedIn Learning also offers structured learning paths, AI-driven course recommendations, and a wide selection of skill assessments.
Billing itself as an all-in-one training solution, GoSkills is a powerful microlearning platform that supports both gamification and adaptive training. It offers a range of technical courses along with team training tools so organizations can monitor overall employee progress.
Businesses can access GoSkills’ intuitive course builder to quickly design personalized interactive lessons, drawing on AI and the platform’s extensive content library.
We’ve reviewed some of the best technical skills development software and resources.
Now, consider how your organization can make the most of them. Have a look at 5 Best Practices for Technical Training.