How to Become a Technology-Literate Product Manager?

Top 6 free tech courses that will help you land a new job (or keep the existing one)

Recently I spoke with a few Product Managers from my network. They do not have a technical background. And they struggle with many technical terms and concepts.

The Product Manager doesn’t have to be a tech expert, but she has to be a technology-literate person.

Here are the top 6 free tech courses that will help you land a new job (or keep the existing one):

1. SQL by SQLBolt

Quickly learn SQL in your browser using a set of interactive lessons and exercises.

Completing this course will help you understand:

• What are relational databases

• How to write SQL queries

• How to filter and sort data

• How to use aggregates

• How to manipulate database rows

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 4-8 hours (18 lessons)

• Certificate: No

Course: https://sqlbolt.com/

2. Programming for Everybody by the University of Michigan

This course will help you understand basic concepts.

You will:

• Write your first application in Python

• Understand the basics of Python

• Use variables to store, retrieve and calculate data

• Utilize functions and loops

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 19 hours

• Certificate: Yes

Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/python?specialization=python

3. HTML5 & CSS3

Everything you need to know about two pillars of web apps: HTML and CSS.

This course will help you understand:

• How to define the content of web apps

• How to add paragraphs, images, lists

• How to nest elements

• How to change colors, fonts, text size, and borders

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 3h 5m video

• Certificate: Paid

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/master-the-basics-of-html5-css3-beginner-web-development/

4. JavaScript

Short introductory course to JavaScript.

An experienced developer will explain basic concepts like:

• Conditions

• Loops

• Functions

• Objects

• Arrays

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 1h 40m video

• Certificate: No

Course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdI2bqOjy3c

5. Algorithms and Data Structures

A great course on Algorithms and Data Structures.

After completing the first part, you will:

• Have an overview of data structures

• Learn terms like list, stack, queue, binary tree, and hash table

• Know algorithms like binary search, quicksort, and mergesort

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner (required basic programming skills)

• Time: 5h 37m video

• Certificate: Paid

Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/data-structures-part-1-lognacademy/

6. Introduction to AI by the University of Helsinki

A free online course for anybody interested in AI that does not involve complicated math or code.

After completing this course, you will understand:

• What is AI

• What kind of problems can be solved using AI

• What is machine learning

• How neural networks work

• What are possible AI implications for the future

Details:

• Price: Free

• Level: Beginner

• Time: 16 hours (6 modules)

• Certificate: Yes

Course: https://course.elementsofai.com/

7. BONUS

A few additional terms every PM should understand:

• DevOps and CI/CD: https://lnkd.in/dyXgmGeq

• Design Patterns: https://lnkd.in/ddvgWq-r

• Microservices: https://lnkd.in/dYggkyYJ

• Business Intelligence: https://lnkd.in/diMt7gfP

• Cloud Computing: https://lnkd.in/dRD_P9Nn

• Test Driven Development (TDD): https://lnkd.in/d_8mmQN7

• 25 functional testing types: https://lnkd.in/dYHDT4Ua

• XML: https://www.w3schools.com/xml/xml_whatis.asp

• JSON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiADhChRriM

• WebService vs. API: https://blog.hubspot.com/website/web-services-vs-ap

• Webhooks: https://zapier.com/blog/what-are-webhooks/