AWS Training and Certification Blog

Enhance your real-world skills with AWS Cloud Quest and AWS Jam

In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, hands-on experience and practical skills are crucial to keep pace and help you stand out to potential employers. AWS recognizes this need and offers engaging and interactive learning resources such as AWS Cloud Quest and AWS Jam. These learning experiences provide participants with an immersive environment that not only teaches technical concepts but also cultivates real-world competencies. Let’s explore how these innovative learning initiatives help individuals build tangible skills that are applicable in professional settings.

AWS Cloud Quest

AWS Cloud Quest is a game-based learning experience designed to make mastering AWS services both fun and rewarding. Participants embark on a journey through a series of challenges, quests, and puzzles that require them to apply their knowledge of AWS services to solve real-world scenarios. By completing tasks learners progress through levels and unlock new content, reinforcing their understanding of AWS concepts in a dynamic and engaging way. Once they complete all the assignments in the quest, they are awarded a digital badge that they can display to illustrate their skill proficiency. There are several AWS Cloud Quest versions that could be utilized by learners: AWS Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner (available free), AWS Cloud Quest: Solutions Architect, AWS Cloud Quest: Generative AI, and AWS Cloud Quest: Security Specialty, to name a few, and are available via AWS Skill Builder subscription. For those interested in diving deep into AWS solutions for healthcare, financial services, or automotive and manufacturing, check out AWS Industry Quest too!

a screenshot of the virtual 3D world of AWS Clout quest, showcasing a downtown city scape with high rise buildings, construction cranes, a seaport, and more.

A screenshot of the virtual 3D world of AWS Cloud Quest

AWS Jam Journey and AWS Jam for Teams

AWS Jam is another hands-on learning option that provides a simulated environment to experiment with AWS services and solutions, either as part of a team or solo. You’ll gain firsthand experience and confidence using AWS tools and technologies to solve real-world challenges in a specified time frame. If you’re wanting to go solo, check out the more than 12 AWS Jam Journeys ranging from machine learning, to security, to DevOps, and more. AWS Jam for Teams offers events that feature real-world use cases and scenarios, allowing participants to gain practical insights into how AWS services can address business challenges and drive innovation. Both are available in AWS Skill Builder subscription.

Reason #1: Hands-On Learning

One of the key features of each AWS Cloud Quest and AWS Jam is its emphasis on hands-on learning. Instead of passively consuming information, participants actively engage with AWS services in simulated environments. This hands-on approach allows learners to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from their experiences, mirroring the challenges they may encounter in real-world scenarios. By working through practical exercises and scenarios, participants develop the confidence and proficiency needed to apply their skills in actual projects and environments. In Jam, participants have the option to request a clue if they get stuck, but the game incentivizes independent problem solving and exploration. The fewer clues or guidance the learner requests, the higher the point total will be at the end!

Reason #2: Building Real-World Competency

AWS Cloud Quest and AWS Jam go beyond traditional training methods by focusing on building real-world competency. In Cloud Quest, gamification elements such as leader boards, achievements, and social sharing, motivate participants to strive for mastery and excellence. The simulated real-world challenges and scenarios also helps learners develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking abilities, and the ability to make informed decisions – all essential competencies for success in today’s tech industry. In Jam, you have the opportunity to work as a team, helping foster collaboration, communication, and teamwork skills, which are essential in professional environments. AWS Jam events provide participants with opportunities to connect and network with peers, mentors, and industry professionals. These connections can lead to valuable insights, career opportunities, and collaborations beyond the event itself.

Conclusion

AWS Cloud Quest and AWS Jam are invaluable resources for individuals looking to enhance their technical skills and build real-world competency in AWS Cloud computing. By combining gamification elements, hands-on learning experiences, and real-world scenarios, these platforms offer a unique and effective approach to learning that prepares participants for success in professional settings. Whether you’re a seasoned IT professional or just starting your cloud journey, AWS Cloud Quest and AWS Jam provide opportunities to learn, grow, and excel in the ever-changing world of cloud technology.