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Anaya Dodge

Speaker background pattern Anaya Dodge

Junior Software Developer

@Rio Tinto

Anaya Dodge is a Software Developer at Rio Tinto, where she currently builds automated testing solutions for a data engineering platform.

A late career changer who moved from working alongside developers to becoming one, Anaya is passionate about making technology more accessible and supporting others navigating their own path in to tech. She mentors aspiring developers, teaches Django to She Codes students, and speaks on community panels.

Anaya is currently learning PHP and Laravel while sharing her journey live with the developer community.

LinkedIn

Talk Category: Career

Learning Laravel

Learning Laravel has never been easier. Between documentation, tutorials, community resources, and AI-powered tools, developers have more support than ever before. But with so many shortcuts available, how do you make sure you're actually learning rather than simply getting answers?

This talk explores the changing landscape of developer education and how to balance modern tools with the hands-on experience required to build lasting understanding.
Explore the trade-offs between accelerating learning with AI and developing the problem-solving skills that make developers effective over the long term.

Using examples from Laravel and the broader industry, this talk examines where AI can support learning, where over-reliance can create blind spots, and how developers can continue building strong foundations while taking advantage of modern tools.
You'll leave with practical strategies for using AI as a learning companion rather than a replacement for critical thinking.

Expect a framework for evaluating when AI is helping, when it may be limiting growth, and a practical checklist for strengthening understanding while still benefiting from the tools available today.
Ideal for developers already familiar with modern development workflows and AI tools who want to improve how they learn and grow their skills.
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