I decided to learn ruby on rails (via http://ruby.railstutorial.org/ I highly recommend it) and stackexchange.com has been an invaluable resource. Both as I learn the ruby language, and troubleshoot issues as I'm coding.
When I want to learn a new technology, I start following a tag and silently lurk for a while and then start answering to the questions. I have been able to learn so much by answering question on SO.
Same. I love using the most-voted question list to see what types of issues I'm likely to face using the technology.
me too! I'm having fun learning Rails with the Rails 3 Tutorial.