How to prepare yourself for computer training
Firstly I am not trying to sell
you a particular training course! This is a genuine trainer's eye view of technical
computer training.
Think of computer training as climbing a spiral
staircase. The key to progress is each time you go around the spiral
you reach a higher skill level. When you reach the top the view is
breathtaking! This spiral model of learning is particularly true of
Windows 2008. How to choose the best training course
Training, educating, and advising have been a large part of my life
during the last 20 years. This is my independent advice on how to
choose the training method to suit your learning style.
 Windows
Server 2008 Enterprise Admin
Train Signal have an excellent Windows Server 2008 course. You get over 70
hrs instruction with Ed Liberman and Ben "Coach" Culbertson. Try their
step-by-step videos and master Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Admin.
The package includes the Transcender exams, which are the key to gaining the
coverted Microsoft Certified IT Professional certification. However, the
course also builds practical experience so that you can manage your network
effectively once you complete the course.
Watch a Demo of Train Signal's MCITP course
Learning is for life. Gone are the days when Philistines said
'you will never get me back into the classroom'. Today the
enlightened are demanding their training and the only problem is too much
choice.
My point: with technical training, one day will not do it, one week will
not do it; however, six months of working with product and training and
you will reach the top of that spiral staircase.
Why take pot luck with a training course? Take two minutes to
check that your proposed course really suits your experience and learning
style. There are many training companies, do their facilities, their
courses and their trainers suit you? Is classroom training best for your
or would a Computer Based Training package suit you better?
There is a new and better breed of Microsoft 2003 courses, here are
some of the improvements:
- Labs are better - they really make you think!
- More instructor demos
- Open ended questions replaced by multiple choice
- Even the Appendices have nuggets of information
- Where are you now?
- Where do you want to get to?
For help with your answers try:
- A training needs analysis (TNA) - to identify your knowledge gaps
- Read the course outlines - check that the course is right for you
Give a man
a fish, and feed him for a day.
Teach a man
to fish and he can feed himself for ever. (Anon)
My friend Mad
Mick says:
Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day,
drinking beer!
- Instructor Led Training - Classroom based
- Lecture
- Computer Based Training (CBT)
Instructor led course - check list:
- The exact software version? Windows 2008 Server, or
Professional
- Who is the course for? Techies, Administrators or Managers
- Which level is best for you? Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
- People ask me 'when is the best time for training?' As a rule
of thumb, I say 4 months after you first saw the package. Make
that 2 months for an introduction course, and 6 months for an advanced
course.
Lecture
Short lectures are useful for getting an overview or flavour of a
product. Lookout for free offerings. If you go to a computer
show then book a seminar or lecture.
Computer Based Training (CBT)
Here I speak as a trainer and tell you that CBT is my biggest
rival. Ten years ago CBT was a patchy; now it is good, in 10 years
it will overtake class room training. Already, the better classroom
courses use CBT simulations to illustrate abstract concepts.
See here for the best Computer Based Training
1) Read the course outlines
Less than 20% of my delegates read the course outline before their
training. As a consequence many are overqualified or worse, under
qualified for the course. The result is reduced learning efficiency
and frustration.
2) Check the pre-requisites
Pre-requisites give hidden messages telling you who the course is
intended for. The good news is you only need to meet 75% of the
pre-requisites or else you may be overqualified.
3) E-mail the instructor before you book the course
I always welcome contact with prospective contacts. This is a
win-win situation. You can make sure that the course will cover all
the topics that you need, while I keep your requirements in mind as I
rehearse the course.
4) If appropriate, book a company special
As a trainer, it is much easier to tailor the course if all the
delegates have the same aims. Company specials avoid the course
being hi-jacked by some-one who wants to run DOS applications on planet
Zog.
1) Get into your learning 'state'
Mentally prepare yourself, switch into learning mode. Rehearse
what questions you will ask, plan how you will make notes. Think of
an interesting personal fact, you may be asked this in the introduction
section. If you are serious about your course the read the topics before
hand.
2) Team work
Look out for opportunities to work with the other delegates; many of
the practical labs require a partner. So on the first morning look
around for a suitable delegate to team up with.
Network with the other delegates. Towards the end of the class
suggest getting an e-mail address list of your classmates. You may
be lucky and engineer the chance to visit another delegate's site which
will help you with a difficult project.
3) Help your instructor!
Make it easy for the instructor to deliver a good course, laugh at
their jokes, answer their questions, nod from time to time. Take
responsibility for your own learning. Any fool can criticise, and
most fools do!
4) Think - how can I apply this back at my work?
Buy a special little book. Write down 2 or 3 tips from each topic
that you can try when you get back to your base.
5) Plan to arrive on time. Ask for a map to the training centre
Statistically 2 out of 10 people reading this will be late for their
course because they underestimated the difficulty of finding the training
site. Make sure you are not one of them!
Windows
Server 2008 Enterprise Admin
Train Signal have an excellent Windows Server 2008 course. You get over 70
hrs instruction with Ed Liberman and Ben "Coach" Culbertson. Try their
step-by-step videos and master Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Admin.
The package includes the Transcender exams, which are the key to gaining the
coverted Microsoft Certified IT Professional certification. However, the
course also builds practical experience so that you can manage your network
effectively once you complete the course.
Watch a Demo of Train Signal's MCITP course
See Also
[FooterHitboxDevMon.htm]
|
