How To Pick The Right Computer Training Provider

As we mature, our training needs change. In adolescence our teaching has to give us structure, as we're still developing self-discipline and we don't always understand why knowledge is relevant. We have to learn to deal with people, which is a massive learning curve all on its own.

Throw in a few hormones, peer pressure and trying to work out who we are, and it's amazing that we do any learning at all!

Thankfully as adults we can put all that behind us. Adult learning courses are all about effective learning systems that fit around our other commitments. If you're learning for career reasons, then it's also vital that the course content fits with what the industry's looking for.

Firstly there are classroom based colleges, universities and boot camps. These require you putting your life on hold to study. Their method of delivery is tutorial, backed up with technical books. All students are expected to go at the same rate throughout the course which inevitably causes challenges. If you're unable to attend, you have to catch up.

With a boot camp you'll romp through a syllabus in 10 to 12 weeks that usually takes two years, so don't even think of missing one session or you'll never catch up. These courses are designed to get you through an exam and no more. Your ability to do the job based on what you learn is limited and employers are not impressed by this type of training. The only students who should really use such courses are experienced IT workers who are upgrading their certifications to the latest level. They are definitely not for the student planning to enter the world of IT.

With colleges and universities, the courses tend to be more academic and are not necessarily in-tune with current industry requirements.  It's often difficult for the student to enter industry until they've gained some additional commercial skills.

Secondly there are home based commercial training providers. These offer by far the most convenient way to learn, but some adults worry they'll need the structure of a classroom. Actually, this isn't usually the case with the right training; it's just a strong recollection from adolescent days.

There are some very good commercial training providers, but also some very bad ones. Always check the quality of their training materials; if they have nothing to show you, don't buy. The most user-friendly way to study today is with interactive on-screen training. It's so much easier and more engaging than books. It also improves your recall of what you've learned because it provides multi-sensory input.

Good training providers will give you direct access to tutors at the time you intend to study - evening and weekends. Ask specific questions to check. (Some companies '24x7 Support' is merely a message system out of office hours.) Additionally, they need to provide a Microsoft/Cisco/CompTIA authorised exam preparation system - be wary of learning in a specific style, only to be in an exam which uses different phraseology and terms.

A few final tips:

• Don't pay for exams fees up-front - it will cost you more.
  
• A good quality course shouldn't need to be backed up by classroom visits (a huge additional expense).
  
• Old style training is much more expensive than modern interactive training and produces fewer successful students.

Picking the right IT trainer is simply a matter of research. Don't be afraid to ask questions - after all, it's your future we're talking about.

(C) 2009 LearningLolly