The Ten Costly Misconceptions About IT Training
Response:
All training for the same Certifications must be the same:
There are variations in material, support and course development which makes a huge difference to your training and career progress.
If your training material is not up-to-date, you may be training for an old defunct exam.
If your tutors are not trained in the subject you are covering, how will you get assistance when you need it - and what are your tutors hours?
Can you get help in the evening after work when you need it, or do they only operate in the daytime?
How was the training material developed? Was it with the vendors such as Microsoft, CIW, Cisco, etc. or was it designed without their approval? ^top
Video training is better than interactive training:
Video training tends to be a substitute for classroom training where you have a tutor talk to you and possibly show you the information being covered.
In tests, it is better for course progression and retaining information that you are not only given video information, but interactive training where you do the tasks, tests and simulations, reading and hearing.
All of which ensures that you pick up the information and retain it easier.
So a combination of learning styles helps you become skilled and more knowledgeable quicker. ^top
You need to go to a classroom to get hands-on experience:
This is one of the most popular fallacies regarding Distance Learning and e-Learning training.
Most people who attend classroom based training believe that they receive more hands-on training, whereas the opposite tends to be true!
In a classroom based environment it is usual for Students to be sharing PC's. Even if they do have their own workstation, they are also usually not doing hands-on tasks for the majority of their training time as they are listening to lectures.
Once they leave the classroom for the evening, they do not have access to the classroom PC's (or indeed get any Support) if they decide to study at home or do homework.
With Distance Learning and e-Learning you have access 24/7 to your training material where you can get hands-on experience.
You can go over the same tasks over and over again, until you are comfortable as you are not competing with other Students in a classroom environment.
Simulations are also provided to reinforce training and as a practice for real-life exams which include simulations. ^top
You need to speak to a tutor when you need help:
From experience, telephone Support does not work as effectively as live chat room environments.
Tests have shown that when a student calls Support they may not have all the facts to hand and the tutor has to make an observation or give input which is not based on the whole picture.
The tutor may give a glib answer or a long answer which the Student then has to remember once he/she comes off the telephone - which will hopefully resolve the issue.
By using an online chat room environment, it has been proven that the Student tends to write more information.
The tutor then has to assess the information and write a reply. The system works well as the Student is always linked to a qualified tutor who knows the subject the Student is studying.
The tutor then replies with a proper written answer which the Student has a record of when he goes back to his studies.
If the Student still has an issue, then the history of the issue is still there so the Student does not need to go through the whole thing again.
This method of resolving study issues works very well for both Student and tutor as more information is given and received. ^top
It’s better to get a tutor assigned to you:
If you have a tutor assigned to you what happens when the tutor takes a holiday? What do you do when he is off sick?
What hours will this tutor cover and how many people will he be responsible for?
Will your tutor mark your tests - and other Students tests? How long will this take and will it hold up your progress?
It is better to have access to a team of tutors who are qualified in your subject and who have various backgrounds and experience.
This way you have access 24/7 to qualified support and can benefit from their different industry understanding. ^top
You need to buy the software to study on:
This can be true in some instances but not all, as training can be provided in simulated environments.
Exams are usually multiple choice and simulations and not based on hand-on labs.
Distance Learning and e-learning prepares you for the exam as well as giving you hands-on experience - as the training software emulates the software you are working on.
This allows you to train within a safe, controlled environment.
Networking is a prime example. Using Distance Learning and e-Learning material allows you to study at home without having to set up a large network.
Your study material emulates the network environment allowing you to experience the same situations as a real network - without the cost of hardware and software (or the space it would take up in your home!). ^top
You can get the same training from a book in the shops and get qualified that way:
If this were true there would be no need for any educational establishments - but schools, colleges and universities exist!
Studying from a book is very one-dimensional and does not give the whole picture.
Many people attempt to learn their chosen subject through reading a book but usually falter as there is no interaction, no support and no direction.
It would be doubtful for an employer to take someone on on the basis that they had read a £14.99 book rather than completing a training course and sitting the appropriate technical exams.
So it is very difficult to get the same educational experience from a book, plus there is one added issue in IT....
The IT industry is very fast moving and any training needs to keep up-to-date with industry and curricula changes.
By the time someone writes a book, gets it published and on to the shop shelves, there is a very good chance that it is already out of date. ^top
Employers are looking for experience, not Certifications:
A great deal of people are in IT already but have no qualifications. They can’t move into a new job as the industry recognises both experience and Certifications - and they haven't got the Certification which employers want.
There are also new people entering the industry with no experience but with Certifications.
A lot of jobs are advertised to have both, but the reality is most employers are “trawling."
They cast a wide net out and hope to get similar or as near to what they have asked for in the job ad. They accept though that they will be unlikely to get both, so someone with professional Certifications will more often than not be favoured over someone who has no Certifications.
By studying a subject and updating your CV you can inform employers before you complete the training or Certifications about what you are trying to do.
They will be able to see first hand that you are a motivated individual who has invested money and time to achieve an IT career.
Employers recognise this and are more likely to offer you a position as a trainee or junior before exams or the completion of your course. ^top
An IT degree is better than specific Certifications:
Degrees tend to be generalised and don’t prepare you for a specific IT position.
Many Students realise after completing their degree (even an IT degree) that employers are looking for the appropriate industry Certification to prove that they have the relevant, applicable training.
Unfortunately, it is a real issue that employers do not feel that achieving a degree gives someone the ability to walk in and run their IT systems. They much prefer the specific Certification which means that the job applicant can begin working right away without further training. ^top
I'll apply for an IT job and get the employer to pay for my training:
Employers generally will not pay for training for an unskilled person, unless you are already working for them and you are already beginning to work in the IT environment for them.
They know that once they have trained you and you gain your Certifications, you are worth more and will either ask for a pay rise or move to a new company who will pay you more!
So it is very unusual that they will take on a new job applicant.
However, as suggested above, employers are keen to take on juniors and trainees who are already studying. They may even reward each exam or Certification by incremental pay rises which is an added incentive to study. ^top
Report Ends.
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