What is the training format? A hands-on teaching approach is best for detailed, keystroke-driven training, such as basic training and programming. Training geared toward conceptual learning and intermediate to advanced topics is more effective when it's delivered with a hands-off approach. Active demonstrations aid learning better than PowerPoint slide shows and printed material. Ask to see a syllabus and a list of the course materials for the class you're interested in. When you request this information, inquire about class size. If 14 or more students are in a hands-on laboratory class, one trainer won't be able to provide individual attention to everyone who needs it.
A relatively new training option is online training. If you choose online training, is it live or prerecorded? Do you have access to a qualified trainer and live discussion sessions? (For a more thorough look at the pros and cons of online training, see Robert McIntosh, "The Online Alternative," page 152.)
What training materials are used? Long after you've forgotten what the trainer told you, you'll have your course materials to fall back on. Are the materials thorough and helpful? Are they organized and easy to follow? How often are they updated? Training materials must be updated frequently to keep pace with constantly changing computer technology. If a company's training material is outdated, you'll have to write down a lot of extra information in class, and the company might not be keeping up with new developments.
Is the training facility comfortable and equipped for the state of the art? A company in the business of training needs to offer comfortable, well-lighted classrooms with enough space and equipment to accommodate each student. Training equipment must be up-to-date and in good working order.
Some training centers let prospective students sit in the back of an in-session class for an hour or so. If you take advantage of this option, observe how the computers are set up: Does each computer have enough space for the keyboard and mouse? Are the desks pushed so close together that the students are cramped and can't move freely?
Some companies do seminar training on the road, using hotels and convention centers to conduct seminars. These companies often hold classes in a physical environment that is not conducive to learning. If you're investigating such a seminar, inquire about the facility that will host the class and the amenities the facility will provide.
How does the company handle problems? How flexible is the company with regard to cancellations and refunds? Does the company's informational literature outline its policies on cancelled classes, trainer substitutions, required materials?
Does the company see training as a sales opportunity? Many training companies make extra materials available to their students. When extra material is appropriate, helpful, and reasonably priced, it can add to the quality of training. But the tuition you pay should cover the cost of all the materials you need to complete a training course, unless you're informed otherwise when you register. A training company that pressures students to buy extra training materials or equipment, or that surprises students after registration with a requirement that they purchase extra materials as a condition of completing a course, is not running an ethical operation.
Evaluating Trainers
Evaluating trainers without sitting through a few classes is difficult. Teaching is no less an art when it focuses on technical skill, and just because trainers know a lot about NT doesn't mean they can impart that knowledge effectively. Nevertheless, before you commit to taking a class with a particular trainer, here are three areas you can investigate. The information you gather won't establish absolutely that the trainer is a good teacher, but it will let you weed out the obviously unsuitable individuals.
What kind of experience does the trainer have? In teaching NT, real-life experience is just as crucial as teaching experience. Has the trainer worked with NT in a business or as a consultant? Has the trainer published articles or books about using NT that you can find and read? A trainer's teaching experience must be related to the subject the trainer is teaching: Having taught 200 seminars on financial planning doesn't qualify a trainer to teach a course titled "TCP/IP and Interconnectivity with UNIX and Windows NT." Don't be afraid to ask a training center for professional references for the instructors it employs.
Can the trainer provide evaluations from former students? At your request, some ATECs will supply you with copies of student evaluations of the ATEC's trainers (with the names of the students removed). Whether the trainer you're interested in works for an ATEC or an independent, ask for student evaluations. You can also call the customer support line at the training company and ask whether the company will give you the names of five students who have completed a course with a particular trainer during the past 3 months. Be sure to ask for student evaluations of a trainer--promotional literature is not a reliable source of information on which to base an evaluation of a trainer.
What certification does the trainer have? Certification establishes that an instructor has advanced training in a certain area. Although certification alone doesn't confirm a trainer's depth of knowledge or teaching ability, it does signify competence and a high level of professional expertise. (To get the pros and cons of certification, see Sean Daily, "Value of the MCSE Credential," page 134, and "Experience Is What Counts," page 136.)
Knowledge Is Power
You will increase your chances of choosing a training company that meets your needs if you take the time to gather the information that will help you make an informed decision. Spending a little time and effort before you attend the first class will boost the odds that the training center you choose meets, and maybe even exceeds, your expectations.
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