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New Ways To Teach IT Pros New Tricks

It's your turn: Tell me which training methods work for you.

When friends and family invariably ask the question, "So, tell me again what it is you do for a living?", anymore I usually respond with, "I deal in words." And yet those words come out through any of a number of different media: in print, online, via video and audio, in-person at conferences and classroom training activities and through interactive multimedia experiences.

I see my job as getting into the brain of you, the IT professional, and figuring out what exactly you need to learn to do your job, and then to present that information at the time you need it. But there are so many media out there for helping my fellow IT pro understand technology as it evolves in our chosen profession. So I figured this week I'd use this medium to gauge your opinion on how the other media are doing. At the same time, I hope we can share a little about the best ways in which that information transfer works for us.


Let's take a look at a list of the available methods we've got today for getting information into your noggin':

  • Print magazines -- Great information and friendly layout. Perfect for new information you wouldn't necessarily search for. Only updated once a month.
  • On-line magazines -- Faster to "press" with new material than traditional print, and a more formal editorial processes than blogging.
  • Blogs and blog comments -- Highly informal and occasionally incorrect due to the (often lack of) editing process. But arguably fastest to get up-to-the-second info. Commenting features allow for bi-directional communication.
  • Forums -- Best for finding resolutions to problems. Not often used for dissemination of new information.
  • Multimedia experiences -- An amalgamation of text, video, and audio, with built-in simulations and test questions.
  • Clip-based training -- Five minutes at a clip gets you the step-by-step fast.
  • Traditional computer-based training -- Longer videos that sometimes include actors and typically work through an entire topic in depth.
  • Classroom training -- Expensive, but extremely in-depth on a specific topic.
  • IT conferences -- Often as expensive on a day-by-day basis as classroom training, but more diverse topics and the ability to change topics throughout the course of the week.

So, here are my questions to you:

  • Of these, which are your favorite ways to learn?
  • Which do you feel does the best job of doing the teaching?
  • And which aren't worth the cash?

Let me know with your comments here and in the process we'll all learn about how we learn from each other.

About the Author

Greg is an independent author, speaker, and IT consultant, as well as a Founding Partner with Concentrated Technology. With nearly 15 years in information technology, Greg has developed extensive experience in systems administration, engineering, and architecture specializing in Microsoft OS, remote application, and virtualization technologies.  Greg is a Contributing Editor and columnist for TechNet Magazine, a former columnist for Redmond Magazine and Virtualization Review Magazine, and has authored or contributed to ten books and countless white papers and webcasts. His writing is regularly seen in publications like TechTarget online, e-books from Realtime Publishers, and the UK-based IT EXPERT Magazine.  He has also produced numerous video training series for CBT Nuggets.


Reader Comments:

Tue, Aug 5, 2008 Dennis Barr Anonymous

Greg, I find that I get the most in-depth information on new topics from digital-format magazines. They're laid out like their print cousins, but they're searchable and I can print articles that I find interesting and want to keep for later reference.

For immediate, urgent problem-solving information, I find that forums are most helpful, with blogs coming in second. Google has become my main avenue for finding the particular forum or blog I need, although there are some help sites that I visit routinely if I have something of a slightly less urgent nature.

Traditional CBT and clip training are useful for getting something close to hands-on training, particularly if there are simulations available that allow for interactive learning.

The least valuable channels for getting training, unfortunately, are IT conferences (either too much information and too little time to digest it, or too little information in insufficient depth) and short-course classroom training (too much info, too little time). More traditional semester-length classes at a community college or tech center are a lot more useful (at least for me), because there's generally time to absorb the material much more completely.

Tue, Aug 5, 2008 Jon H Colorado

correction: I inadvertantly listed EventID twice in the section where I listed my favorite sites for quick answers. That sentence should have read, "...... and for that I turn to Google, TechNet, EventID, Windows IT Pro website and occasionally ExpertExchange."

Tue, Aug 5, 2008 Jon H Colorado

Unfortunately, time and urgency tend to dictate how and where I look for information and new knowledge. If time were not a factor I would prefer opportunities for hands-on learning with immediate feedback, extension, and application. I've had positive experiences with workshops, seminars, and even classroom training.
Most often, I need quick answers to immediate problems, and for that I turn to Google, TechNet, EventID, Windows IT Pro website, and occasionally EventID.
I would love to see more vendors offer a library of 5 minute demonstration clips on their websites to extend the knowledge provided in "quick start" manuals and configuration guides. I woud also like to see more moderated User Forums on vendor websites. Where we could all learn from each other and perhaps occasionally offer the vendor ideas for their next release.

Tue, Aug 5, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous

You did not mention books which is the method use a lot and email newsletters although I suppose a case could be made to include those in on-line magazines since the only ones I actually use are the ones that they provide. Also the newsletters come more frequently than the published on-line magazine and may contain different information which is the reason I think be its own item in the list. I do not often use formal classroom training because their schedule and mine seldom match. Conferences are generally too expensive and hard to get too since none are held near my location.

Tue, Aug 5, 2008 Todd Alabama

Like Brian said earlier, email is a simple, quick fix. Me personally, I susbscribe to dozens of newsletters and I cull the headers to see what I am interested in learning. Regarding the other mediums;
Favorite 1: Print magazines. These deliver content that we don't necessarily "know" we are looking for. I can pick one up, skim it is 5 or 10 minutes and pull what's interesting. Online mags supplement this as they can dive deeper, or hit less popular subjects that didn't make the print version.
Fav 2: Email newsletters. More tech or product class drive (ex. Mark Minasi newsletter, TechCrunch, Virtualization geared, etc...)
Fav 3: Web sites and Google specifically. This is where we all most likely go for targeted information.
Fav 4: IT Conferences. No doubt, these are expensive, but I've gotten huge return on attneding ones like HDI, and ITIL, as well as vendor community type things like MS, ConnectWise, etc....
Fav 5: Forums, for tech support or installation questions
Fav 6: Blogs: This is where you can find info on the less common stuff, like service level management, or service catalogs, and other emerging disciplines that aren't so "techy" but are critical to competently delivering support and value. Good article.
Alot aren't worth the cash: Classroom training with a caveat. MS classroom training, they should pay us, there is so much marketing and "It can do that" without any meat.
Tha being said, Citrix training is spot on, very worthwhile.

Tue, Aug 5, 2008 Rick J San Diego

Nice roundup of mediums for training. While all have merit, I gain the most from classroom training. It is expensive, but usually offers hands on workshops and an instructor is available for immediate problem resolution.

For me, hands on, lots of visuals and examples work best. All the mediums a capable of providing this type of learning experience but not all of them chose that style.

I enjoy your columns because you present problems, solutions, and examples.

Tue, Aug 5, 2008 Brian K KY

Not mentioned: both email and web sites. Emails like the one I read to respond to this. Manuals and how-tos available from vendor sites.
Not sure if you write books, but resources like books 24x7 that are both fast and searchable - and always have a new version than my printed books. Have greatly helped me with programming, as that is a small part of my job. Not that I haven't written over 500 line programs ...
I have been very disappointed in training - both class room and interactive. I prefer self-study at this point.
I try to keep what little training I am asked to due fun, using powerpoint and other interaction - like asking many questions of the students. Trying to make it two way as possible.
Unfortunately, my last few training classes could have served public better by giving me the book - AND the time to read it.
Keep the emails coming, you are one of the few I actually take time to read!

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