| In-Centre workshop days are often sold as a positive | | | | that embarrassment with video workshops and |
| by many training providers. In reality, they're a | | | | one-to-one live 24x7 support when we need it. |
| leftover relic from the time when IT courses were | | | | Workshops usually mean taking holiday allowance |
| predominantly taught via books and training manuals, | | | | from work rather than un-paid leave. As most of us |
| and needed college back-up to ensure full | | | | only have 20 days a year, if half of that or more is |
| understanding. Modern training courses have moved | | | | taken up with training, it doesn't leave much time for |
| on to state-of-the-art interactive instruction, leaving | | | | holidays and family time. And that's assuming your |
| the books and in-centre brigade far behind. | | | | boss can accommodate those holiday dates, and give |
| Apart from being part of an antiquated teaching | | | | you the time off. |
| system, in-centre workshops have many more | | | | Most training companies provide Monday to Friday |
| hidden negatives for the student. There's a great | | | | workshop availability, and typically group two to three |
| deal of travelling required, as colleges can be a long | | | | days together. This can be a big chunk of time away |
| way away from students homes. This can mean | | | | from the job and home - especially if travelling time |
| spending hundreds of pounds on petrol and | | | | has to be the night before. |
| accommodation, in addition to the often inflated | | | | It's also important for many students to keep their |
| course fees. An MCSE might typically have 10 | | | | training private. Most don't want to sacrifice potential |
| in-centre workshops, with at least one overnight stop | | | | advancement and pay-rises from their current job |
| each time. Let's assume you can't get cheaper than | | | | whilst they're training, but how long can it be kept |
| 35 pounds for accommodation, 40 pounds for petrol | | | | secret if there are five workshops to attend in a |
| and 15 pounds for food. That's 90 pounds per visit, | | | | year? Employers might feel a little different towards |
| or close to a whopping one thousand pounds for 10 | | | | someone who they know is training to get into a |
| visits - often more! | | | | different industry. |
| Organising suitable dates can often turn into a | | | | Finally, many students have jobs which regularly take |
| logistical nightmare - finding available relevant | | | | them away from home. Fitting time in for friends and |
| workshops that fit in with your current job and | | | | family is challenging enough, but this makes workshop |
| family commitments, and happen to coincide with | | | | time almost impossible. |
| your study needs can be nigh on impossible at times. | | | | How much easier to simply watch and learn at your |
| Workshops fill up quickly, so colleges either end up | | | | own convenience, from pre-filmed, one-to-one |
| excluding people, or taking larger numbers than is | | | | instructor classes. When you have a question, use |
| ideal. | | | | the inclusive 24x7 live support (which you should |
| Invariably group workshops will consist of differing | | | | insist on for technical career courses). You can |
| ability levels, which can create tension between those | | | | re-watch and re-cover modules as many times as |
| who want to go faster or slower. Many of us feel | | | | you like, until the knowledge has sunk in. With no |
| awkward asking questions in front of other students, | | | | need for note taking and hassle, you'll preserve time, |
| especially when they're not regular class-mates who | | | | money and your sanity by choosing interactive |
| we're familiar with. Questions get left un-asked | | | | learning from the comfort of your PC. |
| because we don't want to appear stupid! Contrast | | | | |