Re: Macromedia online training classes

I paid $30 each for two Element-K self-study tutorials for Authorware
Attain, through SmartPlanet.com in the past month or so.   Both courses were
pretty good, but I'm glad I had some experience using the software prior to
the tutorials. I am an "Instructor/Instructional developer" full time, and
my company paid for a few of us to attend an authorized Macromedia class
last year on the job.  Instructors from an approved Macromedia vendor were
sent in-house to teach Authorware for two weeks.  Basically the same
fundamentals that were in the two on-line classes I just took.

I'm not sure if I would recommend the Element-K cbt's or not, but  think it
was a good refresher for me.  Even though I found them to be pretty good for
the most part, I think  they are missing a lot of important skills and
information for someone never using the product before. I think they were
missing a lot of meat.  Alternatively, if you price good training these
days, the cost of on-line learning is far less expensive.  I guess you get
what you pay for.

If I didn't have access to any other form of training or if my budget was
tight, I think it is a good way to go.  Although, you can probably get the
same instruction by purchasing a "good book" (recommended by previous users)
on the subject and knuckling down to the task, joining discussion groups
like this one and asking questions.

Don Haller
Sr. Training Specialist
Westinghouse Savannah River Co.
Radiological Training Programs


----- Original Message -----
From: "Katherine Pollara" <kpollara(at)home.com>
To: "Sandra White" <swhite(at)UBmail.ubalt.edu>; "Hwg-Basics(at)Hwg.Org"
<hwg-basics(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Monday, March 19, 2001 12:34 PM
Subject: Re: Macromedia online training classes


> Sandra,
> I see the words elementK in the URL you sent.  This tells me that it an
> element K publication is going to be used for the class.  You might want
to
> go to either bookpool.com or ElementK's own website or to any other online
> book source to get a feel for the feedback on this publication.
>
> I have used Element K titles for two classes so far.  The one I used in my
> Oracle class was so full of typos that I nearly was going to send them an
> editing bill for requiring me to read that crap.  My ASP class is using
> another EK title.  I would say that you should read other publications as
> well since my feeling is that you will not get a full background on these
> topics if you rely solely on the EK input.  Perhaps with Macromedia there
> will be other support materials online as well.  This might make it a very
> effective course.  Once you do your homework, please share your
conclusions
> with us.
>
> Online training can be just about as effective as classroom training, but
it
> depends on the assignments and how intensive they are.  Anyone who has
taken
> any of the hwg classes can attest to their quality.  I learned a lot from
> them, but you are quite dependent on the text or other materials the
teacher
> supplies for reading.  I prefer having a text myself for future reference
> and I hate printing out 20 pages from the web on cheap copy paper when I
can
> have the same thing in a textbook that lasts almost indefinitely.
>
> Good luck.
> Kate Pollara
>
>

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