Whatever approach you take to learning and whichever type of IT Training you undertake, the aim is the same: To learn useful skills, as easily, quickly, and affordably, as possible.
Before you can decide which kind of IT Training is right for you, it is important that you understand the options as well as the pros and cons of each approach.
If you already understand the IT Training methods available, you will find the rest of the site contains information on IT Courses, how we train, the IT Careers we can help you achieve, and (for those who know exactly what they are looking for) the range of IT Certifications we cover.
Free Online Resources
The internet is full of information — some very useful, other less so — and much of it free.
Pros
They're free.
Cons
Even if you find what you are looking for, there are no guarantees to the accuracy of the information and, a lot of time can be wasted on this approach to study.
Once you are knowledgeable enough to know the good from the bad, and throughout your Career in IT, you will be able to use online resources for hints & tips, and ongoing learning.
Computer Based Training
Whether computer based simulations or simply training videos, Computer Based Training can be a very useful tool in any IT Training programme.
Pros
Some topics may be easier to demonstrate than describe.
Cons
A lot of time and money can be wasted on the wrong training; topics may not be explored as thoroughly as in other IT Training approaches; and it is more difficult to refer back to a topic covered several minutes into a video than it would be to look it up again in a book.
Self-Paced Training Kits
Some software and certification vendors, e.g. Microsoft, produce their own self-paced training kits to enable you to prepare for individual exams on your own.
Pros
Designed to be read at your own pace (subject to time constraints on bundled software) — and who should know better what is covered by an exam than its author?
Cons
The difficulty with this approach to studying on your own is knowing which IT Certifications and exams (there can be more than one route) to focus on, in which order, and when you encounter problems (as you certainly will), who do you turn to for further explanation?
Classroom Training
For those who are not sure they have the discipline for self-study, Classroom Training may be a tempting option.
Pros
A formal classroom setting may be ideal for some IT Training topics, particularly where specialised software or hardware are required.
Cons
The downsides are that you will be limited to working at the pace of the slowest student, on fixed dates, at fixed locations, and that you may have to attend a number of sessions over an extended period.
Bootcamps
An alternative to standard Classroom Training is a Bootcamp, where the aim is to cram as much information as possible into one or more days of IT Training.
Pros
Focussed training with on-hand support but without the timeframes often associated with standard Classroom Training.
Cons
This can work when brushing-up on new technologies or pursuing IT Certifications to back up existing skills but the pace and volume of information covered is often too much for a newcomer to maintain, absorb, and retain.
Unless your employer is sending you for IT Training it may also not be possible to take enough time off to attend several days of, often residential, training per IT Certification, exam, or topic in a year.
Braindumps
Despite exam vendor's best efforts to stop the practice, some people write down and make available (freely, or for a fee) the questions, answers, and (their best guesses at) the correct answers, after an exam — their use devalues IT Certifications.
Pros
Rather than learn the skills an exam may test, learn just what you need to pass it.
Cons
They're illegal, not always accurate, and if caught you may be banned from ever holding an IT Certification from that, or any other, vendor.
Even if you are not caught, your lack of deeper understanding will be uncovered on the job.
Home Study (aka Home Learning or Distance Learning)
Some IT Training providers supply materials you can work through on your own rather than having to attend Classroom Training sessions.
Pros
Study when and where it suits you, e.g. from the comfort of your own home, during breaks at work, on the commute to work, or even lying on the beach. Unlike Free Online Resources you can generally have faith that what you are reading is relevant and accurate.
Cons
Even if the IT Training provider offers support and timeframes there will always be times or topics where you would benefit from a face-to-face tutorial or classroom session.
Blended Learning
At the National IT Learning Centre we specialise only in IT Training for IT Jobs and we strongly believe that no one method is appropriate for every topic.
Based on over two decades experience in the industry, and as the first IT Training provider to deliver Microsoft certification to the Distance Learning market, our team of experienced technical trainers have devised a series of IT Courses and options that make use of the most appropriate IT Training methods at each and every step.
All of our training is backed by unrivalled support and is guided by your IT Career Profile, generated by our unique Online IT Career Profiler, which allows us to tailor your IT Training to suit you.
Pros
By blending the very best each type of IT Training has to offer, matched to the needs of the topic and the student, you get all of the Pros and none of the Cons of the individual methods of delivery.
Cons
What Cons? You bring the enthusiasm and we'll bring everything else.
What Now?
If you've already looked around our site, simply fill in the form to get your free eBrochure and access to your Online IT Career Profiler.
Otherwise, for more information on IT Courses, how we train, the IT Careers we can help you achieve, and (if you know exactly what you are looking for) the range of IT Certifications we cover, simply check out the appropriate pages.