Fast-track courses

KLWong — Thu, 25 Jan 2001 18:27:19 +0000

Since they're usually hands-on (each student has his/her own computer), they work pretty well, especially if you start using your new skills immediately. If your boss pulls you off to something else when you get back to the office, retention is much lower (said from experience). I have no idea what the cost runs...

You still need a book of some sort to reference afterward, of course...

Mark Hensler — Wed, 24 Jan 2001 07:04:27 +0000

I've never been to a fast-trake class. Do those really work? And are the considerably more expensive?

KLWong — Tue, 23 Jan 2001 23:23:29 +0000

Yes, books, definitely. I started ASP with the Sams "Teach Yourself ASP in 21 days", although being an intermediate-level programmer it was more like 21 hours . Or less...

However, my employer has sent me to one- or two-day hands-on classes when I need to learn something for work -- that's how I learned CF -- and that has worked out pretty well, too. (For "hobby" things, though, classes are just too expensive and time-consuming; none of my work sites use ASP.) If you're looking for fast-track classes, it's probably best to check your yellow pages. Often the ads you find there for local training firms will have URLs for further investigation.

Mark Hensler — Tue, 23 Jan 2001 21:44:18 +0000

To your local bookstore. It's cheaper and faster.

I've always felt that school was too slow. But if you need some kind of certificate or diploma, then school is where they need to go.

Everything I know, except C++, I learned on my own. And I was able to learn more than a class would teach, faster than the 18 weeks a class would take.
AND... no homework! YEAH!! So I was able to start my own useful projects. (instead of the pointless/useless projects they assign)