Certification Magazine
August 2006
By Eric Vanderburg

IT Training: Cardinal Virtues & Deadly Sins

The organization from which you receive your IT training will have a substantial effect on your understanding and proficiency within the technology of your choice, the quality of your skill set and, of course, your marketability. Not all IT training organizations are created equal, and the choice of which organization to partner with (or switch to) should be made carefully and knowingly. If you find yourself at one of the virtuous organizations, as we like to call them, you will no doubt learn a lot and be satisfied. Alternatively, you might end up at one of the more sinful establishments that will be detrimental to your success. Because you are probably paying a lot of money for IT training, it is important to be able to identify these virtuous and sinful organizations before you get in a parable trap.

Just as the IT organizations are not all equal, the sins and virtues of each rise to different levels. Some sins are deadly, others mere equivalents of “white lies.” Some virtues are cardinal, others mere bonuses. An organization with even one of the deadly sins should be avoided. These sins are immediate deal breakers while other sins have proverbal warning signs. Conversely, those organizations with cardinal virtues should be pursued because these are rare indeed.

Here are the seven “deadly” critical categories of sins and virtues: instructor qualifications, equipment, cost, sales, enjoyability, teaching strategy and reputation. As is true with many sins in the religious sense, sinning is nothing more than a failure to be virtuous — it is virtuous to be without pride, but sinful to be prideful. Those organizations, therefore, which adhere religiously to these critical categories, possess the cardinal virtues, but those neglecting the virtues are, well, “dead in their sins.”

Instructor Qualifications
The first thing you should look for are qualified instructors who possess both industry knowledge related to the subject and certifications covering what they teach. One without the other is not sufficient. Those without industry experience cannot answer questions outside the material, while those who are not certified cannot direct you toward the certification objectives. The worst type of instructors are those with “paper certifications” because they lack both industry and certification knowledge.

Some organizations might employ instructors who have been certified but lack the skill set to properly identify potential issues that an IT professional will experience in the field. Have you ever had the experience of having a person uneducated in IT try to instruct you on how to solve the problem they asked you to fix? Their advice is more than useless: It is often absurd, irrelevant and downright annoying. It is both frustrating and ineffective to receive instruction concerning a topic that your instructor has never experienced. Instructors without real-world experience will not be able to address issues that deviate from the official curriculum, and they will not be able to give you a good picture of how the technology really works.

The opposite occurs when an organization hires instructors with experience without a certification. It is hard, if not impossible, to prepare students for a certification exam when the instructors have not taken the exams themselves. Instructors must explain how an exam is structured, how to prepare and how to attack exam questions.

This sin becomes most deadly when organizations hire instructors with “paper certifications.” Paper certification holders are those who obtained the certification but did not retain the knowledge tested. On the outside, these individuals might seem like any other certified professional, but they lack the most vital aspect of IT: working knowledge. This person won't offer real-world value that merits any working experience whatsoever, thus leaving you, the consumer/student, with insufficient knowledge for adequate preparation. These “instructors” embody the unflattering adage: “Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.”

Virtuous training centers employ certified instructors who have both real-world experience along with true teaching experience. Also, for some vendor training and IT academies, there is an official trainer certification that must be obtained to teach in that field. Qualified instructors rely on working experience as well as their comprehension of thick manuals, whitepapers and certification objectives to be able to clearly and concisely explain the ins and outs of specific technologies.

Teaching Strategy
The teaching strategy of a training provider has a few components. One component is the adaptability of the instructor to recognize different learning styles and teach accordingly. Also, instructors should be comfortable with multiple delivery methods and use new teaching technologies and material. Another strategic component is a proper blend of theory and practice. The last component is the use of metrics to measure your progress.

With adaptability in mind, you will need to be in an environment where the teaching is geared, at least in part, with your learning style. An inflexible instructor might use group work with shy introverted students or use only printed resources with those who learn best hands-on. Before signing up, take some time to talk with the instructor to see if you click. You should be able to realize whether or not you will effectively learn from the instructor as you ask a few questions and listen to his or her explanations.

Virtuous organizations will assess their students' various learning styles and will teach with multiple modalities. This enables the teacher to use different methods to reach each person. In this setting, a teacher could lecture using a whiteboard demonstration, a story from personal experience, questions to the class and PowerPoint presentations. These variations help motivate students to learn the material and facilitate retention as well. Some training takes place online, through virtual labs or videos while other training might take place in a more traditional environment, such as a lecture. Stay away from instructors who can only use one delivery method.

It is also helpful to use some of the latest technology in course delivery and update curriculum as technology changes. Video podcasting can make material available for students when they are not in the classroom. A deadly sin emerges most often when a teacher has not updated his or her methodology for instruction over a long period of time. Believe it or not, some colleges still teach COBOL as their primary programming language. A school that teaches how to fix only 486 machines for an A+ course will not prepare you for the exam or for a job as a hardware technician.

Organizations should have a healthy blend of theory and practice. Theory gives an overall picture of the technology, and practical knowledge with a hands-on approach gives you skills that can be applied in the workplace. A theory-only approach lacks application while a practice-only approach does not foster adaptability. Watch out: If, when you talk with the instructor, he or she only talks about theory and doesn't value practice and trial, or vice versa, you will want to avoid that organization.

Virtuous organizations will measure your progress during the program. They also will check to make sure assigned work is completed. Some training centers conduct assessments before each class to see what the students learned from their reading and then another after the class to see what they retained after the lecture and lab. It is vital for instructors to be able to address this quickly because most concepts build upon one another, and not understanding each concept could lead to greater problems later on.

Available Equipment
Once you have found a place with good instructors and a proper teaching strategy, take a look at the equipment you will be using. Make sure there are resources dedicated to each student. You also should check to see if these resources are being used properly with newer technologies such as virtualization. Lastly, find an organization that uses different types of resources such as books, fully equipped labs, online resources and question banks. I caution you, though, to avoid places that use “brain dumps.”

Note how many workstations there are in each classroom and compare this to class size. Also, make sure the equipment is current. You will regret it later if you find yourself waiting forever to complete a lab as you stare at the famous hourglass or progress bar because of a slow computer. You will spend much of your life staring at progress bars without having to waste tons of time doing it in the classroom.

Some newer methods of teaching technology involve “virtualization.” This is where multiple operating systems and configurations are hosted on one machine by providing a subset of its available resources to each one of the virtual machines. This configuration permits the use of a single system instead of an entire lab setup. Another advantage of virtualization is that virtual machines can be backed up and restored almost at will, so it makes labs easy to set up and gives you more freedom to try new things without heavy consequences.

Virtuous organizations employ the latest technology in the classroom with a sampling of many environments and a variety of equipment for use. This type of virtuous organization also uses excellent books and other training resources. An effective strategy is to combine lectures with labs, online practice sessions, books, question banks and other case scenarios to aid in learning.

I personally know of an organization that went 12 weeks without books for its students. This left the students without a secondary study resource. They were fully dependent on what the instructor told them. They had no way to reinforce that knowledge and in turn did not gain much from the class.

The last deadly sin here is the use of brain dumps for preparation. Although taking sample tests is usual and customary, brain dumps are real test questions taken from the certification exams. Companies that use these don't have confidence in their students or instructors and violate their nondisclosure agreement with the certification vendor. Brain dumps are usually full of errors as well, so they might do as much to harm your chances of passing as they help. Be wary of these types of resources because they are detrimental to your growth and future endeavors.

Cost
The average certification test costs between $100 and $250. Naturally, the cheapest method is to study on your own and take the test. However, you wouldn't be reading this article if you intended to travel that route. It is common and reasonable to look at the actual cost of the program. After that, you should evaluate policies on returning student discounts, test vouchers, refunds and trial periods.

Table 1
Certification	Average Cost
MCSE	$22,000
MCSA	$11,000
CCNA	$2,500
A+	$4,000
CWNA	$1,700
Network+	$2,200
CISSP	$3,250
CEH	$2,200
RHCE	$4,500

Table 1 shows the average cost for an instructor-led program for a number of popular certifications. Try to find a training center that is around these average prices. If the vendor is priced lower, make a point to see exactly what they offer and compare it to other programs. Also take course materials, facilities, equipment, software and test vouchers into account. These components can change the price when included. If the costs are high, ask yourself if you have looked into alternative options to finance your career goals. See if your company offers tuition help and if you qualify for financial aid such as grants, scholarships or low-income awards.

Virtuous organizations will provide you with test vouchers and pay for retakes of tests if you fail. They also give incentives for returning as a student in the future. You might get your CCNA from them, and they'll give you a discount on your CCNP courses.

I talked to one virtuous organization that offers a 12-month program for $8,000. You can take as many classes as you want during that time. Considering that the average MCSE track is six months, this gives you ample time for an MCSE and a few other certifications. The value you can receive for such a price is very competitive, and thus I classify it as a cardinal price virtue.

The deadly sin organizations will not refund your money, and they do not allow you to retake courses or receive additional training upon failure. These organizations should be avoided because they are simply out to make a buck and not there to help you learn the material or succeed in your career advancement goals.

Sales
Dealing with salespeople can wear you out. The key is to do your research beforehand and to regard sales pitches as simply that. Come prepared to push past sales pitches and marketing jargon when you meet with the staff. Ask questions to determine what happens when classes are canceled or if you need to move to another city. Also, make sure that the program is really something you are interested in and not a current fad.

Watch out for pushy salespeople. Don't be pressured into a sale. The more they push, the more you should stop and think about it. The paperwork you receive always looks nice and says wonderful things about the company, but most statements are general and lack real information about the company. Research the company through multiple channels, and remember that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

When you interview a potential IT training organization, it is important to know what other options are available in case problems arise. Sometimes classes are canceled or full. Sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise. Know whether courses have to be taken in any order and if you can transfer to another location if necessary. Some of the larger facilities have multiple locations in many major cities.

The cardinal virtue here can be found in open disclosure. If you find an organization with nothing to hide, pursue it. This type of organization will let you sit in on a class anytime you want and will allow you to talk to current students and faculty to get an idea of how the program functions. They are confident and truthful. A valued component you should look for is a trial period where you can enroll and leave before a certain date with a full refund. This type of organization is confident in the quality of teaching it provides. The deadly sin in this case is when you are forced to pay for a large part of the program up front and that portion is non-refundable. These organizations already know that they do not have a good or competitive offering, so they try to get all they can from you before you have the chance to find the skeletons in their closet.

Remember, the burden falls on you to find the program that fits you best. Ask yourself if this is really something you are interested in and not something that just seems like a hot industry at the moment. The IT field has its ups and downs.

Enjoyability
Training is a serious business, but that does not mean it cannot be enjoyable. Find a school that employs people who like what they do. This includes the instructors and the staff. Also, choose an environment with a challenge.

Choose a school where the instructors enjoy what they teach. These instructors will have a passion for computer technology, enjoy the material and will teach in a more dynamic, energetic way that will engage you further. The excitement of instructors has a tendency to rub off onto students. Some organizations have a Linux expert teach a Microsoft class or a Macintosh enthusiast teach a PC-repair class. Even though the instructors may have been qualified in the area, they were not enthusiastic about the material, and the classes were not as enlightening or as engaging as they could have been. This often compounds a student's lack of interest in an area that could have been his or her niche.

This should coincide with an enthusiastic, motivated staff and instructors who genuinely entrench themselves within the learning environment and who love what they do. They believe in the school and show great interest outside the scope of the classroom. Usually, they are part of local or regional user groups and have the added benefit of pooling resources from other enthusiastic likeminded individuals and groups. Linux has a tradition of holding install fests within local area groups to teach and grow the Linux operating movement. The members teach “newbies” their learned experiences with the system.

A deadly sin is when the instructor and staff are interested in just doing the basics. This type of instructor simply shows videos and sits back as the students are left to learn, in most cases on their own, with little aid from the instructor. This type of instructor will inadvertently shove any problems aside for as long as possible. Practice and study is the core of intuitive growth. If you don't feel challenged in any way, chances are you're in the wrong environment. Enjoyment does not mean it will be easy. Rock climbers love climbing relatively dangerous and often very difficult areas, and they find nothing but enjoyment, satisfaction and the occasional broken bone. Similarly, a school should be haven, a place of growth and fun for you.

Reputation
The reputation of an institution also should be a big decision factor. Obviously, we all know what our friends and families think of this institution or that one. It goes without saying that these will help to shape your opinion. One way to remain objective is to check with Google and other online resources, current students and your local Better Business Bureau to see how this organization measures up. Read what others say, and look for established organizations within the industry because they are the most reliable.

Cardinal virtue organizations will have good ratings and an excellent reputation within the community and industry. You can look for consistent awards for excellence and for certifications that the organization meets and exceeds quality standards. Some academies will receive a ranking based on various metrics, which can be used for comparison.

Stay away from brand-new companies that are not well-known in the industry. These companies will not have the experience, contacts and structure of one that has been in the industry for a while. If you don't find much information on the institution, maybe there isn't much of interest to talk about, or worse yet, the institution bans all material that is written about it.

In making your selection, be sure you talk to students and institutions and use good judgment. Put together a financial plan for yourself and weigh the pros and cons about what is economically and professionally feasible for you.

Find out what kind of learner you are and what motivates you. Get a learning assessment and find out what your style is. Set time frames for goals and don't be pushed to start too soon or too late. Recognize what virtues are most important to you. If you can adapt to any instructional style, you might not value the instructors' adaptability as much as you might value their knowledge. Also, recognize what deadly sins you most need to avoid. If you are not very self-motivated, finding an enjoyable organization is crucial. No organization is a saint, and each has a balance of sins and virtues. Be alert enough to recognize the deadly sins and you can avoid getting burned.

Eric Vanderburg is a professor of computer networking at Remington College. He holds more than 10 certifications including the MCSE, CCNA, and CWSP in addition to an MBA from Kent State University. He can be reached at evanderburg@certmag.com .

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