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As we mature, our training needs change. In adolescence our teaching has to give us structure, as we’re still developing self-discipline and we don’t always understand why knowledge is relevant. We have to learn to deal with people, which is a massive learning curve all on its own. Throw in a few hormones, peer pressure and trying to work out who we are, and it’s amazing that we do any learning at all!

Thankfully we can put all that behind us as adults. Training programs for mature students are all about effective learning systems that fit in with our lifestyle. It’s also vital that the course content fits with what the industry’s looking for if you’re learning for career reasons.

First of all there are classroom-based colleges, universities and boot camps. You have to put your life on hold to study with these establishments. Delivery methods are tutorials, backed up with technical books. All the students are required to go at the same pace throughout the course which inevitably leads to challenges. If you miss any classes, you’re expected to catch up.

With a boot camp, in 10 to 12 weeks you’ll romp through a syllabus that usually takes two years (so don’t even think of missing one session or you’ll never catch up). These courses are purely to get you through an exam and nothing more. You will gain a limited ability to do the job based on what you learn, and employers aren’t impressed with this type of training. Really, the only students who should use such courses are experienced IT workers who are upgrading their qualifications to the latest level. They are absolutely not for the new person planning to enter the world of IT.

With colleges and universities, the courses tend to be more academic and are not necessarily in-tune with current industry requirements. It’s often difficult for the student to enter industry until they’ve gained some additional commercial skills.

Secondly we have home-based commercial training providers. They offer the most convenient way to learn by far, although some adults worry they might need the structure of a classroom. In fact, this usually isn’t the case with the right training; it’s just a throw back to how they felt in adolescent days.

There are some very good commercial training providers, but also some very bad ones. Always check the quality of their training materials; if they have nothing to show you, don’t buy. The most user-friendly way to study today is with interactive on-screen training. It’s so much easier and more engaging than books. It also improves your recall of what you’ve learned because it provides multi-sensory input.

You’ll need direct access to tutors at the time you intend to study (usually evening and weekends), and good training providers will offer that. Some companies ‘24×7 Support’ is merely a message system out of office hours, so ask specific questions to check. You’ll also need an authorised exam preparation system (from Microsoft, Cisco or CompTIA for example) – this will ensure you’re not learning in one style, only to be in an exam which uses different terms and phraseology.

A couple of other things: Don’t fork out for exams fees up-front – it’s more expensive. Good quality training shouldn’t need to be backed up by the huge additional expense of classroom visits. Traditional training is much more expensive than modern interactive training and results in fewer successful students.

Picking the right IT trainer is simply a matter of research. Don’t be afraid to ask questions – after all, it’s your future we’re talking about.

(C) 2009. Check out LearningLolly.com for intelligent tips on discreet Combustion and discreet Combustion Training.

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