CertTutor.net Live! UPDATE—brought to you by the Windows & .NET Magazine Network and CertTutor.net
http://www.certtutor.net
CertTutor.net Live! UPDATE contains the best of CertTutor.net Live!, the Internet's number-one certification discussion board. CertTutor.net Live! UPDATE features interesting posts and shares valuable information about how to make the most of the forums. Enjoy!
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May 1, 2002—In this issue:
1. COMMENTARY
- Getting the Most from Training
2. FEATURED THREADS
- RFC: Proposed Cisco Forum Changes
- Help with Raises!
- Win2K Pro or XP Pro?
- Dell Rebooting Itself
- Problem with Outlook 2000 Security
- How to Be Nice to Everyone?
3. ANNOUNCEMENT
- Cast Your Vote for Our Reader's Choice Awards!
4. FOLDERS EN EL FUEGO
- 90 Second Logon?
- Glad to Be Back!
- How Does This Site Perform for You?
- Unit 2485-193 Reporting for Duty
- Network Performance
- Need Help with Deciding on Electives
- Age?
5. TIP OF THE WEEK
- Just the FAQs
6. FEATURED MEMBER
- Greg Blasko <Roastbeef>
7. CONTACT US
- See this section for a list of ways to contact us.
1. COMMENTARY
(Contributed by Gregory W. Smith, [email protected])
When you attend a training class, you want to make sure that you make the most of the opportunity. Because you're investing time and money (either your own or your employer's), you should make sure that the experience is productive. (If you think you can't afford paid training, consider Microsoft's Hot Lab program, which offers half-day classes about new products for $40 to $70. Some vendors offer free training when they want to generate buzz about a new product and gain market share.)
Make sure that you fully understand any information you encounter in your classes. If an instructor covers something quickly and you don't think you've fully grasped the concepts, ask questions. In fact, I often look for a chance to ask a question early in a class to help break the ice and signal to other students that training is best when it's interactive. In training classes of typical size (i.e., 24 or fewer students), your questions shouldn't pose any problems for good instructors, but if you find that your queries disrupt the flow of the class, you might want to wait for a break or until after class to seek answers.
If your training environment includes a lab, read carefully and stick to the instructions for each exercise. I've found that you can very easily miss a step as you get into the flow of a lab exercise. If you finish the exercise with time to spare, you can then explore the interfaces and learn as much as possible about the product you're using. However, be careful not to make changes that might affect later labs. If you're not sure what limitations to adhere to, ask the instructor.
Next, ensure that you can take anything you learn in class and apply it in a real-world situation. With some training, you might experience a lag between training and product implementation, and you might forget much of what you've learned. Take good notes during your class. When you later begin to implement a product and vaguely remember something relevant from a class, you can check your notes and quickly refresh your memory. Some key things I try to make note of include
- Installation and implementation "gotchas," including minimum hardware requirements and conflicts with other software. This information will help you to learn from others' experiences and roll out a product smoothly.
- Product limitations, such as user-count limits and maximum number of records. Knowing a product's limitations will help you determine whether the software will fit with a specific environment.
- Key interactions, such as what components depend on others and how these components interact. Understanding interactions can ease troubleshooting tremendously.
In addition to your notes, try to get as much additional material as you can. Ask your instructor for a copy of the classroom presentation. Typically, training presentations use Microsoft PowerPoint slideshows, and Microsoft has a free PowerPoint viewer that you can use to review slides from your class. Some instructors and programs don't give students copies of the presentation but might give out printed copies of the slides.
I also highly recommend that you get your instructor's name and contact information. If you have questions later, the instructor is just the person to ask. Most instructors willingly share contact information, so make use of this resource as necessary—but don't abuse it!
Along the same lines, you should network with the other students. These are people who are working in your field (or trying to get there). You might be able to help them, and they might be able to help you. Sharing knowledge, advice, job leads, and contacts helps every one of us become more connected and more effective in our jobs.
If you have any comments or tips about making the most of your training, email me. Your suggestions might appear in my next column!
2. FEATURED THREADS
Our Cisco forum seems better suited for the "The Real World" forum than its current home in the "Other Certifications and Technologies" forum. However, we need to maintain a forum for Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), and other Cisco certification questions. This is a Request for Comments (RFC) thread, so please comment! http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=75&threadid=32048
Looking to make more money? Given the current economic climate, raises are hard to come by—but you have other options. See this thread for a few suggestions. And please, contribute any suggestions that you might have.
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=7&threadid=32125
<BJRuss> is trying to work with company management to choose the right standard client OS for his company. What are your thoughts?
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=32185
This thread includes some useful troubleshooting tips, whether or not you have a Dell server. <Dong>'s tip about memory dumps is particularly interesting.
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=31888
<JJ> sent himself an email message with a .exe file attached and the latest security patches. Microsoft Outlook 2000 blocks such attachments. In this thread, several members offer suggestions.
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=32214
<mirty12> has a problem that many "computer people" face. She wants to be able to deal with people positively, but she prefers not to deal with people at all. What has worked for you?
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=3&threadid=32077
3. ANNOUNCEMENT
Which companies and products do you think are the best on the market? Nominate your favorites in four different categories for our annual Windows & .NET Magazine Reader's Choice Awards. You could win a T-shirt or a free Windows & .NET Magazine Super CD, just for submitting your ballot. Click here!
http://www.winnetmag.com/readerschoice
4. FOLDERS EN EL FUEGO
The following threads from the past 10 days are "on fire":
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=39&threadid=31785
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=7&threadid=32013
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=31813
http://www.certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=2&threadid=32047
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=11&threadid=31544
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=37&threadid=32135
http://certtutor.net/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=7&threadid=32130
5. TIP OF THE WEEK
As part of our continual effort to improve the CertTutor.net Live! discussion forums, we're implementing FAQs at the top level of the high-traffic forums. Eventually, every nonarchived forum will have its own FAQ. Help out any newbies you encounter by directing them to the appropriate forum FAQ.
6. FEATURED MEMBER
Each week, we highlight the wonderful diversity of the community here at CertTutor.net Live! by selecting one of the board's members as our Featured Member. You might be next!
Username: Roastbeef
Real Name: Greg Blasko
Date Registered: March 24, 2000
Status: Guru (former Tutor)
Total Posts: 621
Occupation: Yale University School of Medicine, Systems Administrator
AlpineZone.com, President
NewBuyer.com, Webmaster
7. CONTACT US
Here's how to reach us with your comments and questions:- ABOUT THE COMMENTARY — [email protected]
- ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER IN GENERAL — [email protected]
(please mention the newsletter name in the subject line)
- TECHNICAL QUESTIONS — http://www.winnetmag.net/forums
- PRODUCT NEWS — [email protected]
- QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CertTutor.NET LIVE! SUBSCRIPTION?
Customer Support — [email protected]
- WANT TO SPONSOR CertTutor.NET LIVE!?
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