With
no shortage of IT education options available, how can you be
sure that Open Source Training is the best fit for your individual
learning needs? Here are the nine essential attributes that
differentiate Open Source Training, allowing us to remove your
risk and assure your training success. You can evaluate any
training provider based on these important criteria. We're
convinced that you'll find no other company provides such assurance
of consistently exceptional, affordable, and convenient training.
- Competency-Based, Task-Oriented
Course Design
- 50% Lab Time – A Truly Hands On Learning
Experience
- Courseware Control
- Instructors With Extensive Industry
Experience in Multiple Technologies
- Convenient Training Locations
- Small Class Size
- A Cost-Effective, Total Solution
- Unsurpassed Customer Service
- Unrivaled Success Guarantees
The most effective way to build industrial-level
competence in open source technologies is to establish what
tasks the students will need to perform on the job, and have
them actually complete those tasks as part of the training program.
The courseware utilized by Open Source Training is developed
with a task-orientation focused on creating true competency.
Small class sizes ensure that instructors can focus course content
to the specific needs of each student.
Students learn by doing. Educational psychologists
generally find that we commit to memory 80% of what we experience
or practice, versus only 10-20% of what we read or hear. Even
the most fervent providers of e-learning programs admit that
instructor-facilitated training is at least 20% more effective
in meeting training objectives and achieving retention. For this reason, Open Source Training courses are always planned
to spend at least half of the class-time working hands on with
the technologies. And, our small class sizes assure significant
interaction and facilitation by the instructor.
We develop and control the courseware used in our classrooms.
We don't lease it. We don't use textbooks. That means the
students guide is developed to provide first rate support
for presentations. It also means that the student guides and
the hands on exercises are constantly updated and improved,
using both direct feedback from students and the instructors'
own observations of what works best in the classroom. This
just isn't possible with leased courseware.
Experts
agree that intense hands on practice drives up competence
and retention. That's why Open Source Training places special
emphasis on hands on exercises in each course that we deliver.
Most leased courseware falls far short in this area. It takes
extra effort and substantial knowledge to create robust, well
documented exercises. Companies that lease courseware need
to provide exercises that appeal to the lowest common denominator;
furthermore leased courseware cannot assume that complex software
setup will necessarily be available to support competency-based
labs. As a result, lab exercises in leased courses can
border on the trivial, and are rarely complete in the sense
of exercising all the skills being taught.
Control of materials also keeps our variable costs down.
We hope you'll notice that those cost savings are being passed
on to you, our customers.
Finally, control of the courseware means that when we deliver
training at your facility, we can focus the presentation as
appropriate, and at no extra charge to you. We don't have
to mix and match books to get the pieces we need, or omit
a book for cost reasons even though it has a particularly
important bit of information.
Professionals want to learn from professionals. The instructors
delivering courses for Open Source Training are not new to
programming, nor are they new to the industrial training environment.
- Our instructors are cross-trained in multiple related
technologies.
- They're not just one day ahead of the students.
- They can provide an unbiased assessment of alternative
open source technologies, their features and functionality,
and their potential perils and pitfalls.
- Our instructors are of the highest caliber available.
98% of the instructors teaching for our competitors lack
the qualifications and experience to meet our strict standards.
Open Source Training presents training classes
weekly in locations throughout the United States. With classes offered
regularly in 40 states, you won't have to wait
to get the training you need and there is a good chance you
won't have to travel far to get it either. With our convenient
schedule and wide selection of locations, you could potentially
lower or even eliminate the travel portion of your training
budget.
Aside from the competency of the instructor,
one of the primary factors in the success of most instructor-led
training classes is the access students have to that instructor
to ask questions and receive focused guidance. Class sizes at
Open Source Training average less than 12 students. With our
small class sizes, you won't have to wait as long to get the
answer to an important question during a lab and you'll have
plenty of time to discuss topics relevant to your specific circumstances.
You'll have time to discuss your specific action plan and how
you might apply what you're learning in class when you're back
on the job. That just wouldn't be possible with 20 to 30 people
in a public class.
Most
organizations that require open source training spend too much
on it and don't receive the full value that can be realized.
You can't take advantage of great training without control over
the cost. Open Source Training is dedicated to providing
task oriented learning that is accelerated, affordable, and
accessible. Our prices for both open-enrollment and on site
training classes are among the lowest in the industry. The availability
of classes throughout the United States and Canada plus on site
training options help minimize or, in some cases, eliminate
your travel costs. And there are no hidden additional fees for
application, registration, or cancellation. Many training providers
charge unnecessary fees for cancellations or changes. At Open
Source Training, we've made it possible for you to plan in advance
and make changes if necessary without any hassle or financial
penalty. That adds up to true cost control. If you compare our
cost structure with other quality training providers, you'll
find there is really no comparison.
The quality of our customer service is unsurpassed
in the IT training industry. Tailored discount packages allow
your company to exploit our multiple locations if you have personnel
dispersed across the country. Instructors are always available
for additional assistance and mentoring on a subject, even after
students finish class. And if a student is not confident in
their abilities after training with us, they also have the option
to retake all or part of their course again at no additional
charge. If a student lacks confidence, we will work with him
to develop the understanding that leads to confidence as well
as competence.
Unscrupulous training providers have burned thousands of
unsuspecting students and their companies. When you require
training, you need to demand a higher standard from your provider.
Open Source Training provides six success guarantees unrivaled
in the IT training industry.
- Open Source Training guarantees small class sizes.
- Open Source Training guarantees quality instructors.
- Open Source Training guarantees competence.
- Open Source Training guarantees that training from OST
will be more cost-effective than training from any other
source.
- Open Source Training guarantees that students in open-enrollment
classes are protected against cancellations and will be
able to receive desired training at the cost they expect
and in the time frame they have planned.
- Open Source Training guarantees overall quality with a
100% money-back guarantee. If you're not totally satisfied
for any reason, simply withdraw before the second day of
any class. Notify the instructor and return all course materials
and you will receive a 100% refund.
Open Source Training presents the best quality and value
available today. Our customer service policies and guarantees
assure that you get quality training when you want it, and
at the lowest total cost available from any source. We want
you to get the architectural insight and accelerated learning
path that you came for. Every time. If you're not totally
satisfied for any reason, simply withdraw before the second
day of any class. Notify the instructor and return all
course materials and you will receive a 100% refund.
