Interactive learning – one style of learning…how do you learn Excel?
We all know Excel is a key piece of business software which is essential in the workplace. But how do we go about learning it in depth or even start the journey? There are lots of different ways of learning from reading information to a more interactive learning approach and so to accommodate these different ways of learning, there need to be different ways training!
Here at JPL we feel training styles and methods have changed over the years. Here’s a summary of the history of IT training methods with their respective advantages and disadvantages.
Traditional classroom courses
These are ideal for learning in a relaxed environment a standard set of features at your chosen level whether it be basic or intermediate or advanced.
Often on site with other trainees from other companies present you all learn together at the same pace with an experienced trainer on hand to help.
Shared experiences and issues can also be a good focus to learning. It is also a more of an interactive learning style for individuals.
Some people however find this uncomfortable as they may be nervous to ask questions or appear slower than others during the exercises set.
Also, by nature the example data used in the course may not be relevant to their own business.
Bespoke courses
These courses are often ‘1 company’ courses where a group of employees from the same company attend a course together often on their own site. This type of courses can be structured to the people present and even using their own data.
The comfort of working and learning alongside their colleagues is a plus factor too. Direct improvements and increases in productivity can be witnessed as a result of this type of training which is highly relevant to their situation.
This type of training can be more expensive and by nature parochial as only company people are present, but a good trainer can bring in experiences from elsewhere.
1 to 1 consultancy
This takes place with an individual who has organised for the training consultant to work wit them only on their own data spreadsheets. They can ask any question and often out of their context and work purely at their own pace.
It’s ideal for those who prefer individual attention and works at any level. It is however often more expensive than standard or bespoke training courses.
Self teach
This is becoming more popular as it allows trainees to work through a set of exercises in their own time in the workplace a bit at a time. Exercises and topics can be revisited several times and answers are often given too. It suits those who are self disciplined and motivated but lacks the feedback of a tutor nearby or the ability to ask individual questions. It can be more convenient and less expensive than traditional training.
We would love to hear your own experiences of training in Excel which after all is our business and we engage in all the above styles of training.
Feel free to leave a comment or email us on johnlegge@jplcomputer.co.uk