Friday, May 15, 2009

How To Find The Project Management Course That’s Right For You

It can sometimes be difficult finding a project management course that answers the unique problems and issues impacting your business or organization. Project management training is in high demand today as businesses and organizations constantly look for ways to streamline and refine practices and operations for the most cost efficient, resource friendly, solutions to increasing productivity and improving the bottom line. But what type of things should be considered when choosing a project management course? Here we will attempt to help all of you identify what you want or need from a project management course.

Identify The Problem At Hand

Problem analysis is a huge part of project management. It’s also a crucial part of choosing a project management course that will address your specific needs. Determine what aspects of your company or organization’s operations need improved upon and find a project management course that will help you set forth a call to action.

Identify How You Want To Learn

Depending on the last time you were in school, a lot has probably changed when it comes to education delivery. Today, courses, lessons and tutorials are available through a variety of means. You can have your project management course in a traditional classroom environment, online from the comfort of your own home or favorite wi-fi hotspot, or delivered to your mobile phone, BlackBerry, or iPod. The choice is yours.

Advantages/Disadvantages Of A Classroom Based Project Management Course

Some of us just associate education with a traditional classroom. It’s a learning environment that most of us are comfortable with. A classroom-based project management course is advantageous for several reasons. For starters, students share a physical space with their instructor and classmates. This cultivates a learning environment enriched by immediate interaction.

Even with modern amenities, some people simply prefer classroom learning because it’s void of the outside distractions that are rampant with online courses or mobile device learning. A classroom promotes undivided attention towards the instructor and the lessons being taught.

The downside of a classroom-based project management course is the fact that it’s much more expensive, requires travel, and shuffling around a schedule that is probably already busy with work, friends, family, hobbies and other responsibilities. Another negative to a classroom-based project management course is there is little flexibility in course curriculum. An instructor isn’t likely to filter out subjects of lesser interest to suit your needs and there is a classroom of other students that may or may not share your level of knowledge.

Advantages/Disadvantages Of An Online Project Management Course

Web-based learning is more popular than ever. An online project management course typically comes in two forms. Instructor assisted courses are usually live and in real-time. It’s a virtual simulation of traditional classroom learning where students are summoned to their computers at a regularly scheduled time for an instructor-facilitated course. This type of project management course has many of the same advantages and disadvantages of classroom-based learning. Interaction with your instructor and fellow students is readily available but there is also little flexibility in regard to scheduling and course curriculum.

You may be more interested in a project management course that is accessible 24x7 where there is flexibility to skip over some subject material to focus on the lessons that are most pertinent to your situation. And this type of project management course, while being around-the-clock, isn’t completely void of interaction. There is usually some form of instructor or student interaction available through online chats, email, or message board forums.

Advantages/Disadvantages Of A Mobile Device Project Management Course

Much like the Internet, mobile devices benefit these days from wireless connectivity and have become a valid way for instructors to deliver project management course audio/video lessons to students. Students can access coursework and learning tutorials on their mobile phone, BlackBerrys, or iPods. They can educate themselves while sitting in morning gridlock, waiting on their lunch order, or walking on the treadmill. While mobile training is undoubtedly cool, convenient and cutting edge, there is little room for interaction. Mobile lessons work best as a supplement to a classroom-based or web-based project management course.

Other Things To Consider When Choosing A Project Management Course

Find a project management course that teaches topics within your industry niche or general field. If you need a general overview of project management fundamentals or software and tools commonly used in project management, there are courses that provide that. If you’re needs are more specific to a certain industry, for example, IT specific project management issues, you can easily find a project management course that focuses on the field of information technology. Your ideal objective from a project management course should be to immediately apply lessons learned to your job.


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