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In a
dynamic industry such as Information Technology
(IT), the rate of technology innovation
continues to outpace the rate at which IT
professionals can prepare for the technology,
which in turn decreases the rate at which this
new technology can be adopted in the
marketplace. As the knowledge gap widens, IT
professionals are caught between trying to
complete a never-ending list of projects and
trying to keep abreast of the latest
technologies that could potentially help them
with their current projects. Commercial training centers and academic
institutions can provide training and education
opportunities, but a lack of time and/or money can
hamper the efforts of even the most enthusiastic
IT professional. This is where IT Professional
User Groups provide tremendous value to IT
professionals, as well as the IT industry.
Through monthly technical presentations and
hands-on labs at little or no cost, individuals
can leverage their local IT Professional User
Group to augment traditional training channels
and stay ahead of the technology “wave.”
If
you ask any member of an IT Professional User
Group why they joined in the first place, one of
the top three answers is almost always “for the
technical presentations.” Whether it’s at a
meeting in a local church or training center, or
online through a webcast, the top rated groups
are those that have top notch technical
presentations that cover the topics impacting
the marketplace. To effectively train and
educate members, consider using the following
three criteria for technical presentations:
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Clear and concise
– The technical presentation must clearly
state the objectives of the presentation,
and it must last between 30 and 90 minutes
depending on the time allotted by the group.
Make sure there is time for Q&A built into
the agenda.
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2. Available for
download – The presentation materials
(i.e. PowerPoint slide deck, handouts, demo
files) need to be available for download by
attendees. This allows attendees to review
the information later and even share it with
their co-workers and/or friends, which
ultimately generates interest in the group.
3.
No sales pitch – Although companies are
often invited to come to a meeting and make a
presentation, it should be to explain the
technology that their product or service
utilizes or helps with (i.e. security or network
management) If the product or service has
clearly demonstrated the technology topic of the
evening, attendees will remember it, and the
presenter will be seen as an expert, not a
vendor.
Hands-on labs provide members the opportunity to
carry out tasks and work with a product, as
opposed to just watching a demonstration on
screen. Limitations include the number of
people that can be part of a hands-on lab and
finding an equipped room. One option is to
partner with a local training center with fully
equipped computer rooms or setting up computers
in a makeshift lab.
To
help Member Organizations promote the concept of
“lifelong learning,” which is critical to the
success of any IT professional, Culminis has
brought together a network of training solution
providers and partners to provide fully equipped
computer labs and technical presentations from
top subject matter experts, as well as exclusive
discounts on curriculum, classroom training,
online training, and certification study
guides. Culminis is also working with top-level
sponsors Microsoft and Windows & .NET Magazine
with TechNet briefings, IT Pro Workshops and
training seminars at national conferences.
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