September 22, 2004
Culminis Team
 In
a dynamic industry such as Information
Technology (IT),
,
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 web cast, 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:
1. 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.
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.
We’d love to hear your
thoughts: join the discussions on the Training
and Education Discussion Board. You can also
email your
, and be sure to let us know what other
articles you would like to see in Culminis
Connections.
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