is it better to train for a longer period?

cleakoms

Please I need an Advice on CCNA training. Some local colleges offer 3 months or 6months training while most IT schools offer 6 days course.

I want to know the difference between these two.

If i apply for the 6 days programme. Would I really be able to work with real cisco equipments if i get a job

is it better to train for a longer period?

Please someone should advise me.

Thank you

Sie

In answer to your question its always better to train / learn for longer.

Many people here will tell you they are still learning!!

A six day course I would assume is the foundations or a brush up but you wont be able to learn it all in that time, not even the memory man could!

Better to take you time and learn it well than rush it, even if you passed the exam you'll forget it all in a few days.

Good luck in your studies!!

dynamik

cleakoms wrote:

is it better to train for a longer period?

Without a doubt. It's a basic principle of learning theory. The short course might be useful if you're familiar with the material and just want to refresh and ask a few questions to an experienced instructor.

Daniel333

Boot camps are great for someone who just wants to round out their knowledge so they can get the cert that goes with the skill they already have.

If on the other hand you are new to it, you should certainly for something like a 3 month class, I would say a 6 month is too long. It would get pretty boring, pretty quick at that speed.

Take the 3 month classes, get as much hands on time as you can get... stay late after class what ever you have to do. Then take a month and study for the exam itself using the Sybex book. I think you'll do alright.

AlanJames

I've never been a fan on the whole boot camp thing. They're only good for brushing up on your skills, and a quick refresh before an exam.

But if you're just refreshing, why not re read the cisco press book and save 3-4k (unless your job is putting you through the course)

The cisco net accademy are generally pretty good, and cheap!

A

cleakoms

Thans for your responses. I actually read the sybex CCNA by todd lammle about 3 years ago but didn't take the exam. Some topics were strange cos i couldn't lay my hands on Practicals.

I read about cisco kits from ciscokits.com through this website. Are their switches and routers real ones or they are just for exam practice?

With hands on the cisco kits, would i really be able to work on real cisco routers and switches in a workplace?

I just need to clear all my doubts before i put in for the CCNA trainning and exams.

networker050184

Yes ciscokits has real routers and switches. Before you purchase I would suggest learning a little about what type of hardware you will need for the CCNA. I would suggest you read through the sticky here and the other numerous threads about lab equipment.

mikearama

Hey, I get to be the argumentative one and disagree with everyone. Nice.

Don't get me wrong... when it comes to cisco stuff, you never stop learning.

HOWEVER, if you're all honest... if you've taken several months to study a particular courseware, you know how much you forgot from the first half-dozen chapters. I'm two months into BSCI, and I'm stunned how much I've already forgotten.

So cleak... if your immediate goal is your NA, then I submit that getting to the exam as quick as possible after learning the material is vital. I don't know the numbers, but retention rates fall drastically after what? A week? Imagine after 6 months!

Will you be prepared for real life after a boot camp? Doubtful. They do include hands-on, but not extensively so. But hey, that's what home labs and sims are for.

mikej412

mikearama wrote:

I'm stunned how much I've already forgotten.

That's why you take good notes and review them as part of a study plan. It's part of the repetition that helps store the information in long term memory, rather then the short term storage you get with cramming.

I don't use IS-IS. I don't need to know IS-IS. I don't want to know IS-IS. Yet I still remember the NSAP Address Structure from my BSCI study days. Since I have it filed in long term memory under "funky address structures" it pops into my head every time I need to think IPv6. Since it may be useful someday for the CCIE Service Provider exam, I just ignore it for now, but its nice to know its still there after all this time.

Slow and steady wins hands down. No one can cram for a CCIE Lab Exam.

silentc1015

cleakoms wrote:

Please I need an Advice on CCNA training. Some local colleges offer 3 months or 6months training while most IT schools offer 6 days course.

I want to know the difference between these two.

If i apply for the 6 days programmer. Would I really be able to work with real cisco equipments if i get a job

is it better to train for a longer period?

Please someone should advise me.

Thank you

6 days is way too short to get a solid education in Cisco and related networking. I also think 6 months is too long for CCNA level material.

I think it depends on your style and familiarity with the material. If you can learn the material in 1-3 months, I'd do it. Then spend more time doing your own lab work to reinforce, learning more advanced material, etc... I wouldn't take a longer course just for the sake of it being longer. If the progress of the course is so slow that you're bored with it, that will also be detrimental to your learning. I always do self study because I learn things very quickly and get bored very quickly.

Note that I am not encouraging "cramming." I think many people here have families to take care of, spend time with, work more than full time, and have many other obligations that take away from study time. They often recommend months of study on some exams and material. But I find that the recommend amount of time to spend studying material here is often very excessive for me. I have 6+ hours a day I can spend studying on most days of the week. When you spend this much time studying you can learn an amazing amount of material very rapidly.

What I'm getting at is that it's going to depend on you, your learning style, and your life situation.