SkillPort Training

tbgree00

When I worked for Tek Systems I was given a code to get a free account at SkillPort. I've looked through their training catalog and it seems to have a lot of stuff, both in certification and in skill development. They even seem to have updated the server 2008 stuff talking about R2, which is exciting and seems hard to find. I tried to watch some of them and they are essentially powerpoints with the same stock photos over and over again. When I searched I saw them mentioned occasionally but I would like to hear the general opinion on the SkillPort training system from people who used it. If they're decent I'll spend the hours watching them for the 2008 MCSE upgrade test since they have R2 material.

Timber Wolf

I have an account and was forced to do a few of them. I also tried a few on my own. Personally i think there dry and boring and i cant stand making it past the first few slides. However the information is good and if you can stand the boredom then its good training. There finally pre-cert tests are also pretty good.

rwmidl

I've used them for a few things. They are ok, I wouldn't totally rely on them but they can be a good supplement.

tbgree00

Timber Wolf wrote: »

I have an account and was forced to do a few of them. I also tried a few on my own. Personally i think there dry and boring and i cant stand making it past the first few slides. However the information is good and if you can stand the boredom then its good training. There finally pre-cert tests are also pretty good.

I was having the same problem keeping my attention. The CBT nugget white boards are pretty bad but at least the teachers tend to have dynamic voices. The robotic lady narrating the 2008 slides doesn't really have a great teaching voice.

I'm glad to hear that they have good information worked in there. I'll use them for the 647 definitely. They don't have a 649 pack so I'm trying to piece one together.

Chris:/*

I use Skillport to supplement my reading. Though I do have them on mute and just read the text instead of listening to the speakers.

I typically go through the Skillport CBTs and then read the books or go over the same section of the books at the same time. It is a free resource for me since I am gov no reason not to use it.

powerfool

I honestly don't like any of them. I have been using CBT Nuggets lately, and prior to that I was frequently using SkillPort. They just seem to have huge gaps and are overly simplistic. The SkillPort Live courses are pretty good, though. I did the course for the CCNA Security (IINS) and the SNRS from the CCSP track, and they were pretty good; they typically had two instructors for the live courses, one giving a lecture and one responding to chat questions, and they would trade back and forth and check with each other for accuracy.

SneakDogg

I still haven't quite figured out if it is a computer generated voice or what. I have found that the male voice is a lot more tolerable. I hope that isn't sexist. The female voice is shrill and I just can't stand to listen to it. Whenever she is on, I just put it on mute.

N2IT

Timber Wolf wrote: »

I have an account and was forced to do a few of them. I also tried a few on my own. Personally i think there dry and boring and i cant stand making it past the first few slides. However the information is good and if you can stand the boredom then its good training. There finally pre-cert tests are also pretty good.

+1

Agreed

I went through 2008 server and the ITIL modules and both were awful. The only one I thought was fairly interesting was the Excel ones.

From what I have heard the CBT nuggets are the way to go for most technologies.