Losing it all? (knowledge)

I got my CCNP last year and finished it in September/November. Since then, I haven't really used it too much in my current job. It's been great to be able to have a big picture for troubleshooting but I'm not "the one" who gets to configure the routers/switches on the network (I'm mainly firewalls and security). I was upset about that for awhile, yes, but it's a different subject for a different time :P.

So the question I have is, what information have you kept and what have you lost? I know it's hard to figure out what you don't remember hahaha (goes back to the old joke "if you're not here, please raise your hand"). I'm just curious if those who have gotten their CCNPs in the past few years or so have actually been able to utilize most of it or if you're rusty on some topics like I am already?

If so, do you have a plan in place to keep that knowledge going? Maybe we could brainstorm some ideas to keep that information fresh. I know the whole thing "lab, read again", etc... But I'm curious of any other ideas out there?

For me the topics that I already know that I'm rusty on are:
- IPv6 routing (OSPFv3, RIPng)
- Configuring prefix lists and ACLs for applying BGP attributes to specific routes
- Command syntax in general, I know I could figure it out but it's hard to have it come right out if you don't use it!
- EIGRP K values
- BGP attributes in general
- Filtering routes

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Comments

Iristheangel

Mrock4 wrote: »

I've noticed, the first time I study something, it's easily lost. The second time, not so easily lost. The third, fourth, fifth times- it gets harder to forget that information.

THIS! I find that reading whatever book I am will usually get me past the exam the first go around but if I am really interested in the material, I'll read it a second time and much more slowly which helps my retention.

Prog Snob

Iristheangel wrote: »

THIS! I find that reading whatever book I am will usually get me past the exam the first go around but if I am really interested in the material, I'll read it a second time and much more slowly which helps my retention.

That is some excellent advice. I find that reading it once to get an idea of the topic is a great way to break it into one's mind. Afterwards I'll read it again but this time paying more attention to areas that I had a bit of trouble with. After that I'll watch a video (Jeremy Cioara, Chris Bryant or INE) and use that to get a better visual of the topic.

pert

IMO you need to takes notes on each part (route/switch). This should leave you with 35-40 pages of notes that you should re-read monthly. IF you reread it the information will stick permanently, even if you never actually use it.

You cannot expect to learn it permanently just studying for the test, you have to keep pounding it in and refreshing it. I learned a new language when i was 12 and spoke it daily and fluently for 2 years. I didnt use it since then and now cannot speak or read/write it at all. It doesnt matter how well you learn something if you dont keep it fresh.

Eildor

I guess you have a few ways of making things from CCNP stick:

1. Rereading. If you do as little as 20 pages a day you'd have read the whole thing 4 or 5 times in a year.

2. Labs. Reading is a drag sometimes, the actual configuration is quite simple and should ensure some of the details stick... I find that things stick better when I actually know the context in which they are useful. I've always been told that frame relay isn't used so much in the real world anymore... so my brain automatically switches off. Never liked frame relay, especially combined with OSPF.

3. Install some kind of flash card app for your phone and make decks of cards for each topic and go though some daily. It will probably take some time to get all the important info in there but if you do I'm sure it will help A LOT.