Online learning best practices from our students

As always, the feedback from our students is highly valuable and essential in helping us ensure we are delivering courses of the highest quality.

Telling ITSM Zone about your experience means that we gain a better insight into what is important to you, where we are excelling and where we need to make improvements. So with this in mind, we asked our birthday #Lucky13 winners to share their thoughts with us about their training, their Top Tips to improve for eLearning, but as well to talk about the rising of online learning during the pandemic.

Before we start, our team wants to say a huge thanks to Santiago and Sanjay for speaking with us.

Online learning has arrived to stay

Our birthday #lucky13 winner Santiago Lo Bianco has won a free Foundation Certificate in DevOps Course plus a free exam. In our conversation with him, he said that online learning has arrived to stay and that this is the positive side of Covid-19 pandemic.

“I was already used to learning online, but many people were not. Considering the positive side of Covid-19, we can conclude that online learning has arrived to stay. Long-life online learning!”.

Let’s see what he had to say.

1. Let us know what you like and did not like about our course? How did this course fit with your existing schedule?

I really enjoyed the course. Found the learning material very rich, well organized and engaging. The videos are short but summarize/introduce the main ideas properly. Then, the PDF documents are concise and good quality. Just enough to get the concepts without digging too much at this Foundation Level.
As for the fit with my schedule was perfect. This pandemic context found me working from home (as many people), so this self-paced course provided me with the chance to study whenever I wanted. Mostly after 6 PM and during weekends. And yes…I love studying at weekends even though it sounds nerdy 😉

2. How will this course benefit you?

It has broadened my knowledge about a framework that, I heard a lot about, but never had the chance to explore it too much. Also, as an ITSM professional, it was a “must do” to complete eventually. Absolutely great.

3. The rise of online learning during the pandemic - will it be a forever change?

Probably yes. I was already used to learning online, but many people were not. Considering the positive side of Covid-19, we can conclude that online learning has arrived to stay. Long-life online learning!

4. Can you please share your Top Tips for eLearning, in order to help other students succeed in eLearning?

My top tips are:

1. Read/watch all the material the first time as an exploratory experience. Don’t try to “remember” anything yet; just enjoy finding out what is it about. Just like reading a book.
2. Later, for the second round, I took much more time. I carefully summarized the entire content in a Power Point file. To do this, I selected one / two chapters per day and extracted the main contents to my PPT. One key point here: make sure the Syllabus content of the exam is always included in your summary!!
3. When I had my PDF fully completed, I studied directly from there several times.
4. Finally, when I felt confident, I took the exam and passed!

I use that approach systematically for every certification I take. I am aware that summarizing everything (to an external file) is time-consuming. Although this is true works perfectly to me as I learn by doing. Since I started to do this, I have never failed an exam again!

Learn more about the Foundation Certificate in DevOps Course

Video content is a must in eLearning

Our second birthday winner who has decided to share his experience with us is Sanjay Nair. In our giveaway #lucky13 Sanjay won a free Agile PM Foundation Course plus a free exam. In our conversation he mentioned that for him video explaining real life scenarios always add a lot of value to understand the practical side of the concepts.

1. Let us know what you like and did not like about our course? How did this course fit with your existing schedule?

I really liked that the concepts are explained in a clear, concise manner. The short videos explaining real-life scenarios added a lot of value to understand the practical side of the concepts.
As well as a possible improvement I think that audio-based delivery of content can greatly enhance the learning experience. Hearing an instructor seems more effective than reading by oneself. Regarding the schedule one month was more than sufficient to cover the course.

2. How will this course benefit you?

I am hoping that the concepts explained in the Agile PM Foundation Course will be applicable across multiple areas, in different contexts and scenarios.

3. The rise of online learning during the pandemic - will it be a forever change?

Yes, the importance of online learning has been accentuated due to the pandemic. I believe more people have taken to learning itself due to this.

4. Can you please share your Top Tips for eLearning, in order to help other students succeed in eLearning?

1. Give yourself enough time for getting ready before the learning session begins.
2. A shower, change of clothes and a healthy breakfast will definitely set you up for a day full of energy and focus.
3. Prepare and use a properly organized study area, free of clutter and distractions from the rest of the household.
4. Stay hydrated throughout the day. Keep a bottle of water next to you, refilling between breaks. Also make sure to take a walk or stretch properly between each session.
5. Have your meals on time. One can often get so caught up & engrossed that meals are often forgotten or had late.
6. Take a short nap after the session is over, 30 minutes at most, to give the eyes, mind and body some valuable rest.

Learn more about the Agile PM Foundation Course

For us at ITSM Zone, we really appreciate the time these candidates have taken to provide us with feedback and share their thoughts.

We work hard to meet expectations like yours and we are more than happy that you enjoyed studying with us!

If you want to share your feedback with us on topics like training and development then you can take our 2020/21 ITSM Zone Training Survey.

Open until November 30th, your answers will help us understand the training and skills that will be important over the coming year and to identify new and emerging requirements. We want to make ITSM Zone the best place for you to grow a professional and this will not happen without you and your input.

As an extra incentive and our way of saying thanks, everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a drawing to win one of 5 Amazon vouchers worth £50!

Give us your feedback and win a £50 Amazon voucher

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