Microsoft e-learning courses revamped
Channel partners welcome updated courses
Microsoft channel partners have reacted positively to its updated e-learning programme, which includes courses in designing, implementing and managing the vendor's technology.
The training is delivered in a range of animations, simulations, games and quizzes, with Certified partners for learning solutions able to bundle the Microsoft training to develop blended training packages for end-users.
Ram Dhaliwal, manager for training and certification at Microsoft, said the move was partly a response to end-user demands for more online training courses for the vendor. "Microsoft has provided some e-learning content in the past, but not the equivalent of instructor-led training before," he said.
Dhaliwal added that the new e-learning packages would allow Microsoft's channel training partners to further enhance their product range. "This is another resource and type of content for resellers to adapt to their end-users. It's also an additional resource for their toolkit," he said.
Microsoft claimed the programme will allow participants to learn at a speed and in a place that suits them and was also designed to engage the participant, helping them to remember key training information.
E-learning is increasing in popularity. Last month, a survey commissioned by WebCT revealed that three quarters of European universities have either implemented e-learning systems or have plans to do so within the next three years.
Duncan Anderson, skills development manager at Microsoft-certified partner Parity, agreed and said: "We give access codes to customers and they can then access the Microsoft training themselves. It enables us to give customers a wider choice of training methods. Choice of delivery is often crucial."