Learning CDs and Videotapes
Why are they better than Brick and Mortar Learning?

For me — as a visual learner — Learning CDs and Videotapes have become one of the most important learning tools. In my opinion, they have leveled the learning field to enable all those who do not have the time or money to take traditional brick-and-mortar classes. They can now learn and become as proficient, or even more so, than those attending traditional classes. Most classroom situations do not provide additional or follow-up training once you leave the classroom. Also, with the Learning CD or Tape there is no additional money layout. No need to buy books or other learning paraphernalia in order to do the lessons. Just insert the CD and/or Videotape and you are ready to go!

Two-years ago I came across Learning CDs when I found that I needed to learn Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator immediately, like yesterday! I was completely baffled as to how to accomplish this. Recruiters told me that without these two programs I would not be considered credible to do web development. I heard it so much that I began to believe it and tried to find a way to learn the programs. It was impossible for me to do so. I did not have the exorbitant fees required for traditional local classes, nor were there convenient locations available, and the courses did not cover the features that I either wanted or needed to learn. If I was not willing to take a battery of classes I was just out of luck. Through a recommendation I heard about Learning CDs. After going through the first half of the first CD, I was completely sold. It's true, I had to repeat that half three times, but by the time I got through it, I knew what I was doing, and why.

I do a lot of my studying late at night. Just about the time that I am usually so tired I cannot put two words together to create an intelligent sentence. I find that I am more receptive to learning by listening and watching - as an instructor demonstrates the features in a program -than I am to reading and trying to visualize what they are trying to say. However, I find that I can learn by reading once I have a little knowledge about a program - especially one that I have never used, or that is not remotely similar to any that I have ever worked with before.

Below are examples of why learning through Learning CDs and Tapes are better, or at the least a great companion to traditional and online learning facilities.

• CDs/Tapes are affordable - They are a fraction of the price you would pay for one segment of a traditional brick-and-mortar class.
  
  
• Can be viewed anytime, anyplace, day or night - All you need is a computer screen and a CD ROM Drive. View while waiting in a doctor's office, traveling on an airplane or bus, sitting on a park bench inhaling fresh air - any time of the day or night.
  
  
• No books to purchase - Once you purchase the CD you are on your way. No additional books or tutorials are needed unless you want to purchase them, however, they are NOT required for the lessons. Some CDs even come with tests after each chapter.
  
  
• Files included - Most CDs will come with any graphics, sound files, or tutorials needed to help you follow along and complete the lessons. This helps sometimes to see whether you really understand what the instructor is doing.
  
  
• Review or brush-up anytime you need to - As we all know, if you don't use it, you'll lose it. With a CD or Videotape you can just brush-up or review what you need to know and you are back in business.
  
  
• View from the beginning or jump around - Start from the beginning, or if you already know the fundamentals of the program, you can jump around to learn the features you need or want to know.
  
  
• No guessing - Sometimes with books or tutorials, important screenshots are left out and you have no clue what your computer screen is supposed to look like. There is no guessing with a Learning CD or Tape. Sometimes I am truly amazed, as the instructor(s) seem to answer my questions before I can even ask them. It's almost as if they are clairvoyant!
  
  

From my own extensive experience with Learning CDs and Tapes I would say that you could become functional literally overnight - depending on your skill level and what you are trying to learn. Some companies sell their CDs in sets, while others are from three to eight or so hours and come with two, or more CDs in one package. (I prefer the latter; as you have everything you need with the initial package.) I have found to my dismay that some companies produce CDs that are literally dependent on each other, so buying one out of the set will not be beneficial and may prove to be very frustrating. Therefore, if you don't buy the complete set you are lost! This is not always the case, but it does happen. So… It is a good idea to ask this before making your purchase, if you are not considering buying a complete set upfront. Think of it this way, if you need to learn a program quickly and buy one CD out of a set, and then find you need the other to go on, you will not only have to wait for the additional CD to arrive, but might in fact lose a job opportunity, or a prospective client.

It is truly a blessing to have these forms of learning tools available to us. I can vividly remember when I had to give up a particular dream because I did not have a way to learn the necessary programs. With these new forms of learning, those days are in the past. With the Internet, online classes, learning CDs and Tapes, tutorials, discussion groups, business organizations, free seminars given by software publishers, there is almost no excuse for not being able to learn.

If you have any questions, or would like more information on Learning CDs and/or Videotapes, other methods of alternative learning, industry events, or reviews, please write Roz at roz@designsbydaybreak.com.

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