By SANDRA GITTLEN

Mailbag: Ways to learn on a shoestring

Network World, 01/30/02

A few weeks ago, I offered some resources for those of you who need inexpensive answers to your training needs. Several of your colleagues wrote in to offer their advice, as well. Here are their tips on how to stay educated without breaking your budget.

Reader Gary Abbott recommends "tip of the day" e-mail newsletters. He recommends several, including those from CramSession.com, ElementK Journals and Emazing.com. I would argue that any technical newsletters are a good option as you're bound to learn something new each time you open one up.

Zigi Putnins says vendor-sponsored half-day seminars, Webcasts and trade shows get his vote. "An exhibits-only pass is usually cheap ($50) or free and you get to talk face-to-face to developers, marketing types, etc." He adds that most of the vendor seminars are free and focus on new technology.

A member of the Greater Boston Network Users Group (BNUG) wrote in to suggest his organization's training opportunities. "We have been helping networking professionals meet other networking professionals, learn more about networking products and technology, and solve their problems for over the last 15 years," says Steve Isenberg, treasurer and seminar coordinator for the group. He adds that membership is free. You can find out more about BNUG.

Gene Trottot says computer-based terminal learning is a good and inexpensive option for training. "I have found that going to [a local computer store] and working with the CBT programs for what you are trying to learn is a great way to do it and very inexpensive. I bought from CompUSA Learn2.com’s Learn to Program for the Web. It came with eight CDs covering everything from C++ to HTML and JavaScript for [less than $30], so it is not exactly free. But for the information presented one can hardly go wrong."

And finally, Earl Balch, assistant department head and network services officer at University of California at San Diego, says online journals offer a world of knowledge. "There are thousands of journal titles (e-journals) available on the Web. Most require a subscription or are free to library users in a library or remotely for faculty, staff and students of many universities and colleges. As you say, reading is key to learning and keeping current and there is an e-journal for just about any topic you can think of."

If you have any more suggestions, feel free to send them to me at sgittlen@nww.com

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Gittlen is Events Editor at Network World.
You can e-mail her at sgittlen@nww.com.