Train-ee Student: 6 Month Checkup
Have you been checking one of the upcoming Train-ee classes and wondering if it would be worth it? I mean really, wouldn’t it just be better to turn the whole class into a bunch of screencasts so you could stay nicely tucked away in your cozy hi-tech enclave? ;) I’ve just received an update from Ryan Battles - who was in the inaugural Train-ee class in September of 2008. Read on for his review of the experience six months later.
Ryan starts with a review of the class itself:
The very first day, Mike used analogies to help us all understand the basic concepts behind ExpressionEngine. Before lunch, we all had a pretty good understanding of how ExpressionEngine works, and were ready to get our hands dirty with a demo site. Having someone to hold our hand through the entire process of building a site from start to finish was valuable, but the true value was within all of the experience that Mike brought to the discussion. For example, he would often say, “Let’s take a look at how I implemented that concept here,” as he would proceed to show us real examples of the concepts in work. There is no substitute for those real-life examples that we were shown.
By the end of the week, we all not only had a good understanding of ExpressionEngine, but were armed with little tips and secrets that would help us to wield the tool as a powerful addition to our businesses.
But check out what’s going on since the class has ended—this is what got me excited and really shows the value of the classroom experience over training approaches that keep you isolated:
After the training session, most of the attendees have kept in touch via mailing lists and Twitter. It is great to have a small army of colleagues at your disposal to help you with any ExpressionEngine questions. We bounce ideas off each other, help troubleshoot issues, and encourage each other by sharing and commenting on work we’ve done. Not only did I make great business contacts, but I would even consider a few of those people my friends now.
The networking opportunities alone have already brought in enough extra work for my business to justify the expense of the week several times over. For example—one of the attendees works for a design firm and has brought me in on a couple of projects that they needed some assistance on. Another one of the attendees has had to offer up a few of her clients because she was no longer able to take on more projects.
The Train-ee Sessions are so much more than just a quick way to learn ExpressionEngine. For my own web design business, the Train-ee Sessions were an “All-Inclusive” package to bring understanding, learn tips from the trenches, and provide lifelong relationships that have been invaluable to my business.
My thanks to Mike Boyink, and all those responsible for putting on the Train-ee Sessions. It was a monumental week all around.
-Ryan Battles
Principal + Creative Director
Jovia Web Studio
I’ve tried in the past to describe the vibe that I see happening in the classes - it’s sort of all the best parts of a summer camp, a BarCamp and an industry conference rolled into one. To see that vibe happening and then also see post-class networking and business relationships developing is incredibly humbling and gratifying. There’s just so much value in the classroom experience—and so much of that value is brought to the class by the students themselves.
So hey—we’ll be in Holland, MI in May and Portland, OR in July - sign yourself up!
