Windows Vista - Windows Vista Administration and Support
Publisher: Train Signal, Inc
Price £75 ($149.95)
Available from: www.trainsignal.com
Video cover reproduced with kind permission of Train Signal, Inc
Physically
demonstrating how Windows Vista works is by far the best way to get
someone to absorb the information. This is why Computer Based Training
(CBT) is so useful. The hands on approach of the instructor give the
user the feeling of a one to one relationship
which, inevitably, instils confidence and enables more of the learned
knowledge to be retained.
Train Signal,
Inc have perfected, in Windows Vista – Windows
Vista Administration and Support, the art of
the Computer Based Training video, ensuring
that any user, regardless of initial skill level, can master the skills
needed to succeed with Windows Vista.
Knowledge at
your fingertips
The Windows
Vista Training course instructor, Scott Skinger, is an experienced IT
instructor who has not only worked as a network engineer, but has also
been an independent consultant to a variety of companies. His relaxed
approach to the learning process is extremely comforting and his
enthusiasm for his subject leaves you in no doubt that the knowledge he
has acquired is at your disposal.
Training at
its best
Consisting of
two CDs, the Windows Vista Training course contains a total of 15
selected videos (or Chapters); in all over 19 hours of intense training.
The videos are recorded using Tech-Smith’s
Camtasia 4 software and playback is through Windows Internet Explorer.
All you have to do is slip the relevant CD into the
CD-ROM, wait for the Train Signal menu to appear,
and then click on the video option of your choice.
Regarding the
Train Signal menu, I should point out that, if like me, you prefer to
listen to the video commentary via headphones, you ensure the volume
control is set to a low level when first inserting the training CD, as
Train Signal’s signature audio clip, a locomotive horn and clanking
rolling stock, can be pretty disconcerting to
the unwary.
Real life
scenarios
The Windows
Vista course is set against the background of a real life scenario; in
this case, Amy’s Cakehouse. The goal of this scenario is to install into
the company, Amy’s Cakehouse, a networking system comprising PCs running
Windows Vista and, just to add an extra ingredient into the mix (excuse
the pun!); Amy also needs to upgrade her one laptop PC from Windows XP
to Windows Vista. Real life scenario’s such as Amy’s Cakehouse provide
hands on experience, not only of installing
Windows Vista itself, but also on setting up and using Vista’s many
features.
One major
advantage, for an instructor, anyway, of creating video
training courses is when, during a
demonstration, something goes wrong. We all make mistakes and, I
suppose, where a video demonstration is concerned, it is easy to brush
the problem under the carpet and pretend that nothing actually happened
by pausing the video recording or, indeed, actually editing the problem
out. I was surprised to see that the Windows Vista course actually does
the opposite. Instead of pausing the video or editing out a problem,
Scott actually works through it, giving the user extra insight into how
problems can be overcome.
Disk Content
As stated,
the Windows Vista course contains two CDs with a total of 15 videos (or
Chapters).
Disk 1
provides you with an overview of Windows Vista along with an outline of
the Amy’s Cakehouse company scenario. Further videos explain the
installation of Vista; its user interface and navigation; user groups;
networking; mobile PC and wireless; disk management and shared folders
and permissions.
Disk 2 covers
security in Windows Vista; internet explorer (IE 7.0); running software
on Vista; administering Vista; hardware and printing; backing up your
system and, last but by no means least, for users of Vista Business,
Enterprise and Ultimate there is a complete video devoted to group
policy.
Verdict
The Windows Vista course gives the user an opportunity to learn at his/her own pace, and contains video demonstrations of all aspects of the Windows Vista operating system.
Because the course is based around a real life scenario company you receive hands on experience of what is likely to happen in the real world. You also have the opportunity of watching the videos over and over again until you are 100% certain that you have grasped all aspects of each particular lesson. This is really something you are unable to do in a real classroom situation.
At the end of
each video Scott provides a summary of what has been
discussed and also provides a list of
‘what we covered - what you should know’. These are the points you
should automatically be able to complete before moving on to the next
video. Call it homework, if you will, but it is extremely effective at
concentrating the mind on what you have seen in the video.
The videos
are professionally made and instructionally sound. Scott does an
excellent job of guiding the user through the intricacies of the Windows
Vista system. All in all Train Signal’s Windows Vista – Windows Vista
Administration and Support is a must have for all users'
who wish to master the Windows Vista operating system