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Well, it appears that there’s a little more movement going on within the Cisco learning partner program and amongst the 360 program learning partner participants. Just a few weeks ago Cisco announced that they would be launching their 360 CCIE program with an estimated price that approached $20,000 USD. Shortly after, Netmaster Class updated their website and stated that they were offering Cisco’s 360 program (first to market) at a price-point that seemed to come in significantly lower than $20,000 (which, rumor has it, has caused some major problems amongst learning partners that are now competing in this offering as well as a few of their students that don’t approve of their sales tactics!). Today – Global Knowledge announced that they were the first CLSP to offer this 360 program worldwide – however, if you read this post from Fast Lane’s website you will see that they (Fast Lane is also a CLSP) announced something similar to this about 3 weeks ago. (Fast Lane announced that they were offering the 360 program here in the U.S., but no mention of this program being available at any of their international locations.) Also, there doesn’t seem to be any published pricing on the CLSP (Fast Lane or GK’s) websites. Lastly, Cisco had announced that more information would be coming November 1st – to include pricing and learning partners that will offer this program. Wouldn’t you know it – November 1st has come and gone and Cisco hasn’t updated their website with this information (Not a surprise to us companies that have worked with Cisco’s learning partner team!). Hopefully this isn’t a sign of what’s to come as it relates to updates, support and Cisco’s attentiveness (or lack of) as it relates to this “first of its kind blended learning program”. Does this appear to be unorganized, pre-announced and / or overpriced?….What are your thoughts – we’d like to hear them! Also, I’m interested in hearing your thoughts pertaining to Cisco’s learning management system. We considered implementing a PPP “Personal Preparation Path” solution that would allow our students to enter in their lab date (goal) and then have a custom study plan created – all of this being trackable online within their IPexpert login / locker. Is this something you would like to see or have available?
As always, thanks for reading and happy studying! – Wayne
Tags: 360 Program, CCIE 360, Fastlane, GlobalKnowledge, ie, IPexpert CCIE Lab training, netmasterclass
PPP “Personal Preparation Path” solution ? – Sure I will like to see this change…..
PPP “Personal Preparation Path” solution ? – Sure I will like to see this change…..
I don’t know if you could just put up a cookie cutter PPP based on a goal date. It would have to be used in conjunction with frequent assessments, which I believe is a part of the 360 program as well as IE’s CCIE2.0 program. That type of a service could be very valuable.
I think that a common problem point for CCIE candidates is trying to gauge when they are ready for the lab, or when they are competent enough on a certain topic to move on. Obviously if you haven’t gone down the path before, it’s hard o know yourself. So regular feedback by those who are knowledgeable enough to give it in those areas would be a real help.
Personally, I’d be willing to pay extra for personalized direction of my studies. You guys definitely have the study tools to allow students to gain the knowledge that they need. So throwing a service like this on top of it should theoretically reduce the average number of lab attempts of your students. That’s definitely worth paying for.
I don’t know if you could just put up a cookie cutter PPP based on a goal date. It would have to be used in conjunction with frequent assessments, which I believe is a part of the 360 program as well as IE’s CCIE2.0 program. That type of a service could be very valuable.
I think that a common problem point for CCIE candidates is trying to gauge when they are ready for the lab, or when they are competent enough on a certain topic to move on. Obviously if you haven’t gone down the path before, it’s hard o know yourself. So regular feedback by those who are knowledgeable enough to give it in those areas would be a real help.
Personally, I’d be willing to pay extra for personalized direction of my studies. You guys definitely have the study tools to allow students to gain the knowledge that they need. So throwing a service like this on top of it should theoretically reduce the average number of lab attempts of your students. That’s definitely worth paying for.
Jeff – you’re absolutely correct as it relates to your thoughts / suggestions / comments. Our PPP would be based on an 8-hour assessment lab as well as a list of questions pertaining to your general knowledge on various topics (including what you’ve done previously relating to your CCIE lab prep). With our grading engine, the analysis / assessment would show you where you are in terms of practical knowledge. Our reporting / analysis engine would give you a recommended path – with an “estimation” on the average length of time it takes the “average candidate”. With that being said – if your goal was to complete it sooner – or later – than the proposed time line we suggest – you would be given a serious of tasks / products to completed (and a due date) and measured after every phase. It would be similar to the standard college / university model (thus our IPexpert University initiative) ;-)
Jeff – you’re absolutely correct as it relates to your thoughts / suggestions / comments. Our PPP would be based on an 8-hour assessment lab as well as a list of questions pertaining to your general knowledge on various topics (including what you’ve done previously relating to your CCIE lab prep). With our grading engine, the analysis / assessment would show you where you are in terms of practical knowledge. Our reporting / analysis engine would give you a recommended path – with an “estimation” on the average length of time it takes the “average candidate”. With that being said – if your goal was to complete it sooner – or later – than the proposed time line we suggest – you would be given a serious of tasks / products to completed (and a due date) and measured after every phase. It would be similar to the standard college / university model (thus our IPexpert University initiative) ;-)
The non main stream CCIE vendors offering the CCIE 360 program does not change my thoughts on them. They offer CCIE training as a part of their business not as their core and this fact alone bothers me. The idea of a training company deciding one day at some business meeting that they should offer CCIE training and deciding to “branch out” into that market really does not appeal to me. I may have a skewed opinion, but these companies seem very disconnected from the candidate with the feeling of a commoditized product. The difference now is I am sure they will need to increase prices and take themselves further out of my consideration.
I missed the initial 360 launch and have not heard much interesting since so I can’t comment on the learning management system. The idea of the learning management system does sound good as it is extremely hard to judge where you are at until you have taken the exam. Also it is tough to be 100% honest with yourself about your faults sometimes you just have to see it in black and white.
The non main stream CCIE vendors offering the CCIE 360 program does not change my thoughts on them. They offer CCIE training as a part of their business not as their core and this fact alone bothers me. The idea of a training company deciding one day at some business meeting that they should offer CCIE training and deciding to “branch out” into that market really does not appeal to me. I may have a skewed opinion, but these companies seem very disconnected from the candidate with the feeling of a commoditized product. The difference now is I am sure they will need to increase prices and take themselves further out of my consideration.
I missed the initial 360 launch and have not heard much interesting since so I can’t comment on the learning management system. The idea of the learning management system does sound good as it is extremely hard to judge where you are at until you have taken the exam. Also it is tough to be 100% honest with yourself about your faults sometimes you just have to see it in black and white.
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Great post and some useful advice….
Labrador Retriever Puppy Training…
Great post and some useful advice….