87.2 pc of IT professionals lack faith in self-study

LONDON, UK: Firebrand Training recently conducted a survey to get the IT industry's view on the long-debated topic of whether classroom-based training is better than self-study.

After collating results from 952 IT professionals, the report concludes an overwhelming 87.2 per cent of respondents are of the opinion classroom-based training gives you a better chance of passing your exams, compared with self-study.

When asked why self-study was worse than classroom-based training, 59.5 percent of respondents reported that self-study material alone was not sufficient in preparing for a professional certification. Ease of distraction and the lack of a certified instructor were also highlighted as popular reasons as to why self-study is a poor substitute for classroom-based training, with 75.8 percent and 71.5 percent of respondents selecting the detractors respectively.

Training companies charging students to fail

Firebrand Training co-founder and commercial director, Robert Chapman says, "At Firebrand, we don't believe that self-study alone is a viable method of learning. The compelling results from this survey show we are far from alone in this opinion. Companies should not be charging thousands of pounds for eLearning and self-study resources, while effectively setting up the student for failure."

Firebrand has recently launched a free self-study platform called Learn, where students can access all the materials available on the organisation's flagship product, the PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) course.

Self-study without the financial risk

Robert says, "While we wouldn't recommend self-study, Firebrand respects each learner's decision to choose their own pathway to certification. In launching the Learn platform, students can experience self-study for free and without risk. Should they be unsuccessful, the student has only given up their time, and not their money."