Online training with MentorAid
As the February 2009 issue of CCIE Flyer is devoted to video experiences, I would like to share some ideas, how Internet-based video can enhance learning experiences.
Since 2006 Mamentor has been developing new competence management and development tools that are gathered together as a platform called MentorAid. We have the ability to help in all phases of any company's competence process - assessing current levels of knowledge and skills, creating and maintaining development plans, creating, administering and distributing online course materials, reporting each individual's progress and handling the overall process of keeping company's human resource assets at one's fingertips.
At the heart of MentorAid are components that are devoted to enhance each individual's learning experience. I do not mean the traditional "e-learning" which in many cases is actually "e-reading" meaning that the course materials are transformed to web pages which can then be read from the screen. I mean actual courses that are taught by the individual who has created them. The courses are available time and location independently via Internet. Go and take a look at an example of this kind of a lecture by visiting demo.mentoraid.fi with username/password ccieflyer. Select "Online lessons" and "In English".
Besides the ability of distributing video lectures, MentorAid has additional capabilities that are beneficial for learning and learners. The most important of these is virtual laboratory. At the moment we have put together software from different sources, including dynamips, qemu and olive and created a tool that can be used to:
* Do exercices developed by a teacher for a specific course. * Create own laboratory topologies to learn different features, functions and protocols. * Test and document e.g. customer topologies * Test functionalities and applications
In addition to virtual laboratory - which we call MentorLab - MentorAid contains web 2.0 tools for communication. These include video conferencing, chat, wiki and discussion boards.
The obvious question is - how our customers are using MentorAid what is the benefit for those? Since Mamentor has traditionally served the tele-/datacommunications sector as their training provider, most of our MentorAid customers are from that sector as well. Our public references at the moment include Cisco Finland, Laurea University of Applied Science, Pohjanmaan Puhelin and Santa Monica Networks. Each of these and our other customers are using MentorAid a bit differently.
Most of our customers use MentorAid as the platform for course material distribution. We have created online courses worth of over 50 instructor-led classroom-based training days. The topics of these contain basic stuff like TCP/IP Overview, mid-level courses like OSPF Routing and high-end information like Metro/Carrier Ethernet. Having the ability to learn and practice things anytime, anyplace has been seen as an important improvement to e.g. NOC personnel.
Some of our customers use MentorAid also for their internal training purposes. We see this as a growing field, since all companies need internal training about their processes, products etc. The traditional ways for doing this kind of training include a person and a lot of traveling and similar course days one after another. With MentorAid, the trainer can make a recording of the materials once and then just distribute it to the appropriate persons. And whilst this has traditionally been a costly process, with our tools it just takes the time that is needed to speak out the presentation.
As a summary - our belief is that Internet-based online training that contains presentation materials, video, recorded demos and virtualized laboratories is the way to teach networking professionals in the future. Away with overly priced courses that are held in exotic locations and that can be attended once a year and welcome course library that is always present with a fractional price of a traditional classroom training.
We are happy to provide more information about MentorAid and online training possibilities. You can also always visit also our web pages; http://www.mamentor.fi/en/ to get more info.
Happy new year to all readers,
Aki Anttila
Chief Technology Officer
Mamentor Oy
aki.anttila(at)mamentor.fi