I sat through all 21 of a certain sparkys’ youtube videos on the 18th during the Christmas hols. Why? No life? Well actually I was interested in his delivery which seemed to go down well with many commentators. His pitch was clearly geared to the average spark and although I would contest some of his technical explanations, if the purpose was to assist guys with getting their head round the basics of 7671 then I think he has done a reasonably good job. All the videos are free so he is to be applauded for his altruism. Compare that to the cost of learning material from this blessed institution and my own dear accreditation body. Want to know more about SPDs? A snip at £285. What about a one day course on BS9999 at £425? Although that includes a buffet lunch! You could take three days off and be bored to death on one of my own 7671 courses for a mere £475 plus vat. Alternatively, keep your hard earned cash and indulge yourself in Youtube, you can always ask for clarification on this wonderful forum if you get stuck!
There is some fun stuff out there - not just electricity. I have now learnt how to route circles in ply wood and had great fun making pulley wheels for a clothes dryer, that without the web I would never have done that way. I will get the sawdust out of the carpet before my wife gets back. Like many fora, some of it is very good and some is more pub banter grade, but even then there are hints and tips to be picked up. At its best it is a great democratising force - After all we can now all watch lectures by Nobel Prize winners, and realise the prize is not normally for their presentation skills ?
I think that training, rather like the formal publications of books or music, where unofficial copies of many previously expensive works are in circulation, has also been rather upended by the web, and it will be a while before we learn how to make the best of the new order. But it should indeed make it more accessible - you can see inside installations and watch the use of kit the best equipped college would not have been able to arrange, and the best explanations and methods should circulate faster.
Have you considered that you too could put your teaching material on-line, either open to all, or behind some paywall password on enrolment, and avoid all that note taking, and deliver the talks just once, and then keep replaying it to each new batch of recruits, all over the planet.
There is some fun stuff out there - not just electricity. I have now learnt how to route circles in ply wood and had great fun making pulley wheels for a clothes dryer, that without the web I would never have done that way. I will get the sawdust out of the carpet before my wife gets back. Like many fora, some of it is very good and some is more pub banter grade, but even then there are hints and tips to be picked up. At its best it is a great democratising force - After all we can now all watch lectures by Nobel Prize winners, and realise the prize is not normally for their presentation skills ?
I think that training, rather like the formal publications of books or music, where unofficial copies of many previously expensive works are in circulation, has also been rather upended by the web, and it will be a while before we learn how to make the best of the new order. But it should indeed make it more accessible - you can see inside installations and watch the use of kit the best equipped college would not have been able to arrange, and the best explanations and methods should circulate faster.
Have you considered that you too could put your teaching material on-line, either open to all, or behind some paywall password on enrolment, and avoid all that note taking, and deliver the talks just once, and then keep replaying it to each new batch of recruits, all over the planet.
