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Messages: 6 of 6. Pages: 1
Comments/Replies (5) appear below in chronological order. Comment form is at bottom of page.
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Atlanta-based Accelerated Learning Group
is a small, independent firm that sells software training
to the graphic arts market. I know a number of software trainers who
make their living doing this and the word from them over the past year
has consistently been about financial troubles at the company. Until now I haven't seen any customer complaints, but this post from September indicates that the company's financial problems have surfaced and begun to affect customers.
If you're looking for software training on graphic arts applications (or anything else for that matter) you need to do your homework. Always do the following before you fork over upfront fees:
- Find out if the company has a permanent teaching facility. Independent trainers often don't have permanent facilities, but a training company should at least have a permanent facility in their home city.
- Ask if you can come see the facility. If it's in a different city see if you can find someone else who has been there or will go see it for you.
- Find out who will be teaching the course. Many smaller training companies use freelance trainers and try to avoid making commitments, which means you may end up with who's available rather than most qualified.
- Ask to speak to the instructor before you sign up. Some companies will resist this. Push the point. Good teachers want to talk to you. They want to know your expectations and to be sure your satisfied. This is also a good way to make sure the company has full-time or contracted trainers instead of ad hoc.
- Ask about the teacher's certifications. Make sure they're qualified in the software you need. Many training centers advertise certification, but that doesn't mean you'll be taught by a certified instructor.
- Pay by credit card. If you haven't gotten what you paid for within 60 days submit a complaint to the credit card company.
- Remember, there are two kinds of software trainers - those who couldn't make a living in the real world but figure that shouldn't stop them from teaching, and those who could (and probably did) make a good living in the real world and now teach because they want to. Find the latter. You'll be glad you did.
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Just a quick note that most of your tips points toward the credibility of the instructor. The company you mentioned uses some pretty good instructors. That's not the problem.
The credibility of the owner of the training center can also be a problem. In my opinion, the problem with Accelerated Learning Group stems from the dishonesty and lack of character of Greg Parker, it's owner. Not from the instructors.
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Dear Anonymous Commenter,
You sound like an instructor. Just a quick note that most of your tips points toward the credibility of the instructor. No, my comments don't speak to the credibility of the instructor, they speak to the competency - which is important in evaluating whether or not the training you're going to receive is what you expect. The company you mentioned uses some pretty good instructors. That's not the problem. I disagree. The company *used to* use some pretty good instructors. But, among other things, the owner has failed to pay those good instructors - which means they don't use them any more. And word travels fast in a small community - any "good" instructor who would knowingly take work from someone with a reputation for reneging on payment probably isn't all that good.
The credibility of the owner of the training center can also be a problem. In my opinion, the problem stems from the dishonesty and lack of character of it's owner. Not from the instructors. I certainly agree, but you haven't offered any suggestions for how a potential customer can better validate the legitimacy of an owner. Failing that, I stand by my suggestions as the most likely way to avoid dealing with a disreputable firm.
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Do not do business with ALG (greg parker)
My story is similar to many people who dealt with the Accelerated Learning Group.
I booked two computer courses, they got cancelled. I asked for a refund, Mr Greg Parker told me he would proceed with my refund right away and ...it didn't happen.
I contacted him many times about that issue, he made the same promise again again and again.
To make a story short, two months later, still no refund. At that point he didn't even answer my emails.
I contacted visa and thanks to them, there were able to delete the transaction so I could have my money back. Now they are after him too.
Please listen to the postings, do not book classes with ALG or you will be added to a long list of people this man robbed.
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I don't know a thing about this company, and am interested to see this warning of sorts, but I'd really appreciate some *suggestions* as to other companies in metro Atlanta that students and the job market consider to be effective trainers. I'm a self-taught HTML designer trying to polish and expand my skills (CSS, graphic design, etc.) while working on a Ph.D. and teaching half-time, so I can't afford to waste time and money on some course that doesn't get me up to speed. Would I be better off trying to squeeze in an undergraduate interactive-programming class on the side? I am a professional writer with two degrees and multiple skill sets/media experience, absolutely refuse to mischaracterize myself as either a graphic designer or programmer, and have noticed that most job descriptions don't differentiate between these specialties and more general back-end programming and network duties.
Thanks,
Robin rkemp3 at student dot gsu dot edu
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-----On 04 AUG 2007 Robin wrote: -----
> I don't know a thing about this company, and am
> interested to see this warning of sorts, but I'd
> really appreciate some *suggestions* as to other
> companies in metro Atlanta ...
Robin,
I have some good news and some bad news...
The good news is learning CSS is more accessible than graphic
design and there are some decent trainers/companies in ATL, but
I don't do programming-type work and don't know who they are.
That's why I wrote the message in the way I did. Instead of
asking me to do the work for you get out the phone book, start
talking to companies, and ask the questions I suggest. Figure it
out. But CSS has nothing to do with graphic design. It's just
another technical skillset - one I've never mastered.
The bad news is that every really good trainer or expert I know
in the graphic arts field is self-taught and paid their dues
through years of on-the-job learning. None of them got where
they are by taking classes at training companies - no matter how
good. Having said that, it's perfectly valid to take classes or
attend seminars to learn the ins-and-outs of new software
releases, learn a few tips or tricks, or to serve as a primer if
you are just getting started. Training companies tend to serve
this latter market. If you really want someone to teach you
exactly what you want then you find an expert and pay them -
usually a lot - to teach you based on a customized curriculum.
This is what a lot of companies do when they need to improve the
productivity of several employees around a particular problem
set.
> I'm a self-taught HTML designer trying to polish and
> expand my skills (CSS, graphic design, etc.) while
> working on a Ph.D. and teaching half-time,
<snip>
> I am a professional writer with two degrees and multiple
> skill sets/media experience,
Sounds to me like you have enough education - what you need is
work experience. See my note above about how good trainers and
experts got to be where they are. There are no shortcuts.
Education just qualifies you for an entry-level chance to prove
yourself - nothing more.
Good luck in your quest.
- twf
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Total Messages: 6. Pages: 1
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