At-Home Training Software: Is it Worth It?

Whether you are a teacher, a trainer, a student, a professional, or just someone looking to get the most out of your software, you should consider the many benefits of training products that you can use at home, and at your convenience.

Downloadable training programs are used widely in educational and office settings, but they are seldom considered for ‘at home’ use, which is a shame, because they are often particularly suited to just that. Many of the major brands like Adobe and Microsoft’s entire Office Suite offer affordable, in- depth training that is accessible, intuitive and poised to help you master your software with a minimal investment of time and money.

One of the perks of learning at home is of course being able to do it at your own pace and on your own time. Learning at home becomes something quite different from learning at school or work, though it does help to give you the edge there, as well. The difference is it crosses over into the area of personal enrichment, and therefore it has the potential to engage you, as the student, much more completely. Often these training programs are used in an office setting, and working on them, or similar programs, at home simultaneously can vastly improve the rate at which you retain the material; the benefits are much like those you get from doing homework. Technically completing training programs on your own IS like doing homework- albeit not required and self- assigned. The flip side of that is finding the motivation to complete it. If it’s a program you use currently, your increased proficiency- thanks to the tips and tricks in the training- will be noticed almost immediately, which makes for a great motivator.

The downside, of course, is not having an instructor available to guide you and provide insight. Although nothing can provide a complete substitute for all the benefits of having an in-person instructor, there are several forums online with experienced and knowledgeable participants- some who are actually teachers or instructors in classrooms-that can provide very helpful guidance and expertise when necessary. You can also chat with other students for even more insight into learning whatever program you are working on. Teachers and instructors often complete at-home training themselves before teaching in a classroom setting, so they are particularly well equipped to provide help if you become overwhelmed.

Completing training doesn’t just increase your proficiency and efficiency -it also provides something else that’s tangible if you’re in or even just entering the workforce: it’s a resume builder. The more training you complete, whether it is at home, at the office, or in a classroom, the better your qualifications. In today’s competitive job market, you simply can never be over-trained. College students are especially advised to take advantage of at-home training software, as mastering it can help to bridge the gap between the student/teacher classroom environment and the office environment, which can be much more autonomous. Being prepared for school and being prepared for work are ultimately not that much different, though. And that’s exactly why grabbing some new skills or brushing up on old ones at home is totally worth the relatively small investment of time and money. And the benefits aren’t just applicable to building professional skills- there are training sets available for skill sets that can be personal as well as professional, like web designing and digital photography.

Expand your horizons without ever leaving home: try out a training program!

Amanda Greene is author and Brand Manager for RHL, online supplier of dorm supplies. She enjoys writing about college and career topics.