Education and training are both a part of a learning experience. However, in general both these terminologies are used interchangeably. A person sent to an IT training program actually comes back with a bunch of papers on that particular subject. The program here is not a training program but an educational program.
Education deals with imparting knowledge whereas training teaches the practical application of that knowledge. Hence, education gives the base of a topic and training helps you in building a skill. In IT, both education and training are equally important. A program that has the right mix of training as well as education will be the best option for any member of the IT community.
What is better IT Education or IT Training?
The answer to this question will vary from person to person. However, as mentioned earlier a program that gives both training and education will be the best option. Individual skill levels and learning abilities will greatly influence the choice of IT programs. Some programs have extensive knowledge session with a peek into the application part whereas others take application oriented approach and give knowledge simultaneously.
To understand more in detail let us take an example of a university course. While the course may be labelled as IT Training course, its contents will generally include more of theoretical knowledge to provide the basic level of understanding. Most university courses spend more than eighty percent of the time in classrooms and the rest is spent in internships and projects. Thus, such programs are more of education oriented than training oriented.
Contrast this to a one month course on Microsoft Office. Here the emphasis will be more on training than education. While basic commands and functionalities will be taught, more focus will be on the applicability and practise of this information. Thus, this session will be more of training oriented than education oriented.
The best way to choose a program is to assess your own skill level first. If you have some prior understanding of the subject, choose a program that focuses on training practical applications. If the topic is new you can opt for a program that gives both education as well as training. For a successful IT professional, both IT education and IT training are important. Education will build a solid base that training can take advantage of.
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