Why ILT is Better Than Self-Study for IT Professionals

Choosing a Path to Learning

In the fast-evolving world of Information Technology (IT), professionals must continually upgrade their skills to stay relevant and competitive.

While self-study has become a popular, cheap, and convenient way for many IT professionals to learn new technologies, Instructor-Led Training (ILT) remains one of the most effective and reliable methods for acquiring new skills and knowledge.

This blog explores why instructor-led training remains superior to self-study - particularly for IT professionals.

The Benefits of Instructor-Led IT Training

There are a number of benefits to be gained from using an instructor to guide your learning, as opposed to studying alone:

1. Structured Learning

One of the greatest challenges of self-study is the lack of structure.

IT professionals often juggle multiple responsibilities, making it difficult to maintain a consistent learning path. Self-study can quickly become overwhelming when trying to decide which concepts to prioritize or how to approach a complex subject.

Instructor-led training, on the other hand, provides a well-organized curriculum designed by experts. The training is typically divided into manageable modules or sections, each building on the previous one. This structure ensures that learners don’t miss critical concepts and can follow a logical progression that enhances understanding.

The instructor's guidance ensures that the material is presented in a way that is both coherent and digestible, preventing the confusion that can arise from piecing together information from multiple sources.

2. Access to Expert Knowledge

While self-study resources like online tutorials, books, and videos are valuable, they cannot replicate the expertise and experience of a skilled instructor.

In an ILT environment, instructors bring years of hands-on experience and specialized knowledge to the table. They can provide real-world examples, explain complex topics in layman's terms, and offer insights that may not be found in textbooks.

For IT professionals, this level of access to expert knowledge can be invaluable. Instructors often have an in-depth understanding of current industry trends, best practices, and troubleshooting techniques that are crucial for career advancement. They can also clarify nuances and offer tips that are not always covered in self-study resources.

 3. Real-Time Interaction and Support

A significant advantage of instructor-led training is the ability to engage in real-time discussions and receive immediate feedback.

IT concepts, especially in areas like network design, cybersecurity, or even determining which parameters to enter when setting up a switch, can be highly technical and sometimes confusing. In a self-study environment, learners are left to their own devices to solve problems, which can lead to frustration, delays, and errors.

With an instructor leading the course, learners can ask questions on the spot, seek clarification, and even engage in group discussions. This interaction not only helps to solidify understanding but also provides the opportunity to learn from peers who may have different perspectives or experience levels. The ability to receive immediate answers to questions helps prevent gaps in understanding from developing, which can be a common issue in self-directed learning.

4. Accountability and Motivation

One of the key obstacles to successful self-study is maintaining motivation. Without a structured environment, learners can easily become distracted, procrastinate, or lose focus.

IT professionals, often busy with demanding jobs, may find it difficult to carve out time for uninterrupted study.

Instructor-led training provides built-in accountability. The presence of a scheduled class times, assignment deadlines, and expectations from both instructors and fellow students encourage commitment. Many learners find that having a structured schedule with set goals helps them stay motivated and on track, ultimately leading to better learning outcomes.

5. Collaborative Learning and Networking Opportunities

Learning in a group setting – whether in person or virtual – provides an invaluable opportunity for networking and collaborative learning.

In an instructor-led course, IT professionals can interact with colleagues from different organizations, industries, and backgrounds. These interactions can lead to new ideas, career opportunities, and professional connections that might not be available in a self-study environment.

Moreover, collaborative learning fosters a deeper understanding of complex topics. When discussing challenging concepts with peers, learners are often able to approach problems from new angles, which can lead to better problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

6. Practical Hands-On Experience

While self-study resources often focus on theory, instructor-led training frequently includes practical, hands-on exercises.

These exercises allow learners to apply what they've learned in a real-world context, which is particularly important in IT fields where practical skills are as important as theoretical knowledge.



Instructors can guide learners through simulations, lab exercises, and case studies that mimic real-life challenges, providing invaluable experience that will be useful in the workplace. These hands-on sessions ensure that IT professionals not only understand the theory behind a technology but also gain the practical experience needed to implement it effectively.

The True Cost

While self-study can be a useful tool for IT professionals, it often lacks the structure, expertise, support, and hands-on experience that instructor-led training offers.

Saving a Penny - But at What Cost?

While self-study may appear less costly at first, it can ultimately prove to be considerably more expensive, due to the potential for misunderstanding of concepts, or the necessity of retaking failed exams. When a student searches for an answer online and encounters numerous responses, how can they be sure which one is accurate? Furthermore, self-directed study enables a student to engage with the content at their own preferred speed; nevertheless, as previously discussed, there is a propensity for distractions arising from professional obligations and personal life. ILT mitigates these distractions. In the IT sector, professional training has been optimized for maximum efficiency, thus ensuring the best utilization of a student's time.

The Numbers Don't Lie

In a study performed and reported in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, a massive 93% of instructor-led learners scored in the high performer category, compared to only 65% of self-paced learners! The conclusion indicates that instructor-led methods are much more effective at helping learners understand and retain knowledge than self-paced approaches.

Knowing Your Worth

For IT professionals looking to stay ahead in their careers, instructor-led training provides a comprehensive, engaging, and efficient way to acquire new skills and knowledge. By combining expert instruction, collaborative learning, and real-time question resolution, instructor-led training helps professionals gain a deeper understanding of complex technologies, stay motivated, and apply their learning in practical scenarios.

In an industry as dynamic as IT, investing in instructor-led training can be a game-changer for career growth and success.

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How We Can Help

In all our training classes we provide an experienced industry professional as the instructor. By being seasoned real world experts themselves, our instructors can share their experiences and provide real examples of how they overcame the kinds of challenges that the students may meet in their professional lives. These experiences are shared with a view to helping our students understand concepts more deeply and become better professional engineers themselves.

Although our training is delivered virtually, we don't use pre-recorded videos to deliver our training classes. All our training classes are run in real time, by live expert instructors. You can speak and interact with the instructor, and with the other students, as if you were in the room with them.

 We offer standard training classes from established vendors (Cisco, CompTIA, EC-Council, etc.) and training that is customized specifically to your needs and your team... all while working with your budget to get the most for your money.  We offer certification training which is aimed at helping your employees gain industry certifications, and training which is aimed at enhancing your team's deeper understanding of a specific technology.

Our trainings are delivered by expert instructors, for individual employees (in our public classes) or for private groups, virtually/online (in real time) or at your location. Contact us for details.

To learn more about our available options, visit our website homepage.

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About NC-Expert

NC-Expert is a privately-held California corporation and is well established within the professional IT industry certification training, courseware development, and consulting markets.

NC-Expert has won numerous private contracts with Fortune level companies around the world. These customers depend on NC-Expert to train, advise, and mentor their staff.

If you are looking for the best in IT industry training then call us at (855) 941-2121 or sales@nc-expert.com today.