August 11, 2015
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Blog Post

I want to learn 3D. Do I need a class?

Classes can be a lot of fun since you learn with other motivated people all in the same room. This is especially true if you are going with people you know or members of your own company team. However, there are a few drawbacks to consider.

  1. First, there is the cost and travel. For a Rhino 3-day class, you should budget $800-$1,000 for the course alone. But, if you go to a cool place, book some extra time for sightseeing!
  2. Secondly, the schedule. It can be hard to book several consecutive days (not including the travel) into your schedule. If you work full-time, many companies will pay for the training. If not, you may burn some vacation time.
  3. Finally, the pace. Unless everyone in the class is closely matched in skill (which never happens) the lecture will be too fast for some and too slow for others. Hopefully, YOU are in the sweet spot.

I remember a corporate training class where we had to stop every so often to help one student find a folder on his desktop. Obviously, he was not ready to learn 3D skills, as he had only used a computer for email and holding his coffee cup. After several rounds of desk-pounding and heavy sighing, the guy finally excused himself. To prevent this from disrupting future classes, we instituted some minimum skill requirements. Check to see if your class has the same.

In an upcoming post, I will outline the best strategy for learning new stuff as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you’re guessing this will include lynda.com, you win a cupcake.