bob1371
Lifetime Supporting Member
I have attended several Rockwell classes in the past and although somewhat pricey I came away feeling I got my money's worth.
Last week I attended a 4 day course on FactoryTalk View ME and Panelview Plus Programming (CCV 204)@ Rockwell in Franklin Tn. and must say it was a big disappointment. We started the class with 8 students, the instructor, and another Rockwell instructor that was sitting in to learn as he would soon be teaching this course. After day 1 two students decided it was so bad they did not return.
The first day started with instructor unable to get his comm settings correct so he could download to PV as we watched via projector. We would cover a section, do the lab and test the project. All students were able to download to PV's but no comms, from PV or FactoryTalk Software, to PLC program that was running in Softlogix 5800.
Day 2 and problems with comms continue. We repeated the process of going over lessons, doing labs but still unable to completely test and get results. Throughout the first 4 hours of the day 2nd instructor is on phone with AB support trying to figure this out. Finally a solution, seems the newer version software with the ghost images that load on laptop had issues so in the install folder was also a .bat file to fix issues. Amazingly the instructor realizes he recieved a email about this a couple weeks ago.
The last 2 days all training aids worked as they should. It was however obvious that the instructor was not well versed in the subject. Many unanswered questions or questions that were answered by other students. Most things he tried to show did not work as intended. He would try to show examples of what we just went over but unable to in most cases.
I may be wrong here but I think the instructor should be able to take the course manual and go through it completely, actually doing all exercises with expected results.
Overall with all the problems I feel I got 75% out of class. The facilities there were great, people friendly and a beautiful area. We did have a rep who was in charge of training supply us with his business card and he wants to hear from us on the problems.
Hopefully they get some things worked out as I have 2 more courses scheduled there in the next couple months.
Last week I attended a 4 day course on FactoryTalk View ME and Panelview Plus Programming (CCV 204)@ Rockwell in Franklin Tn. and must say it was a big disappointment. We started the class with 8 students, the instructor, and another Rockwell instructor that was sitting in to learn as he would soon be teaching this course. After day 1 two students decided it was so bad they did not return.
The first day started with instructor unable to get his comm settings correct so he could download to PV as we watched via projector. We would cover a section, do the lab and test the project. All students were able to download to PV's but no comms, from PV or FactoryTalk Software, to PLC program that was running in Softlogix 5800.
Day 2 and problems with comms continue. We repeated the process of going over lessons, doing labs but still unable to completely test and get results. Throughout the first 4 hours of the day 2nd instructor is on phone with AB support trying to figure this out. Finally a solution, seems the newer version software with the ghost images that load on laptop had issues so in the install folder was also a .bat file to fix issues. Amazingly the instructor realizes he recieved a email about this a couple weeks ago.
The last 2 days all training aids worked as they should. It was however obvious that the instructor was not well versed in the subject. Many unanswered questions or questions that were answered by other students. Most things he tried to show did not work as intended. He would try to show examples of what we just went over but unable to in most cases.
I may be wrong here but I think the instructor should be able to take the course manual and go through it completely, actually doing all exercises with expected results.
Overall with all the problems I feel I got 75% out of class. The facilities there were great, people friendly and a beautiful area. We did have a rep who was in charge of training supply us with his business card and he wants to hear from us on the problems.
Hopefully they get some things worked out as I have 2 more courses scheduled there in the next couple months.