Studying with Podcasts

Studying for a professional business qualification using podcasts is becoming evermore popular. It’s an attractive alternative to traditional classroom courses that may be difficult to attend for a variety of reasons. And whilst there are many online training courses as another alternative, these require an internet connection and computer. There are often situations where you have neither of these. In fact, I wish that when I commuted into London by train and tube standing all the way, I could have made better use of my time keeping up with the latest techniques in project management.

But whilst podcasts certainly fill a gap in the arsenal of training tools, and provide an option for those unable to attend an instructor-led course, they do not necessarily provide a better or easier way of learning; particularly if you are studying for a serious professional qualification. However, if used to complement a traditional course or an online e-learning course, then they certainly are a very valuable tool in reaching your training objectives.

So if you are considering studying using podcasts then look out for those that are integrated with online or classroom modules and also provide written study guides or manuals.



There are, of course, a number of advantages to studying through podcasts:

• You can study when and where you like; whilst travelling on trains or planes, whilst walking in the countryside or even while lying on the beach.  
• It’s a fun way to learn so it's very motivating and effective.
• It is less expensive than attending a traditional classroom-based course.  
• It’s available anywhere, which is particularly relevant if you don't happen to live close to a training centre.  
• There is access to the expertise of an instructor through email or community forums.

But there are also some disadvantages that you should consider:

• It’s easy to just listen idly to the podcasts without actively studying the material.
• You don’t have to engage with an instructor or other learners so there is no impetus to fully absorb the information.
• You need an mp3 player! I wonder if there are any courses which offer the mp3 player for free as part of the course?

But overall, podcasts are an easy and exciting way to learn at your own pace and they are likely to become more and more popular and be more widely available.

Listen to this project management training podcast for a taste of what they are like or take a look at this article on project success for more inspiration.

Tools for Managing Projects

For complex projects that will involve many people, many tasks or take a considerable amount of time to implement, there is huge benefit to be had from using one of the many project management tools available to plan and manage the project's resources successfully.


I have worked on some memorable large-budget projects where I have used a series of spreadsheets or MS Project to plan and manage the whole thing. Rather surprisingly, I think all of these projects were a success but I wouldn't recommend the spreadsheet route for a complex project.


A decent project management tool will always help in the planning and managing of a complex, inter-related series of activities. That is because the more complex the project, the more likely it is that there will be problems, risks and dependencies so help in monitoring and anticipating these is far more likely to lead to a successful outcome.


Two commonly used methods in project planning are Gantt Charts and Critical Path Analysis Flow Diagrams. Gantt charts are a graphical illustration of a project schedule a bit like a horizontal bar chart that helps to plan, coordinate, and track project tasks. Critical Path Analysis is simply a time line showing all related and dependent tasks and activities in a project which helps tasks to be scheduled to prevent overlaps in dependent tasks.


When selecting a tool to help you manage a project, two of the most important factors to consider are how it handles Gantt Charts and Critical Path Analysis Flow Diagrams and, therefore, how the tool is going to help you with scheduling, resource management and dependencies. There are a number of very good proprietary software tools currently on the market but here are my top ten recommendations for open source tools:

1.      Endeavour Software Project Management

2.      GanttProject

3.      KPlato

4.      Planner

5.      Project.net

6.      Project-Open

7.      RedMine

8.      TaskJuggler

9.      web2project

10.  Xplanner

But even the best tools are no substitute for a professional project management training course where you will learn tips and techniques about the underlying methods that will help you achieve a successful result.

A New Way of Learning

Professional training courses are vital in all sectors of business if, as a professional, you want to develop your skills and stay abreast of the latest tools and techniques. It is easy to fall behind in the latest methods in your particular field very quickly, particularly if you work in a fast-moving business.
But it has always been difficult to find a window in which to take up to a week out of your schedule to devote to a formal training course. It is even harder to persuade your boss that you should take that week away from the office.

Yet training can help you meet not only your personal objectives but also your business objectives. And whilst it might be easier to attend short one day sessions, if your aim is to gain a nationally recognised qualification this will certainly take substantially longer.

And what I, personally, have found on such courses is that I return to work with more enthusiasm and motivation, which ultimately has to be good for my employer.

So when I recently came across the idea of e-learning, I decided this could well be the solution for all us time-poor workers out there keen to gain additional qualifications. Not least because in the tough economic climate in which we are all living, recent training qualifications and up-to-date marketable skills will give you an advantage if you find yourself looking for a new job.

So what exactly is e-learning and how does it work? Well, fairly obviously, it is just a form of distance learning (which has been around for many, many years through organisations such as the Open University) for the digital age. E-learning is a course of study conducted almost entirely at your computer. The benefits of using online features are varied and many:

·         No waiting for a tutor to mark your work - answers are be supplied straight

·         You can be flexible about when and where you study

·         Learn at your own pace

·         No travel and hotel costs to attend a training centre

Online learning courses use the latest technology and interactive components such as animations and quizzes to supplement the on-line learning experience. However, traditional written materials such as manuals and books are still necessary to complement the student's learning. 

Course instructors also understand that it is important not to miss out on the discussions that happen in a traditional classroom setting so there are also online forums and groups where you can communicate with other students taking the same course. There will also be email support from a tutor for those more challenging questions.

E-learning may not be a better solution than instructor-led classroom learning but it is a great alternative for those who simply will never get to the classroom.

As a project manager, I've been taking a look at e-learning Project Management Courses but online courses are now available for almost every subject. Read more about alternative types of training courses here.