Python Training Services
Classes
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Python Training ServicesClasses |
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Our classes are all private on-site sessions, where the instructor travels to your location to deliver the class. On-site classes can be scheduled anywhere in the US and abroad, and are generally available in any unscheduled weeks on our calendar. This page describes our on-site sessions in detail, and answers the most frequently asked questions about them. It's divided into the following main sections:
To arrange an on-site class, or for further details, please contact us. Note that as of 2011 we offer only the on-site sessions described on this page; if you are an individual looking for Python training options, please see our suggestions page.
This section describes our classes and their formats. For additional information on specific class topics, student prerequisites, and Python versions not covered here, please see our course Topics and Overview pages.
Our classes are designed to jumpstart your Python learning experience. They provide in-depth, hands-on introductions to both the Python language itself, as well as ways to apply it to common programming tasks. We focus on fundamentals and core concepts which span application domains and reflect real-world Python programming.
Although no 3-day class alone is enough to transform a novice into a Python "master of the universe," our classes do provide the solid foundation needed to begin the process well. By attending our classes, students get a crucial head start with Python, and gain a strategic advantage over less structured approaches.
All our classes are taught by Python author and trainer, Mark Lutz. Mark has been using Python since 1992; is the author of 3 best-selling Python books published in 4 editions each since 1995; and is the most widely-experienced Python trainer in the world, having taught some 250 classes since 1997. For more information about the class instructor, please see our Instructor Background page.
The standard Python class is a 3-day session, taught at your company or organization. This standard class provides an in-depth and hands-on introduction to the Python language, as well as surveys of its most common application domains. For most clients, the 3-day class is a perfect way to bring students up to speed on Python programming.
In addition to the standard 3-day class, many clients find it beneficial to schedule extra days or follow-on sessions to focus on advanced application topics such as GUIs, the Web, and C integration in more depth. Follow-up sessions expand on the topics in the Python Application section of the outline on the Course Topics page, and can be devoted to more realistic programs as group projects.
An abbreviated 2-day introductory session is also available. However, we recommend the 3-day standard session to cover the core language in sufficient depth, with additional days or follow-up sessions for clients interested in focusing on application topics in more depth.
We use a uniform, all-inclusive pricing structure, to simplify the financial details. Prices quoted on this page include all expenses related to the class, and are listed in US dollars (USD).
For on-site sessions, where we travel to your site to deliver the training, class prices are as follows:
The prices above are all flat rate, all-inclusive amounts. They include all costs related to the class, including, but not limited to: the class itself, all instructor travel costs, students CDs, access to an electronic copy of the class workbook, use of class materials, and any shipping charges. No other amounts will be billed to your organization.
We prefer payment on delivery of services, but allow for most standard payment terms: purchase orders, invoices, and net30 are common. We are able to accept payment by check, direct deposit, and wire transfer (we do not accept credit cards, due to the costs charged to merchants by credit card processors).
Because reserving class dates can effectively lock others out, we use the following cancellation policies:
If you must reschedule the class for a later date, the cancellation penalties listed above are generally waived. However, because rescheduling may still cause us to incur expenses for travel already booked, as well as lose revenue for other clients declined, we may add a fixed cost to the newly scheduled class to recoup our losses. Please inquire for details.
We arrange and assume any and all necessary travel costs directly, and do not charge for them as a separate item. The client will have a computer display projector at the training site (see the class set-up section below for more details). Here are a few additional notes on the components of our price structure.
The total number of class days for which you will be billed generally means the total number of teaching days at your site. It never includes any instructor travel days. A Monday through Wednesday class, for example, counts as 3 days, regardless of how the instructor arranges travel. In more formal terms, the class days total refers to the total number of days spent at your location. This includes any partial-day classes, as well as days that fall in between teaching days. For example, a class which includes half days on Monday and Tuesday; a non-teaching day Wednesday; and full days on both Thursday and Friday, is considered 5 class days for billing purposes.
The 3 or 2-day session choice is dependent on client goals and constraints. We recommend the 3-day format to allow sufficient time for topic coverage and lab work. In a 3-day session, we cover the entire language, and introduce more advanced application-level tools and techniques in overview fashion. However, a 2-day abbreviated session is offered as an option for clients with more focused needs or time constraints.
The $2,000 per extra class day beyond 3 days will be charged if you elect to add any additional days to the standard 3-day class format. Such extra days can be used to provide additional lecture and lab time for the standard topics, to cover add-on topics, and for consulting time. For instance, some clients add extra days to focus on OOP or application-level topics in more depth. Please inquire for more details about this option. Note that we bill for total number days at your location, as described earlier.
The 15-student cutoff is intended to discourage large classes. We've had groups of 30 or more students in the past, and have found that class quality tends to suffer when too many students are enrolled, due to diminished instructor interaction time. However, if it is more convenient to include extra students , you will be billed $500 for each extra student beyond the 15 student cutoff. We generally recommend a maximum class size of roughly 20 students in any event.
International travel and NYC classes incur a fixed increment to the all-inclusive prices to cover the additional travel costs to these locations. Classes that require international travel outside the US incur an additional fixed fee which is dependent on the class location. Overseas classes generally require an extra day of lodging before the class start date. In such cases, the extra travel cost will be described explicitly, prior to booking the class.
Workbook copies are generated by the client only if desired. Paper workbook copies are a completely optional component today. They are usually not printed anymore, because the workbook is also available in HTML format on the CDs the instructor brings for students. If you do elect to make printed copies, we provide access to a PDF-format copy of the workbook on the Web before the class upon request. We do not provide copying and shipping services for paper workbooks.
We are always happy to work with third parties to arrange classes. If you are a reseller interested in working with us, however, please note that because our prices are already very competitive by industry standards, our flexibility is limited. Please contact us to inquire about our current reseller pricing policies.
Resellers also please note: I do not do commoditized, corporate training based upon generic training materials. Python seems to have become popular enough in recent years to attract the interest of providers of such training modes. While the canned course model may be useful for some simpler topics, in my experience it offers little value in the programming languages realm, where the instructor matters much more than the materials.
Class set-up is simple, and can proceed quickly. Once class dates are scheduled, we provide a link to the class workbook master by email upon request, and perform any required billing setup tasks. We arrange any required instructor travel, and you prepare the training site for the class. For reference, here is a checklist of set-up requirements for holding a successful class at your site:
Writing surface and markers: flipchart, whiteboard, or other.
It is important that the instructor be able to assist students during labs; if classroom setup prohibits access to students' physical locations, this may impair the effectiveness of your lab sessions.
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