As a training organisation, how could we maximise our profit? By training a lot of students at the same time, by using rooms that we only hire when there's a course on, and by offering a bewildering array of special pricing options to get as many pounds from each trainee that we can. Problem is, though ... these tactics would NOT be in the best interest of the trainees.

I followed a Google ad for an outfit I'd not come across and I read:

One of the primary determinants of the success of instructor-led training classes [besides the competency of the instructor] is the accessibility students have to ask questions, get help when they need it, and receive appropriate guidance. Our open enrolment classes average less than 12 students. That means less waiting around to receive help during lab, more time spent discussing relevant problem domains, and more direct contact with the instructor. For many students it's very important to be able to discuss their specific action plan and opportunities on the job to apply what they're learning. That's just not possible if there are 20 to 30 people in a public class.

.

I agree with their sentiment - keep class sizes down - and the reasons given. We do the same. But what are they actually saying about the numbers on a typical course of theirs? If the average number is 12, then sometimes it will be higher and sometimes it will be lower. Ironically, since fewer people attend the smaller classes, the typical student will see the larger group - only the lucky minority will attend in what I consider to be a manageable group.

Here's a bit of Perl that takes some sample numbers - this might be five courses from those folks ...


# Let's run 5 training courses ...
@numbers = (5, 9, 19, 19, 7);
$report = join (", ",@numbers);
$report =~ s/(.*),/\1 and/;
print "Courses with $report trainees\n";

# What's the total number of trainees?
$sum += $_ foreach (@numbers);

# So the average course size?
print $sum/@numbers," is the average course size\n";

# But what's average number of fellow students a trainee has?
$see += $_ * $_ foreach (@numbers);
$form = "but it looks like the average is %.0f to the trainees\n";
printf ($form,$see/$sum);


So ... that means ...
earth-wind-and-fire:~/mouth grahamellis$ perl average
Courses with 5, 9, 19, 19 and 7 trainees
11.8 is the average course size
but it looks like the average is 15 to the trainees
earth-wind-and-fire:~/mouth grahamellis$
... that you're more likely than not to be one of a group of 15 ...

Also noted ... a table of competitor's prices. Except that they're only the prices of the more expensive competitors ... Also noted ... no obvious information about their training rooms and facilities. What are they not saying? ....

(written 2005-02-27 10:50:29)

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