Manta's educational offerings can be divided into three distinct groups:
- The Manta IBM i Training Library
- The Manta Online Seminar Series
- Instructor-Led Classes
The Manta IBM i Training Library
The Manta IBM i Training Library is a collection of courses for programmers, operators, system administrators, and users. Each course takes 2-4 hours to complete. The library is designed as an integrated curriculum. Students can progress from entry-level courses to advanced topics that prepare them for professional certifications.
All courses use interactive training sessions that run in a browser.
Related courses are combined into a series. An example is the 7-course RPG Programming series. Similarly, related series are combined into a combination pack. An example is the RPG Development Combination Pack, which includes not only the RPG Programming series, but also the IBM i Programming Environment, CL programming, DB2, and SQL series.
When a course is not contained within a series, we call it a stand-alone course. Examples include Using Screen Design Aid (SDA) and Using the ILE Source-Level Debugger, which are also in the RPG Development Combination Pack.
Our largest combination pack is the complete IBM i Training Library. This package includes all of our 100+ courses.
Every course has a corresponding Competency Exam, which tests the student's mastery of the course objectives. At the end of each exam is a report that shows the student's results and, if they are not satisfactory, points the student to the appropriate session for review. For stand-alone courses, the exam is packaged at the end of the course. For courses within a series, the exams are packaged together and offered as a separate product. (Some customers use the exams as a pretest because, if you pass the exam, there is no need to take the course.) If you purchase the entire series, the exams are included at no additional cost.
Student Reference Guides are available for all Manta series and stand-alone courses. Each Student Reference Guide (SRG) includes a summary of all major topics. A detailed glossary is also included. As a result, the guides make an excellent reference when students have finished their studies and are back on the job. Because each guide also provides a place to take notes, we recommended that each student acquire his or her own copy.
For more information about the IBM i Training Library, select the Courses option at the top of this page.
The Manta Online Seminar Series
The Manta Online Seminar Series is a collection of online seminars presented by the industry's leading IBM i experts. All seminars are delivered using Manta's online training delivery system, MantaNow.
In general, the seminars cover new and advanced topics. In some cases, the seminars were developed exclusively for Manta. In other cases, the seminars are based on sessions that the instructors have recently given at national conferences. In all cases, you are getting the most up-to-date information from the leading experts in the field.
Handouts are an optional feature of many Manta seminars. Handouts are delivered as PDF files to the student's PC.
For more information about the Online Seminar Series, select the Seminars option at the top of this page.
Instructor-Led Classes
The industry experts who developed the courses within Manta's IBM i Training Library are also available for classroom-based training. Any of our 100+ courses can be taught at your site. If you do not have enough students for a full class, you may also be able to send students to a public class that is hosted by Manta for multiple organizations.
Multiple training formats are available. One option is to have a Manta instructor deliver all material in lecture-based format. Lectures can be supplemented with computer-based exercises, including Manta's IBM i simulations. This format is ideal for students who prefer a traditional classroom environment, either due to their personal learning styles or because of their need for a structured environment away from the workplace.
A more cost-effective option is to have a group of students take Manta courses in their original format under the direction of a Manta instructor. The instructor is available to answer questions, proctor exams, and otherwise help maximize the students' training experience.
In either case, an organization begins the process by working with a Manta educational specialist to determine the content, format, and duration of the classes. Topics from any of our 100+ courses can be included to build a personalized curriculum ranging from a half day to several months in duration.
Thanks to Manta's incredible depth of training options, the students' education does not end when the instructor leaves. Regardless of the format selected, each student receives one or more Student Reference Guides to use as an on-the-job reference. In addition, the organization is provided with a MantaNow license for students who may wish to review the material in the subsequent year and for students who were unable to attend the class.
For more information about Instructor-Led Classes, select the Classes option at the top of this page.