My next step to learning ASP .Net and C# was to find some structured training. Time is a factor on the project I'm working on so the training needed to be intense. I found just such training provided by the folks at Hands On Technology Transfer, Inc. After reading the topics covered and the time in which they cover it, I thought that if I could keep up, I would not be bored.

My only concern about an intense training is that I did not want to be the slow old guy in class. After all it has been over 25 years since I was in college. So I found a C# tutorial by Joe Mayo over at C# station. After completing the free 22 lesson tutorial, I purchased the instructor's book, C# 3.0 Unleashed: with the .Net Framework 3.5. I made it through the first few chapters before I had to leave.

Arriving on Sunday afternoon, I was able to settle in and rest up before class the next morning. During the first two days we covered much of the C# language and the remaining three days we touched on many of the over 7000 classes in .Net. The class was hands on so the mini lectures were punctuated with challenging exercises that we were expected to complete with our lab partner. I was relieved to discover how much the tutorial helped, I was definitely not the slow guy in class (old is a different story). I looked forward to returning home so I could apply some of what I had learned.

I have to praise HOTT a little here. I originally registered for the training held in Portland Oregon, about 200 miles north of where I live. I received a call about two weeks prior to the class informing me that the company had decided to cancel the Portland venue due to lack of registration. They offered to reschedule me for the same class being held the same week in Denver and pay travel and lodging. They even offered to make all arrangements for me, I just had to tell them my preferred airport. Expecting dorm room accommodations, I was pleasantly surprised with a private room overlooking the city. If anyone is looking for well-done, fast-paced training, I would highly recommend them.