Cisco CCNA Feedback

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Hello ITProTV Team. I just wanted to add a little incite into my experience using the Cisco CCNA video series and how it prepared me for the exam. I wanted to give some feedback on how this video series was compared to when I used ITPro in the past when I took my CCENT.

I recently passed the CCNA exam and I mainly used the ITPro videos as more of an intro into each topic vs using it as my only study tool. I watched all the videos and took notes. After going through the videos I used a Cisco textbook and wrote notes and compared it to what I found in the videos. I found 2 major issues with the videos after taking a step back and looking at them after I took the exam.

The first issue I found was that there was quite a bit of material that was left out of the videos. I do not know if this was on purpose or not. When reading the textbook I was overwhelmed with how much was not covered in the video series. I also found that the video series not only left stuff out but it also gave me the sense that there was not going to be as difficult and would not contain as wide of an array of topics. I think there should be focus on some of the topics that are on the exam which are not included in the exam outline. I know the other video series was referenced multiple times but I hope this gets updated so it can be a one stop shop for studying for the exam.

The second major point I wanted to address was that the way the videos were delivered. I found it very confusing at times because even when the video contained typos or mistakes they were not fixed or they would found later in the video. I found the subnetting episodes very confusing and I even have done it before. I used the CCENT video series in the past as my only study resource and I passed that time. I didn't find those confusing and they seemed very well written and delivered. Once I had finished the CCNA video series I did not feel confident about what I had watched so that is why I utilized the textbook as well. I know that Ronnie knows his stuff but there was just a lack of confidence I had when he would even comment that he doesn't trust his own typing or writing. Some of the videos were harder to follow and didn't make me feel like the content could be my only resource for studying.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I really hope the content can be tweaked so it can better suit others who want to use it for studying. I love the way you guys structure your courses and it is much more pleasant to use than slogging your way through a textbook.

@Taylor-Brown-0 said in Cisco CCNA Feedback:

Hello ITProTV Team. I just wanted to add a little incite into my experience using the Cisco CCNA video series and how it prepared me for the exam. I wanted to give some feedback on how this video series was compared to when I used ITPro in the past when I took my CCENT.

I recently passed the CCNA exam and I mainly used the ITPro videos as more of an intro into each topic vs using it as my only study tool. I watched all the videos and took notes. After going through the videos I used a Cisco textbook and wrote notes and compared it to what I found in the videos. I found 2 major issues with the videos after taking a step back and looking at them after I took the exam.

The first issue I found was that there was quite a bit of material that was left out of the videos. I do not know if this was on purpose or not. When reading the textbook I was overwhelmed with how much was not covered in the video series. I also found that the video series not only left stuff out but it also gave me the sense that there was not going to be as difficult and would not contain as wide of an array of topics.

Please point out to me where a particular exam topic wasn't covered according to the exam objectives. I'm interested because this is part of what I do in my process which is to insure that every exam objective is covered. But If I missed one then I need to fix it.

I think there should be focus on some of the topics that are on the exam which are not included in the exam outline. I know the other video series was referenced multiple times but I hope this gets updated so it can be a one stop shop for studying for the exam.

The decision for this is because of feed back that we previously. Others wondered why I reviewed material that has previously been covered. The new CCNA is not a combination of CCENT and the previous iteration of the CCNA. So, there was material that I did mention that appeared in the CCENT show BECAUSE the new CCNA didn't cover it and I thought it was essential for those that didn't have experience to review before taking the exam, even if they were not on the exam.

The second major point I wanted to address was that the way the videos were delivered. I found it very confusing at times because even when the video contained typos or mistakes they were not fixed or they would found later in the video. I found the subnetting episodes very confusing and I even have done it before. I used the CCENT video series in the past as my only study resource and I passed that time. I didn't find those confusing and they seemed very well written and delivered. Once I had finished the CCNA video series I did not feel confident about what I had watched so that is why I utilized the textbook as well.

Typos do happen, and when they are brought up by our members, I try to add an errata to the show notes to insure that they have been addressed as they cannot always be caught. There is another a reason why as a member you have access to this forum too. Instead, when I do make confusing statements, you can post here, questions about content...so that they can be addressed, especially since I made the confusion. Also, many have posted errata notes for me to add into the show notes for the benefit of others too.

I know that Ronnie knows his stuff but there was just a lack of confidence I had when he would even comment that he doesn't trust his own typing or writing. Some of the videos were harder to follow and didn't make me feel like the content could be my only resource for studying.

I admit that I my typing abilities on screen are not great. Having said that, I do not ever think it's a great idea to only use our materials. I believe ITProTV has always said that we do our best to cover all that you need but at the same time we cannot say that you can pass by simply watching the recordings. I can point anecdotally to others who have used the same material and sat successfully for the CCNA exam.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I really hope the content can be tweaked so it can better suit others who want to use it for studying. I love the way you guys structure your courses and it is much more pleasant to use than slogging your way through a textbook.

We will not be tweaking this particular show but we can add errata as it is scheduled to be reshot in the future. But by then, you should be well past your CCNA.

Please do feel free to post on the CCNA content here in the forums so that we can help you before your exam date.

Ah, this was a nice read. I am a little old schools so in the beginning I could not get things to stick after watching the videos. I had to figure out for myself that the videos are best watched in a relaxed fashion making mind maps and then supplement with textbooks and taking notes from them. I guess it is just the way I am clued together.
I wish this was something ITProTV could address in the Learning Playbook or elsewhere for others to read, not everybody knows the best way to study for a certification. I had to buy Todd Lammles books and that is 1296 pages to read and understand and I have a router and switch to train on. The labs are a great way to learn also, really gets you started.
I wish this topic could have been addressed better by ITProTV at an earlier stage of my training. It is different that the college education i once attended years ago. I also find it frustarting to go thru legacy courses like CCENT (2018) to learn all that I have to, it should be in the same course.

@SRR,

In the overview video, I go over the prerequisites of the course as listed by Cisco and state what it is that we covered it. During the episode, I refer you back to the CCENT 2018 show if you need a refresher on those topics. If you didn't know those topics, it was a basis for you to be able to learn from that that show.

I do appreciate the fact that you want a single course that is comprehensive but part of process is to use the exam blueprint as provided by the vendor to ensure that we stay focused and not creep beyond the scope and the course becomes 100 hrs long.