LinLog

The ESRI class is almost over. We're down to the last 2 of 16 lessons.

Today has been pretty boring for me. The instructor has been doing a great job, it's just that we're getting deeper into the details of managing a geodatabase. Since this is the first time I've ever actually worked with a geodatabase, the finer points are more or less lost on me. I can understand the concepts, but I have no frame of reference for applying them. In terms of practical knowledge, I don't even know enough to ask an intelligent question.

By way of contrast, the people from host agancy, the City of Hartford, really know their stuff. They've been to several ESRI classes, gone to the ArcGIS user conference, and work with an ArcGIS database regularly. It's clear that they have a good handle on this stuff and are really getting something out of this.

All in all, I file this experience under "pointless waste of time and money." I had a better time than I anticipated, and I now know something about ArcGIS geodatabases, but I really had no business attending this class in the first place. They should have sent someone with at least a basic knowledge of ArcGIS instead - or, at the very least, someone who isn't looking to jump ship at the first opportunity (and my supervisor does know I'm looking for work - I'm not trying to hide it).

So, to sum up, I did get something out of this experience and it was very nice to get out of the office for several days. But the benefit to my employer won't even come close to justifying the $1400 registration fee plus travel expenses. I really don't know what they were thinking.