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 acollection of courses for programmers, operators, system administrators, and users.Each course takes 2-4 hours to complete. In general, the library is designedas an integrated curriculum. Students can progress from entry-level courses toadvanced topics that prepare them for professional certifications.

All courses use interactive training sessions that run on a personal computer. Coursescan be taken over the Internet or delivered on CD.

Related courses are combined into a series. An example is the 9-courseRPG Programming series. Similarly, related series are combined into acombination pack. An example is the RPG Development Combination Pack,which includes not only the RPG Programming series, but also the CL programming,DB2, SQL, and ILE series.

When a course is not contained within a series, we call it a stand-alone course.An example is Using Screen Design Aid (SDA), which is also in theRPG Development Combination Pack.

Our largest combination pack is the complete IBM i Training Library. Thispackage includes all of our 100+ courses.

Every course has a corresponding Competency Exam, which tests thestudent's mastery of the course objectives.At the end of each exam is a report that shows the student'sresults and, if they are not satisfactory, points the student to the appropriatesession 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 aseparate product. (Some customers use the exams as a pretest because, if you pass theexam, 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 seriesand stand-alone courses. Each Student Reference Guide includes a summary of allmajor topics covered in the courses.

Other options are available depending on whether you select online (MantaNow) orCD delivery. If you select MantaNow delivery, you can add the Student Administrationoption, which allows a training administrator to monitor and control the use of theManta IBM i Training Library courseware. If you select CD delivery andpurchase the entire IBM i Training Library, you can add theLibrary Maintenance Plan to receive all new courses andcourse updates automatically.

For more information about the IBM i Training Library, select the CD/Web Coursesoption at the top of this page.

The Manta Online Seminar Series

The Manta Online Seminar Series is a collection of onlineseminars presented by the industry's leading IBM i experts.All seminars are delivered using Manta's online training delivery system, MantaNow.(CD delivery is not available.)

In general, the seminars cover new and advanced topics. In some cases, the seminarswere developed exclusively for Manta.In other cases, the seminars are based on sessions that the instructors haverecently given at national conferences. In all cases, you are getting themost up-to-date information from the leading experts in the field.

One of the major advantages of the seminar format is the ability to ask questions.In the case of the Online Seminar Series, answers toquestions are provided via the Manta Training Forum, anonline resource for IBM i students and trainers.

Handouts are an optional feature of many Manta seminars. Handouts are deliveredas PDF files to the student's PC.

For more information about the Online Seminar Series, select the Seminarsoption 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.