Ryan Stauffer addressed this topic below:

Attached is a summary of the “major” classes offered by my training team.

As we discussed, while I understand why someone would want to move forward to CALYPSO Advanced that has been using CALYPSO for some time, it is a solid rule that any Advanced attendees take CALYPSO Basic first.   This is for many reasons:

• CALYPSO Basic is actually not “Basic”.  It is a high-level programming class.   We are changing the name to “CALYPSO Programming Level 1” in the near future to eliminate the stigma of a “Basic” class for someone that already knows their way around the software to some degree.  About two years ago, the entire class has been restructured with more focus on practical application and new manuals were developed under my direction.
• Neither the customer or we know what they know and don’t know.   The customer may be doing things covered in the Basic class the wrong way (or more likely long way).   It is key that the Advanced Instructor know what the students have heard and seen before in a training class.
• The student should have the associated manuals from Basic class…  The manuals contain helpful step-by-step guides that the customer will not have unless they attend.  Also, the Measuring Strategy Cookbook is given out in the Basic Class.  That manual is referenced in the Advanced training, and is fundamental to the accuracy of all of their programs.
• Customers in the past that have skipped Basic have ended up slowing down the entire Advanced class as the instructor had to re-teach basic concepts to the student that bypassed the intended class prerequisites.
• Personally, I have NEVER had a student that has experience with CALYPSO that I have “forced” into CALYPSO Basic Class complain that they did not learn anything.  There are always cracks in their knowledge and they do things that they were either told to do or figured out they had to do, but don’t understand why that the Basic training class explains.   Most actually say they learned a lot more than they expected, and were able to get a higher amount of understanding from the class than most do that take the class without experience at all.
• We try to cater to the more “advanced” customers in our CALYPSO Basic training classes by showing them higher level programming tips and assign them more complicated exercises as they complete the assigned labs ahead of others in the class that are at a slower pace.   We encourage these higher level students come with questions and the instructors work to make sure that everyone leaves class with what they need to be more successful and more efficient than they were before training.

To eliminate travel cost, I suggest the Live Online Training option.   This will be very effective, especially with someone that already is familiar with the software (assuming you can use the machine at your facility about two hours a day to complete class assignments).  The content of the training is the same as the classroom option.  I have attached some information on Live Online Training. 

If, after fully participating in the CALYPSO Programming Level 1 (Basic) Couse, you find that absolutely nothing of value was learned, we can credit you an Advanced training class.  Reply to this email after the training, and I can arrange it for you.

Feel free to call me with questions – I will be glad to speak with you.