Microsoft....How about some warning?!?

I like Microsoft as a company....yeah I know the big bad corporate dragon that goes around scarfing up small companies and makes bad Operating Systems (see 98ME and maybe even Vista), but I like them. Maybe a better way of putting that is that I like what they have done for the computer industry in terms of standardization and if you read my first blog you know that I am in the IT field so in a way, Microsoft puts food on my table.

What I don't like about Microsoft however is their total lack of understanding of how computer education works. Okay let me explain...My current position is as a Technical Trainer for Microsoft products; as I was preparing to teach a class that I have taught many times in the past I am informed that the company that I work for can no longer order the books for the class I am about to teach. Thinking that this is just a little over site by the person that orders the books I start to do a little digging and find out that Microsoft has gone to a new version of the book without really telling anyone. Now this is a pretty normal occurrence with courseware, as the classes are taught the instructors report back some of the problems with the books and Microsoft or one of their minions fixes the problem and when they get enough changes made, a new version is released...no big deal. However in the case the change that was made was going from one version of a product to a completely different version that has little resemblance to its former self (in other words the book are NOT interchangeable). So I am sure that by the end of the class when the students fill out their evaluations of my teaching prowess (or lack thereof) this will turn into my fault somehow.

I know that in the field I have chosen change is going to happen, but if you are going to ruin my day and make it harder for me to do my job...at least let me know so I can stock up on anti-depressants and alcohol.

Okay I am sure that none of you really care about this, but I now feel better and maybe...just maybe someone on the in the education division at Microsoft will read this...proclaim me as an education visionary...make changes to the way Microsoft creates classes...velvet ropes would open....and monkeys will fly out of my butt....