RISA Training

[Gopher13]

Has anyone attended the 2 or 3 day training courses offered by RISA? Where they worth while?

I am thinking of attending one of their upcoming courses, but it is a pretty big time and financial commitment so I want to get some reassurance before I sign up. I have used their tech. support over the phone in the past and have been satisfied. Thanks!

 

[JoshPlumSE]

The RISA training is a little different for everyone depending on their background. Are you a RISA novice, are you a RISA expert? What kind of work do you do?

After 6 years of using the program relatively frequently, I was the 'in-house' RISA expert at the first company I worked for. Then I took a job working for RISA. As part of my first few months there I attended a 3 day training class. First day was mostly beginner stuff and I was a little bored. But, I paid attention because I would be teaching the class eventually. I still learned a couple of nifty tricks I didn't know about. The 2nd day was more advanced stuff... plate elements, stability (P-delta and such), code based design parameters. That was really good stuff. A lot of material packed into a single day though. The 3rd day was dynamics, response spectra and such. I was pretty knowledgeable on dynamics already, but learning the RISA details was really good for me.

Now, I no longer work for RISA, so I don't know how good the training is anymore. I know Debbie and Caitlin are really good teachers for days 1 and 2. Not sure if they have anyone left over there that can really teach day 3. Andrew maybe.... He's certainly smart enough. But, he may not have been there long enough to really know the ins and outs of what RISA's doing with dynamics.

 

[Gopher13]

Thanks Josh. Good to know. I have been using it for +/- 12 years but still consider myself a beginner. I really only just use it for frames and multi span beams and just for steel design.

I have RISA 3D, Connection, Floor, Foundation, and Section but only have really every used 3D. My understanding is the training course only covers 3D. Correct?

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Yes, the training course will be almost entirely RISA-3D. They may introduce / demo the other programs a little. But, that's more "bonus material" that only gets covered if people ask about it.... or, if the "sales / marketing" folks think they might be able to get a couple of sales out of the class.

Keep in mind that I'm really not an impartial observer when it comes to this topic. I was responsible for creating much of the content from the RISA training courses over the 16 years I worked there. So, it's only natural that I have some affection for it.

That being said, the way I look at is the following:
1) Is it worth the time and money? As long as you retain the information and it makes you a better, more efficient RISA user. So, beginning users will get more out of day 1. More experienced users will get more out of day 2.
2) Dynamics is the real question mark. If you're going to be using RISA for dynamics then it is really, really good. If not, then it might not be worth your time.

 

[Gopher13]

Thank you Josh.