Which Office 365 Training Format Is Right for Me?

Office 365 is a subscription service of a suite of productivity programs combined with online hosting and collaboration tools. The service is used worldwide across a variety of industries by over a million businesses. Thousands of job positions require proficiencies in Office 365 and hundreds of thousands in Microsoft Office programs. Training in Office 365 is valuable for nearly every job seeker or established professional, as Office 365’s popularity means many businesses expect employees to know how to use its programs even if not specifically required. Thus, training in Office 365 is highly beneficial. When comparing types of Office 365 training, there are many factors to consider. Everyone learns differently, and choosing the right training is critical to your experience.

Keep reading to learn more about the different formats of Office 365 training, how they compare, and how to determine which is best for you.

What is Office 365?

Office 365 (also known as Microsoft 365) is a cloud-based subscription service that includes Microsoft Office’s suite of programs along with other online services such as free cloud storage and web hosting. Since Office 365 functions with the cloud, users always have access to their documents so long as they have an internet connection. The service is compatible with PCs, Macs, tablets, and smartphones.

Microsoft Office is a popular suite of productivity programs that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. These programs are used worldwide by businesses across industries for their ease of use, accessibility, and collaboration features. The programs offer a variety of functions, such as word processing, spreadsheet creation, promotional material design, and team management. Office 365 combines these valuable programs into a single service that offers the advantages of online document sharing. Microsoft Office cloud services include Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Exchange.

Read more about what Office 365 is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Office 365?

Office 365 gives users full access to Microsoft Office’s suite of programs. These include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access. These programs allow users to create professional documents and reports, spreadsheets and databases, presentations, emails, and promotional materials. Office 365 also provides Microsoft Office cloud services, including Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Exchange. Businesses worldwide use these programs for workplace productivity, team collaboration, and management. 

Office 365’s collaboration tools allow teammates to edit documents simultaneously in real-time online. Teammates can use the Teams app to text chat with one another and ask questions without leaving their computers. Documents can also be assigned to teammates as tasks and linked in their virtual calendar or Microsoft Planner, making them easily accessible and trackable in their workflow. Documents are shared easily with a link without downloading or emailing files. Office 365 is an essential business asset for facilitating collaboration within and across departments. 

As an online service, Office 365 offers several advantages. Users can access Office 365 from any device without needing the program installed. This enables users to work anywhere they like and prevents them from being chained to any singular device. Files and documents can also be stored online without taking up computer storage. Updates are applied automatically to the software without users needing to download them manually. The online features of Office 365 go a long way toward improving accessibility and usability.

Training Formats for Office 365

There are a number of training formats for Office 365. Live classes, either online or in-person, feature a professional instructor and peers from which a student can learn and ask questions. Online classes are best for students who prefer not to commute, desire a different learning environment than a physical classroom, or can’t find the in-person classes they wish to attend at a location near them. On-demand training is ideal for students with busy schedules who can't commit to full or part-time training or who otherwise prefer to learn at their own pace. This training often includes free online videos, guides, and tutorials.

In-Person Office 365 Training

In-person Office 365 training offers a number of perks. Learning in a physical classroom can provide fewer distractions than an individual might find when learning online from home (from pets, children, nearby electronics, etc.). A physical classroom also offers more direct engagement with the instructor. Students may feel more inclined to ask for help, or it may be easier for a teacher to identify when a student is struggling. In-person learning also allows students to engage with and learn from each other in a set environment. However, drawbacks to in-person learning include a commute and a set schedule. In-person learning is also often more costly than alternatives.

There are a number of in-person Office 365 training options. These classes are short, often lasting only a day, and teach both beginner and advanced techniques. Noble Desktop’s Office 365 classes teach various levels of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, from beginner to expert. Noble Desktop’s courses can be taken in-person in NYC or live online.

Live Online Office 365 Training

A major perk of live online training is its availability. Students can learn from anywhere, provided they have a reliable internet connection. Students save time they would usually spend on a commute, and they are able to learn anywhere they find suitable. Online courses also often offer more flexible schedules than in-person classrooms for parents or job holders with busy schedules. In terms of engagement, live online classes try to replicate physical classrooms with hands-on projects and live instructors interacting with students in real-time. Students can also interact with their peers virtually. However, some students still find it preferable to learn in person. For them, it’s difficult to connect with their instructors and peers virtually, and they find at-home learning too full of distractions.

There are a number of live online Office 365 training options. Available classes are short, lasting only one day, and teach both beginner and advanced techniques. Noble Desktop’s Office 365 courses can be taken in-person or live online from anywhere. These classes teach various levels of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, from beginner to expert. Bootcamps are available that combine course levels into one comprehensive learning program.

Free Online Courses & Tutorials

Not ready to dive into an entire course? Prefer an overview of Office 365? You can start learning Office 365 for free online. Noble Desktop offers free seminars in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. In the Top 10 Beginner Excel Tricks You Need to Know, you’ll learn beginner techniques that introduce you to Excel and teach you productivity hacks within the program. In the PowerPoint Presentation Design seminar, you’ll learn how to make a professional and eye-catching presentation within the program. These seminars are the perfect method for introducing you to Excel and PowerPoint and giving you examples of the power of Office 365. 

Noble Desktop offers additional Office 365 classes that teach Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook. After these seminars, should you wish, you can continue your education with additional Excel and PowerPoint classes. Bootcamps in both subjects are also available that combine multiple courses into one comprehensive learning package. These courses and bootcamps are open to beginners and guide students to mastery of the programs. 

Read about more free Office 365 videos and online tutorials.

On-Demand Classes

The second method of learning Office 365 is on-demand training, also known as asynchronous or self-paced learning. This training method is best for students with busy schedules who can’t commit to full-time or part-time classes. On-demanded learning is also suited to students who learn best when they can go at their own pace. This method gives students the freedom to structure their coursework how they wish. However, students also lack an instructor to guide them, and self-motivation is required to progress through the material. Students may find themselves stuck on a problem and struggle to move forward or lose the motivation to continue. 

Comparison of Office 365 Training Formats

There are three training formats for learning Office 365: live online, in-person, and on-demand. Each method has advantages and disadvantages, and individuals will find different methods work best for them depending on their schedule and needs.

Live online and on-demand classes are the most accessible training options. As they are online, students can attend classes from anywhere and don’t face the costly commute required by in-person classes. Students are also free to choose their most comfortable environment for learning. Online classes often offer more options in the curriculum than students can find in the limited in-person courses nearest them. On-demand classes win out slightly in accessibility because they aren’t tied to set class schedules. Students with busy lives may choose on-demand training to learn at their own pace.

The downside of on-demand classes lies in engagement. On-demand training often lacks instructors or classmates. Students are left to their own motivation to advance through coursework and have no one to turn to with questions or for support. When on-demand training does offer an instructor’s contact information for assistance, students may wait days or longer for a reply. Live online and in-person training rank far higher in engagement. Students can ask instructors for immediate feedback, interact with peers, and often receive guidance in job searching or building portfolios. In-person training wins out slightly over live online in that some people feel more comfortable initiating engagement with their peers or instructors in a physical setting.

When it comes to affordability, on-demand training wins out again. As these classes are self-led, they are often free. However, it’s important to weigh other pros and cons discussed in this section, especially when it comes to engagement or career advancement. The popular adage “you get what you pay for” often holds true when comparing on-demand courses vs. in-person or live online. While online training isn’t free, many institutions offer free seminars or introductory courses. And a full live online course is often cheaper than in-person training.

If you’re looking to advance your career, live online and in-person training offer the comprehensive learning you are looking for. While on-demand training will likely be enough to learn the basics of a skill, self-led learning can’t replace the knowledge a professional instructor possesses and passes on to their students. On-demand resources are also often dated and don’t hold up to industry standards. Professional instruction is almost always necessary to advance your career.

Overall, live online training is the best well-rounded option, offering most of the benefits of both in-person and on-demand classes. Students have no commute and usually have the option of more flexible schedules than with in-person training. Live online training replicates the interactivity of in-person classrooms with live instructors and classmate interaction. Some live online training can be found for free and offers the same self-led benefits as on-demand training. Paid live online training is an excellent and affordable option for professionals looking to advance their careers.

Is it Possible to Teach Yourself Office 365?

Free online courses and tutorials are available for Office 365. Popular websites to find these courses include Youtube, Coursera, and Udemy. These courses tend to be under two hours long and feature overviews of Office 365 programs for beginners and guides on how to complete specific tasks. These courses can be great for learners on a tight budget or even for professionals who need a refresher on specific tasks. 

The downside of these courses is not having an instructor to offer guidance. Thus, you may find yourself stuck on a lesson and unsure of how to progress, wasting hours in troubleshooting. Free tutorials are usually outdated and don’t feature the latest version of Microsoft programs. For professionals wanting to comprehensively learn Office 365 to advance their careers, these tutorials will likely lack the advanced features they need to learn. 

Free videos and tutorials are numerous. It can be overwhelming to sift through them all. And even then, not all tutorials are created equal. It can be time-consuming to search for a tutorial that is up-to-date, comprehensive, and easy to follow. For a beginner, it can be impossible to know if the instruction you are receiving is quality or correct.

In conclusion, it is possible to teach yourself the fundamentals of Office 365 through free online tutorials and videos. However, if you wish to learn Office 365 for professional reasons, having an instructor who is an expert in the topic and can give you the right information is important.

How to Decide the Best Way to Learn Office 365

The best way to learn Office 365 varies greatly on your individual needs and why you wish to learn the suite of programs. Are you a beginner who doesn’t want to spend money? Are you looking for a high-level overview of Office 365? In this case, free introductory courses would be best for you. However, these courses are often outdated and don’t feature the comprehensive learning necessary to advance a career. They also don’t feature an instructor and rely on self-motivation to progress. 

If you wish to develop a working knowledge of Office 365 to grow in your career, professional Microsoft Office training or a bootcamp contains the comprehensive learning you’re looking for. These courses feature a professional instructor and deep dive into Office 365 content. You’ll be guided from beginner to mastery skills and learn expert techniques and tips. Some of these courses also provide mentorship and guidance on the job hunt. Professional training courses and bootcamps are available online and in person and vary in cost depending on the provider and curriculum. Bootcamps often offer career mentorship or portfolio workshops. 

If you’re looking to pivot to a new career or industry, it may be ideal to demonstrate complete mastery of Office 365. In this case, you’ll want to look for a certificate program. These programs are like professional training and bootcamps that teach the subject matter but also include exam preparation for gaining certification. Certification in Office 365 shows employers your dedication to training and advancing your career. Certifications have a separate cost from training courses.

Learn Office 365 with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers in-person and live online training in Office 365. Courses include training in Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook. You can choose between individual classes of various skill levels or bootcamps, which offer in-depth, comprehensive learning. When it comes to becoming an expert in a new skill, bootcamps are a fast and affordable alternative to college. Noble Desktop’s classes are small, taught by expert instructors, and include free retake options.

The Excel Bootcamp guides students from beginner to expert techniques. You’ll learn functions, formulas, Pivot Tables, macros, and additional expert tips and tricks. By the end of the course, you’ll be a true Excel master. The PowerPoint Bootcamp is a similar course that provides complete mastery of the program. You’ll start with the basics of customizing images, shapes, text, and animation before moving on to advanced techniques such as template creation, importing charts from Excel, and inserting multimedia. By the end of the course, you’ll be a wizard at creating professional and visually stunning presentations and slideshows.

If you like the idea of the comprehensive learning offered by bootcamps and are looking for further training in Office 365, NYIM is an affiliate school of Noble Desktop. It provides a Complete Microsoft Office Bootcamp that covers the four major programs – Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook.