Does anyone know of a class/resources to learn ArcGIS Online?

[MeganRieck]

Our company is still using ArcGIS 10.3 and are looking at making the leap. Basically I'm looking for information:

teaching the basics of ArcGIS Online

outlining how to move our current data over (8,000+ meters, 16,000+ mains, 13,500 valves, more)

general guidance on how to start and implement the process

Thank you for any help!

[AdrianWelsh]

Megan,

I think your question is deeper than what you're asking.

For starters, you could look at this resource:

Get Started with ArcGIS Online | Learn ArcGIS 

But, it sounds like there are bigger questions to answer here. When you say make the leap to ArcGIS Online, what are you wanting to do exactly? Your data will still be on desktop and will still be manipulated and processed on desktop. Are you wanting to serve your data to the public through the web? It might be worth considering ArcGIS Server/Enterprise:

What is ArcGIS Server?—Documentation | ArcGIS Enterprise 

[MeganRieck]

Thank you for your input. I think publishing maps would eventually be a very useful tool we would like to use. However, I do not see us using that in the short term. Mostly we were looking at making the switch because we were under the impression that desktop would no longer be supported.

[AdrianWelsh]

Megan,

Desktop is still the main driver of all GIS from Esri (from what I understand). It will not be going away. ArcMap may be coming to a close (though I would imagine that something beyond 10.5 would come out). Each version of ArcMap will have a five year support cycle.

ArcGIS Pro still lacks certain features (in my opinion) but is growing all the time. It will [likely] eventually be the only desktop application for primary GIS from Esri in the near future.

Either way, ArcGIS Online is a compliment to desktop GIS. They work hand in hand. I hope this makes sense and if you have concerns about software packages from Esri it would be best to discuss this with your local Esri Rep.

[RebeccaStrauch__GISP]

I agree with Adrian, ArcGIS Desktop is not going away for many years to come, and ArcGIS Pro is still a product on the desktop (I am a user, not staff...so these are just my opinions). Pro still uses all the same file formats, but it is a newer user interface and takes a little time to get used to.  Personally, I would recommend getting downloading it and trying it out, but as mentioned, it does not have all the tools ported over yet that you may be using in Desktop.  

Migrating to ArcGIS Pro | Esri Migration & Compatibility Details 

That site might give you some info that can help.

Pro is licensed thru ArcGIS Online, by default (although, you can also now manage them thru license manager)).  For that you need an ArcGIS Online account (I recommend setting up an "enterprise" site).  talk with your local esri rep to find out more about the licensing of it, if needed.  Basically, they say if you have Desktop on annual maintenance, you get an ArcGIS online named user and a Pro license too.

for other training, don't over look all the free training you can get (if on maintenance) at training.esri.com and the video.esri.com site.  Also, I've found many YouTube videos if you prefer to learn that way.  All those options are free.

In any case, as others suggested, you need to decide what all you are trying to do. If you have a robust and working Desktop solution, there is no need to be concerned about it not being supported.  pro may eventually replace your Desktop...and ArcGIS Online can definitely be a complimentary tool, including offering ways to host services (if you do not get ArcGIS Server/Enterprise), ability to share data, and the ability to create web sites if you don't use in-house versions like the Web AppBuilder developer edition or JavaScript API, etc.

[MicahBabinski]

I agree with Adrian. It's a good idea to think of what services or functionality you want to bring to your organization. That can help you target your learning on the most relevant topics (and get the most out of GeoNet.). Some possibilities might include field data collection, editing data through a web interface, creating custom applications for users to interact with your data, or combining your data with another organization's data in a web map. Esri is adding more ArcGIS Online classes all the time, some of them free. Companies like geospatial training may offer some good ones as well.

For your organization, it sounds like ArcGIS Server could play an important enterprise role, so I echo Adrian's suggestion of looking into that as well.

Good luck! I love Web GIS and I am guessing you will too.

Micah

[AdrianWelsh]

Just briefly looking at this older PDF, it shows product life cycles of various Esri products:

http://downloads.esri.com/support/product%20life%20cycle/arcgis_desktop/ArcGIS_PLC.pdf 

Here is an example: