Went on a two day course last weekend spending 12 hours learning Macromedia flash. With only two students for the one instructor, Alun Ward, we were able to progress through the material very quickly. It was a perfect way to learn. I can certainly claim to have acquired basic competence with Flash. Now that I can work my way around the Flash MX 2004, I need to figure out how some of the more advanced UI's are done and play around with it more. Fun stuff.
I would highly recommend OFVM up in Oxford and hope to take some more of their courses. Decent facilities, good location and great value.