Re: Value of basic computer science qualification?

Subject: Re: Value of basic computer science qualification?
From: "Joey P" <joeyp2008 -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: "Janet Swisher" <jmswisher -at- gmail -dot- com>
Date: Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:44:19 +0800

Thanks, Janet.

I'm currently mostly documenting consumer hardware, with occasional bits of
software. But I'm hoping that a course like this could help me even if I
carry on mostly doing hardware stuff. I think it could be useful to have a
better grasp of web technologies and to have enough programming knowledge to
write or adapt simple scripts. I know I could learn those things on my own,
but doing formal study does provide a useful framework and a nice bit of
paper at the end.

This course looks quite good:
http://www.lcuck.ac.uk/view.asp?task=viewprogramme&level=3&prog_id=571*
*However, I'm not impressed by the admissions department at that college. I
asked for general information about three courses, and was told that they
couldn't give me any more information until I sent photos and certified
qualifications through the mail, and completed the full online application
form (which doesn't work properly and which requires me to choose just one
course).*

*Does anyone know of any other affordable general computing qualifications
offered as distance learning courses?*
*
Joe

On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 7:17 AM, Janet Swisher <jmswisher -at- gmail -dot- com> wrote:

> Hi Joe,
>
> Assuming you're documenting software, it's not going to hurt, and it's
> likely to help. I'm not familiar with certifications in the UK, but I
> believe that having a Java certification got me one job, and probably helped
> on another.
>
> I suggest starting with a basic course, and then deciding whether to pursue
> advanced study, and in what, based on either your interests or your
> opportunities. No point going in depth on networking if your next job is in
> databases, or vice versa.
>
> Good luck.
>
> I'm comfortable with a range of software tools, including Framemaker in
>> structured mode. But I don't have any real knowledge of programming or
>> databases, and not much of an idea about networking either. I think it
>> would
>> give prospective employers a bit more confidence in my abilities if I had
>> some kind of computer science qualification. They might feel reassured
>> that
>> I could talk the same kind of language as developers/engineers, and that I
>> could easily grasp the concepts I'd have to document.
>>
>> The kind of thing I'm thinking of is a part-time course at around
>> first-year
>> university level; one I could do via distance study while continuing to
>> work. One such course in the UK is the BTEC Higher National Certificate in
>> Computer Science. What do people think about this? Would a computer
>> science
>> qualification help me in future? And if so, would a fairly basic one be
>> enough?
>>
>
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References:
Value of basic computer science qualification?: From: Joey P
Re: Value of basic computer science qualification?: From: Janet Swisher

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