And so it begins...
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The OU is a very well respected university. It was founded in 1969 and most of the courses are correspondence courses; they have a few residential courses as well. Each course carries a level and a number of points attached to it and you need different courses to get degrees. If you think it is a joke, have a look at their site[^].
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett
The image linked just game me a chuckle. You might be surprised by what you run into - no joke![^]
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So I signed up at the Open University[^] and today I received my study material for the first three modules. I just started reading the first course "Introduction to IT"... Shit just got real :~ So I guess I'll have that master degree at the end of the month ;p Until that time I'm off to study.
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
Advice from someone who recently graduated from the OU [BSc Computing And Systems Practices 2:1]: - read all the material at least twice. Skim it and then real read. - Do all the SMA's honestly as they'll show how you're understanding is going. - Attend at least the first tutorial, if the tutor is going to teach then attend. It's the difference between passing and getting a distinction. - Answer the TMA questions as soon as you have done the material, don't wait until the final 'study week' to write it all. - Work out now the overall course you think you'll do and plan the courses you'll take and when. I took all my level 1's in just over a year by doing 3/4 at a time. Most of all, enjoy it. :-D
Panic, Chaos, Destruction. My work here is done. Drink. Get drunk. Fall over - P O'H OK, I will win to day or my name isn't Ethel Crudacre! - DD Ethel Crudacre I cannot live by bread alone. Bacon and ketchup are needed as well. - Trollslayer Have a bit more patience with newbies. Of course some of them act dumb - they're often *students*, for heaven's sake - Terry Pratchett
Nagy Vilmos wrote:
read all the material at least twice. Skim it and then real read.
I usually do the exact opposite... Read it once, then use the keywords on the left of the text to quickly skim (like before an exam or something).
Nagy Vilmos wrote:
Attend at least the first tutorial, if the tutor is going to teach then attend. It's the difference between passing and getting a distinction.
The whole reason I'm doing this is so I don't have to attend anything. I just got out of college and I hated it. Not a single teacher could hold my attention. Reading the books is much more effective. Besides, going to college means spending about four hours a day in a bus... Going to college now will probably mean being in traffic jam for at least an hour, getting home late, and still spending considerable time in a car even if I do not get stuck in traffic. You think I should move to a more inhabited area ;p
Nagy Vilmos wrote:
Work out now the overall course you think you'll do and plan the courses you'll take and when. I took all my level 1's in just over a year by doing 3/4 at a time.
I checked the brochure and decided to pretty much follow their suggested learning path. I will have to choose between some optional classes though. I'll probably take the more technical ones :) As for when I will follow them, as soon as possible. I now have three courses and started the first one. If I get tired of the theoretical course I'll check out some Java (which is a more do- than theory course).
Nagy Vilmos wrote:
Advice from someone who recently graduated from the OU [BSc Computing And Systems Practices 2:1]
Thanks for the advice and congrats on graduating! I'm 'attending' the Dutch OU (which makes for some awkward translations of programmer jargon, such as 'be-questioning' a database :laugh:). It is also in high regard. At first I thought this was something for retired people with nothing else to do. I read some good stuff about it though and the reactions on CP are pretty positive as well.
Nagy Vilmos wrote:
Most of all, enjoy it
I never thought I would ever enjoy anything study or university related, but so far this one looks pretty nice! So I'll try my best :D Studied enough for the evening though, off to bed.
It's an
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Ohhhhh, this is one of those online colleges that you pay for, not the open courseware ones that you take for free to learn.
wizardzz wrote:
you pay for
My employer pays for :)
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
I was looking at that the other day. I wish I had time....
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
Christian Graus wrote:
I wish I had time....
24 hours a day, 7 days a week :D Of course you'll have to give up some stuff, like, well, whatever it is you do in the evenings and weekends (and some workdays too) ;)
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
Study hard and good luck. :)
Just because the code works, it doesn't mean that it is good code.
I will and thanks! :)
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
wizardzz wrote:
you pay for
My employer pays for :)
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
}That's a sweet deal, but I've been somewhat afraid of it. IMO, what an employer spends on you is essentially your compensation package, just not in the form of cash. I'm afraid if I took an employer's offer on that, it would basically be docked from future income. In that sense, you're still kind of paying for it.
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That's a sweet deal, but I've been somewhat afraid of it. IMO, what an employer spends on you is essentially your compensation package, just not in the form of cash. I'm afraid if I took an employer's offer on that, it would basically be docked from future income. In that sense, you're still kind of paying for it.
Unless of course they don't get into any kind of contract, and you use the training to get a better job somewhere else. I know a guy that did that, his company paid for him to get his Master's, then immediately after he got it he left for a better job because they didn't have any sort of contract to keep him there.
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Unless of course they don't get into any kind of contract, and you use the training to get a better job somewhere else. I know a guy that did that, his company paid for him to get his Master's, then immediately after he got it he left for a better job because they didn't have any sort of contract to keep him there.
From my research, it's not a contract to "keep you there" but you then owe the tuition if you leave within x years. Also a reason I would NEVER do that: Get free tuition and then stick around a while where they wouldn't be motivated to give you anything you want (like raises). If leaving a job would cost me $50k, I'd feel like I was in a shitty spot.
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That's a sweet deal, but I've been somewhat afraid of it. IMO, what an employer spends on you is essentially your compensation package, just not in the form of cash. I'm afraid if I took an employer's offer on that, it would basically be docked from future income. In that sense, you're still kind of paying for it.
My employers would have a serious problem if they fired me. I'm their best programmer by far (not kidding, no arrogance) and I'm responsible for a lot of their libraries. The choice to go back to college was my own, I told them and asked them if they would pay. They agreed. Anyway, if they would fire me I got a paid study and I'm sure I can get a new job with my to-be education ;)
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
From my research, it's not a contract to "keep you there" but you then owe the tuition if you leave within x years. Also a reason I would NEVER do that: Get free tuition and then stick around a while where they wouldn't be motivated to give you anything you want (like raises). If leaving a job would cost me $50k, I'd feel like I was in a shitty spot.
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My employers would have a serious problem if they fired me. I'm their best programmer by far (not kidding, no arrogance) and I'm responsible for a lot of their libraries. The choice to go back to college was my own, I told them and asked them if they would pay. They agreed. Anyway, if they would fire me I got a paid study and I'm sure I can get a new job with my to-be education ;)
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
}Naerling wrote:
I'm their best programmer by far (not kidding, no arrogance) and I'm responsible for a lot of their libraries.
Aren't you a relatively new developer? Sometimes knowing what you don't know is the best knowledge to have.
Naerling wrote:
The choice to go back to college was my own, I told them and asked them if they would pay. They agreed.
Anyway, if they would fire me I got a paid study and I'm sure I can get a new job with my to-be educationSounds good that you aren't bound by contract then, good job!
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From my research, it's not a contract to "keep you there" but you then owe the tuition if you leave within x years. Also a reason I would NEVER do that: Get free tuition and then stick around a while where they wouldn't be motivated to give you anything you want (like raises). If leaving a job would cost me $50k, I'd feel like I was in a shitty spot.
Study in the Netherlands is heavily funded by the government. As such a full study would 'only' cost about 8k euros. Even if my employer wouldn't pay I could easily pay it myself. Especially since it's 8k spread over a couple of years. Nope, my employer pays and even if I had to pay back when I left I wouldn't think about leaving twice if I wanted to leave. However, when my employer pays for me I find it more than reasonable that I either work for them for a set period of time or pay back when I leave.
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
Naerling wrote:
I'm their best programmer by far (not kidding, no arrogance) and I'm responsible for a lot of their libraries.
Aren't you a relatively new developer? Sometimes knowing what you don't know is the best knowledge to have.
Naerling wrote:
The choice to go back to college was my own, I told them and asked them if they would pay. They agreed.
Anyway, if they would fire me I got a paid study and I'm sure I can get a new job with my to-be educationSounds good that you aren't bound by contract then, good job!
wizardzz wrote:
Aren't you a relatively new developer?
Yes I am, but their oldest programmer is stuck somewhere in the 80's, their previous best programmer lost interest and is now co-owner who codes as few as possible and their 'senior' (also co-owner) got mad at me for talking about Design Patterns and SOLID because they could never work (after some heavy discussions we DO use them now though). Anyway, this guy tried hard, but just doesn't get it. There is an intern who is pretty good and probably knows more than me, but he's only intern and will probably be gone after a few months. The other programmers are even newer than me and somehow miss the drive or motivation to study at home. It's the best they could get. Also, I didn't say I was good, I just said I was their best ;)
wizardzz wrote:
Sometimes knowing what you don't know is the best knowledge to have.
Actually I don't know that much at all, that's why I decided to get a degree.
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
S Houghtelin wrote:
Using the Special High Intensity Training method I take it.
I'll put my books in a blender and drink up all the knowledge contained within them :)
S Houghtelin wrote:
And good luck! I sincerely mean that.
A sincere thank you! :D
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
Don't hesitate to post homework questions in Q&A. :)
Luc Pattyn [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum
Or offer $10 at Rentacoder.com! ;P
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S Houghtelin wrote:
Using the Special High Intensity Training method I take it.
I'll put my books in a blender and drink up all the knowledge contained within them :)
S Houghtelin wrote:
And good luck! I sincerely mean that.
A sincere thank you! :D
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
}Naerling wrote:
I'll put my books in a blender and drink up all the knowledge contained within them :)
Way too much work. My friend used to keep the books on the shelf in his bedroom. He absorbed the knowledge through osmosis! ;P
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Well, all I can say is good luck with that. :) :)
--> Getting information off the Internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant. --> In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on.
Thank you :)
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
Naerling wrote:
I'll put my books in a blender and drink up all the knowledge contained within them :)
Way too much work. My friend used to keep the books on the shelf in his bedroom. He absorbed the knowledge through osmosis! ;P
But I can add strawberry flavour ;)
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
} -
So I signed up at the Open University[^] and today I received my study material for the first three modules. I just started reading the first course "Introduction to IT"... Shit just got real :~ So I guess I'll have that master degree at the end of the month ;p Until that time I'm off to study.
It's an OO world.
public class Naerling : Lazy<Person>{
public void DoWork(){ throw new NotImplementedException(); }
}Good luck, OU courses are pretty tough, but rewarding.
Sort of a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and Dilbert.[^]
-Or-
A Dead ringer for Kate Winslett[^]
