Most of my basic foundational knowledge of information systems were attained while I attended Watterson College. 

After graduating from Watterson College in 1986 with an Associates Degree in Science, I began my research and in

depth self initiated study of IBM personal computers, dos, and personal computer dos compatible software, hardware and peripherals.  I

soon realized that I needed a higher educational degree. Not because I needed the information gained from a so called “formal education”

with the title, “Bachelors Degree in Computer Science”, but because most businesses in my geographic locality with good paying job

postings were requiring it!  So I enrolled at Indiana University South East in pursuit of a BA, even though I new that a very large part of

what I would learn in college would be a waste of time in relation to the knowledge and skills that I needed in my job field (programming  

and computer operations) at that time and in the foreseeable near future.

Later in life I would find that I would only use about 5 to 10 percent of what I had formally been required to learn in college.  And that 5

to 10 percent was all English skills, written and oral, nothing else!

Further development of my foundational knowledge proceeded while attending Indiana University South East in pursuit of a Bachelors

Degree in Computer Science.   While at Indiana University I began the process of learning the theory behind computers and gained a

more in depth foundational knowledge of information systems specifics.   But still the information that I was learning was not what I was

needing for my job in information systems, all except for one particular area of study, you guessed right if you said “English”!  After

over 2 years study at IUS I was becoming frustrated and baffled by the amount of useless information that I had to learn and had yet to

learn in order to acquire a BA.  And the cost of attaining all this useless information was nothing to scoff at either.  So after a few more

useless classes and finally losing my personal battle with the enlightenment of “Calculus and Its Everyday Uselessness in the Home and

Workplace”,  I decided that I had enough wasting of my time and money.  I quit my studies at IUS!

Now my knowledge & skill sets would progress as a result of research, self-study and specific courses as they related directly and

specifically to career knowledge and skill set requirements.  I found this to be a more cost effective, faster and even enjoyable means to

the attainment of the required knowledge and skill sets of my career choice.

As my career advancement proceeded through the various companies, job titles and salary increases I found an ever increasing number of

companies starting to require unrealistic and non-essential certifications for jobs that were very basic in technical and skill level

requirements to perform the job.  An example that I commonly saw was an MCSE certification requirement for the job title position of

Network Administrator.   I was becoming dumbfounded by the requirements to be grossly over certified in areas where only a small

amount of all the information required to be learned in a particular certification would be useful in practice in day to day job related

activities.  Again the “total cost ownership” of some of the certifications was somewhat expensive, if not ridiculously so.  I decided to

start thinking of better ways to keep up with the advancements in technologies as they specifically related to my career in information

systems.   I also dabble researched, in my spare time of course, in somewhat unrelated technologies to my own career path to see what I

might be missing or what might be useful to the company I was working for.

I continued my tried and true methods of quickly acquiring the information and skill sets that I needed

to perform job responsibilities that were migrating to progressively more advanced technologies.  Now instead of paying for certification

books, or how to books and skimming through them to acquire the information that I needed I began searching the internet for e-books.  I

found volumes of e-books that are very general and very specific in relation to performing tasks that I needed to set-up, maintain,

administer, up-grade, and migrate the technologies I was involved in.  I was in e-book heaven!  And it was all free, complete with reader

reviews!   Needless to say I went on an e-book download frenzy.  I downloaded so many e-books that it would take weeks to read

through them all and most all of them pertain directly to those specific areas of interest and need that I was looking for.  My knowledge

and skill sets have progressed at a much faster rate than possible with institutional schooling or formal certification training.  And all it

has costed me and the companies that I have worked for is an internet connection and alittle research time and in some instances it was at

my own cost in money and time. 

So why with all the near free verifiable information so abundantly available 24/7 at the touch of a few or more buttons are companies for

the most part, I have found a few exceptions, still requiring degrees and certifications that are not necessary and in some cases grossly

over rated?

My professional development activities and methodologies have worked for me and saved or made money for companies that I have

worked for for over 20 years