Most of my basic foundational knowledge of
information systems were attained while I attended |
from |
computers, disk operating systems, and personal computer dos compatible software, hardware and peripherals. I soon discovered |
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). |
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! |
While at |
other useless and impractical specifics in computer theory. After all I wasn’t going to design the next processor or some other pc |
circuit component at any point in the near future. Well I still wasn’t acquiring the information and skill sets that I was looking for, |
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. |
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 knowledge and skill set requirements of my job. I found this to be a more cost effective, faster and even enjoyable means to |
the attainment of the knowledge and skill sets that I needed. |
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 certifications. Now certifications have their place in the job market but they are no substitute for years of |
on the job experience, yet companies are increasingly requiring them either in addition to experience or placing the importance of |
certifications above experience. So now I was looking at having to get multiple certifications to show on paper that I could |
do a job that I had been doing for years. Well I just didn’t have the money for all the certifications that most businesses in my |
locality wanted me to have. This somewhat limited my opportunities for career advancement especially since the company that I was now |
working for was not going to pay for my certifications or assist me financially with educational reimbursement funds. |
Well I still needed to keep up with the technological advancements and the skill sets that they required. So I began another quest |
for more knowledge and improving my skill sets more cheaply and efficiently. Again the internet came through for me, |
I found all the information I was looking for in the form of e-books. I found volumes and volumes of e-books many of which |
contained the very information that I was looking for. 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. My knowledge and skill sets have progressed at a much faster rate than possible with institutional schooling or |
formal certification training. I now have a huge how to, tried & true, illustrated and free technical reference e-books library to assist me |
in whatever I need to do at work or at home. |
My professional development activities and methodologies have worked for me and saved or made money for companies that I have |
worked for in the past 20 years. While it is true that I don’t have the certifications to show that I can do the job. I do have a proven |
track record that shows that I can do the job as well as if not better than people who have certifications in the same areas of work that I do. |
