Open University Cert in Web Application Development

IntoTheVoid · 11 Mar 2007 at 11:17

Hi,

I am thinking of enrolling in the above mentioned course which comprises 6 short courses and takes approximately two years to complete. Has anyone on these forums thought about the same course or has anyone advice on whether this would be a good foundation to get into that line of work? If not then alternatives would be welcome. I would like to end up developing database driven sites. Have already got an HNC in Graphic Communication. thanks.

Here is the link http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses/bin/p12.dll?Q01C39

lozza · 11 Mar 2007 at 14:34

I've thought about it but thats about all - TBH i think in this industry, showing a portfolio of work is your best bet, Jobs tend to require proven experience rather than qualifications

MNuTz · 11 Mar 2007 at 14:54

honestly, i doubt there is anything in there that isnt on the net somewhere!

If your going to be teaching yourself anyway, why not do it from the net? You wont get a qualification for it but you will be up and running faster and will be making your own apps faster. As said above, create a portfolio and your away!

V4NT0M · 11 Mar 2007 at 15:41

Web wise, portfolio > certificate, though certificate + portfolio > all

Beansprout · 11 Mar 2007 at 16:21

Harib0 said:
I've thought about it but thats about all - TBH i think in this industry, showing a portfolio of work is your best bet, Jobs tend to require proven experience rather than qualifications

For designs, sure - but for *programming*, you don't want a self-taught monkey because although his appz might rocksor from a user perspective....how do you know they're efficient, tidy, secure? Etc

lozza · 11 Mar 2007 at 20:40

But you can call yourself Eisenhorn Cert Web Apps (Open)

Beansprout · 11 Mar 2007 at 20:53

Harib0 said:
But you can call yourself Eisenhorn Cert Web Apps (Open)

Sorry - by self-taught I meant no degree (of any sort), just a reading around online and fiddling away building sort of thing

Contradicting myself because that's what I've done I suppose, but I know I'm not a cowboy

- but some people are

- which is why for programming work I'd always prefer someone with qualifications than someone self-taught with no bits of paper.

I guess I see it from both sides since I'm a professional but also doing a degree. *shrug*

Mr^B · 11 Mar 2007 at 21:22

Cold Fusion and ASP? Not worth the paper it's printed on.

paulsheffII · 11 Mar 2007 at 23:22

Beansprout said:
Sorry - by self-taught I meant no degree (of any sort), just a reading around online and fiddling away building sort of thing

Contradicting myself because that's what I've done I suppose, but I know I'm not a cowboy - but some people are - which is why for programming work I'd always prefer someone with qualifications than someone self-taught with no bits of paper.

I guess I see it from both sides since I'm a professional but also doing a degree. *shrug*

Depends on the source I suppose. I’ve learnt pretty much everything from printed material published by so-called aficionados of the discipline. I’ve got enough books on various subjects to pretend I did a course! All my qualifications are design based.

IntoTheVoid · 12 Mar 2007 at 01:15

So the consensus is perhaps that the subject material of this course is outdated? or not appropriate maybe? Would it be better to try and learn something like C# with Ajax?

paulsheffII · 12 Mar 2007 at 01:36

If it's classic ASP then yes. CFM I thought was dead and buried but I still see it here and there quite a bit these days.