The Computeach Blog |

Computeach sponsor local education stars

2012-01-25T11:29:00.004Z

The Mayor’s Civic Awards give people the chance to highlight those working tirelessly in their communities.

Councillor Michael Evans, Mayor of Dudley, said:

“I have been very lucky as Mayor of Dudley to meet some amazing people, who go about their business day after day without any recognition at all. These awards are our opportunity to say a huge thank you to them for all the work they do in making this a great place to live and work, and give them the recognition they truly deserve.

“This year we are working with a team of sponsors, who have all decided to back the awards and show their gratitude to the people who make them special.

“I hope people will take the time to nominate those who they believe are this borough’s unsung heroes.”

Andy Coleyshaw, MD of Computeach, said:

"We are delighted to be sponsoring the Thomas Attwood award for education this year. We’ve been based in Dudley for almost 50 years, so being able to support local initiatives like this is very fulfilling for us."

"As leaders in the field of IT training for career changers, this award fits perfectly with the passion we feel for helping people to learn and develop, young and old alike."

"We believe that it’s never too late for anyone to decide they would like their life to take a new direction. We also believe that the route to this is often through training and education. That’s why we take great pleasure in the difference we’ve made to thousands of our students. It’s also why we now look forward to congratulating the winner of this award and hearing how they, like us, continue to support learners toward a brighter and more fulfilling future."

Nominations must be in by 19 February and the winner and one runner-up in each category will be chosen in March. They will be presented with their prize – a trophy and a certificate by the Mayor of Dudley, Councillor Michael Evans, at a civic ceremony in March.

People can nominate online here or can pick up a nomination form from libraries across the borough from early next week. Alternatively contact communications and public affairs on 01384 814 449 for a form.

What can be done to improve IT in our schools....

2012-01-13T12:02:00.000Z

One way which is often cited is to have ICT lessons include more aspects of technology which pupils use in real life, so they can see exactly where the skills they learn in schools would come in useful and what a wide range of potential interesting careers there are open to them.

One school doing just that is St Mathew Academy in Blackheath, South London, where pupils have been designing their own mobile phone apps, with the help of workers from real-life company Apps 4 Good.

Other suggestions from schools include blogging lessons and website building classes to show pupils the work which goes into using sites that they use and read daily.

However, it is not just IT specific jobs which pupils need educating about, it is also vital that schools highlight the role IT is increasingly playing in almost all careers, including teaching jobs, positions in the media and almost all office-based roles.

As a growing number of jobs depend on computing skills, today's children may struggle in the future if IT education is not improved.

IT Skills Shortage - Do Schools have a responsibility?

2012-01-10T09:04:00.000Z

Much has been reported about a potential IT skills shortage in the coming years and it seems that this problem could be further exacerbated if more is not done to make IT more interesting and accessible within schools.

Chief Inspector Miriam Rosen said: "In a world that is becoming increasingly reliant on technology, young people need to be given the opportunity to learn ICT skills in an interesting, challenging and relevant way. Schools should provide a range of ICT courses that are suitably matched to students needs, support them with their learning and prepare them for higher education and for skilled work in a technological age."

This is not the first time our schools have come under scrutiny from experts - in 2011 Google chairman Eric Schmidt said that he was unimpressed with IT teaching in UK's schools and last month the Department for Culture, Media and Sport published a report that found ICT teaching to be "insufficiently rigorous and in need of reform".

These could be some of the reasons why only 31,800 students took GCSE ICT in 2011 compared with 81,100 in 2007 - a marked 61% reduction.

So what should our schools be doing and who is doing it well?

Looking at Web Design?

2011-12-06T17:08:00.000Z

If you are you will recall the changes that were made by CIW last year and how they split the certification - if not you may want to read the blog post Interested in Web Design (September 2010).

These changes have proved extremely popular with everybody here at Computeach. The development team have incorporated some of the Adobe ACE exams to the track and students are encouraged to create a portfolio of work along the way. This consolidation of skills has provided the hands-on element that had been missing and our students have created some great web-sites.

Our Careers team have been very keen to point out the added benefit of this when it comes to demonstrating skills adding that they are often asked if a candidate will be able to show some examples of their work.

It would be really good to have your thoughts on these changes so, please add your comments.

Going for Gold.....

2011-11-24T09:58:00.000Z

....Well we did green a few weeks back and with the Olympics just around the corner I thought it was worth a little dig around to see what people think the impact will be in the IT industry.

According to Paul Winchester, managing director of Greythorn "The IT and telecoms infrastructure required to host the Olympics will leave a significant high-tech footprint on the UK labour market."

"Before the Olympics begin, emergency service lines need to be secured and WiFi coverage needs to be expanded, including an attempt to get Internet access across the tube network in time for the games - measures must also be taken to prevent cyber attacks."

While the IT infrastructure being developed for the Games may not be as well publicised as the stadiums being built and transport links being developed, it is definitely equally as impressive.

It is reported that Acer, the official sponsor for computing equipment for the London Games, is providing 9,000 desktop PCs 2,000 laptops 900 servers for use at the various Olympic venues, which gives an insight into just how big a role IT will play in the event.

At such a high profile event it is also imperative that every piece of equipment is well maintained and that any problems are dealt with immediately, which is why between 300 and 400 server specialists and desktop technicians will be on hand throughout the event.

Well done Computeach

2011-11-23T08:57:00.001Z

Who raised a whopping £185.00 for Children in Need - and the cakes were lovely

The Computeach Raffle for Children in Need........

2011-11-18T10:05:00.000Z

........... is looking good

IT industry goes green

2011-11-14T10:08:00.001Z

Talking to our Careers department here at Computeach they were keen to point out the importance of our students being able to demonstrate awareness of the industry and how it will develop in the future - after all, a new recruit you may be now, but your are also the future of the company.

If you are in the dark about how the future of IT looks, let me shed some light - it looks green.

By this, I mean data centre virtualisation, data centre power and cooling technologies, desktop virtualisation, printing and paper usage management and power management tools for PCs and monitors.

According to another study from Ovum, these areas will experience "significant growth" over the next few years, growing by 65%.

Almost three-quarters of chief information officers are already using green IT in their organisation, while a further 8% plan to do so before the end of next year, the research said.

Rhonda Ascierto, Ovum analyst and author of the research, explained: "This growth in green IT penetration reflects a change of attitude by CIO's and other IT decision-makers.

Previously, they considered green IT optional because they defined its value primarily in terms of corporate image, rather than the bottom line.

It is now viewed as core technology that delivers business value by cutting costs and increasing efficiency."

Ms Ascierto added that in the wake of the recession, many companies are looking for a financial return in an investment into green IT.

Is there a change in the way HR departments view temporary workers?

2011-11-11T11:58:00.000Z

According to Gerry McLaughlin, from IT Contractor.com there has.

"Whereas previously IT contracting was highly cyclical and many contractors spent what they had built up in the good times during long spells out of work, it looks as if IT contracting has become a much safer profession," Mr McLaughlin said.

"Companies now see them as the enablers of cost cutting during a downturn as well as being core to the business during an upturn - so contractors now have an each way bet."

And let's not forget that obtaining temporary work with a company is a good way to show off your knowledge and skills, which could lead to a more permanent position.

Would you agree? I would really like your thoughts on this so, add your comments.

Diversity in the IT Industry

2011-11-08T11:41:00.000Z

Just reading a report on diversity in the IT industry and thought you might find it interesting.

Maggie Berry, from Women in Technology, said that more businesses need to be aware of the benefits of a diverse workforce, to make more opportunities for women.

"The majority of the women that we talk to do not want to see the introduction of quotas - they want to get the top jobs on their own merit and ability, not to make up numbers," Ms Berry said.

But she added that introducing targets would be a "positive move" to put pressure on business to change.

Ms Berry's comments followed research from InterExec which revealed that 65% of senior executive head hunters do not agree that firms should more than double the number of women on their executive boards by 2015, despite a recent Davies report recommending this move.

"Progress is a slow process, but we are moving forward. With more awareness about the benefits of diverse teams, changes to legislation and more flexible working, hopefully we will continue to see improvements when it come to women in IT, " Ms Berry concluded.

Another group which are sometimes overlooked are older workers, but according to Rachel Krys, director of Inclusive Employers, the best workforces are made up of both fresh-faced young employees and experienced old-hands.

"Older workers can have a real settling, calming effect on the whole workforce, but you also need the people with the fresh ideas - and that might be younger people, that might be older people, " she said.

"You need people with new thoughts. People who have not done it before are not restricted by past failures; people who have not failed before are much more willing to take a risk. You need that mix."

The eSkills report also points out that despite there being a shortfall in candidates, obtaining a job in the IT sector still requires skills to be refreshed on a regular basis, to keep up with developments in the industry.

Could the IT Industry be right for you?

2011-11-04T12:28:00.000Z

Well the view from my desk is a little gloomy now that the pumpkins have been removed but the outlook for our industry is certainly better.

Already 1.5 million people are employed in the IT industry, a figure which translates as every one in 20 people employed in the UK.

But while the sector may be expanding, IT employers are not hiring just anyone - they are looking for a high standards in employees.

A recent report by e-skills UK, Technology Insights 2011, predicted that the IT & Telecoms industry will grow by £50 billion over the next five to seven years. This is a growth of over two per cent per year, which is nearly five times faster than the UK average.

Mr Nott said that the UK is an important part of the IT industry, a point the e-skills report emphases, revealing that £81 billion of the UK's annual economy comes from the IT and Telecoms industry.

He also pointed out that last year saw an increase in demand for professionals.

And he added this demand will continue to rise.

So what can be done about this shortage? Langley James, and IT recruitment agency, believes that the answer lies with taking on more trainees in the sector.

"I would say companies need to look at bringing trainees in rather than expecting everybody to hit the ground running, " James Toovey, founder and director of Langley James, said. "That is one of the biggest problems with this industry and that is why there is continually a skills shortage - everybody wants somebody that has a couple of years experience using the latest technology."

He added that "new blood" - people coming into the industry with knowledge of social networking like Twitter and Facebook - would stand in good stead as they can display a knowledge of up-to-date technology.

The view from my Computeach desk.......

2011-10-31T13:26:00.001Z

What do you think?

To all our fellow Tweeps

2011-10-28T11:08:00.002+01:00

It really has been a good week and I think we are finally getting the hang of Twitter and how it can help us keep in touch with Computeach students.

All the team are now signed up and merrily twittering little updates and tips - we have even had some great responses.

Our little community is growing........

What about the darker side of social media.......

2011-10-27T10:58:00.000+01:00

......how can IT professionals tackle the cyber attackers and spammers that will no doubt set their sights on this technology?

According to predictions from Kaspersky Lab, in the coming months there will be a surge in the number of spamming linked to new social networking sites such as Google+.

This follows a 'significant increase' in the amount of phishing attacks on Facebook in June this year, putting the social networking site third on the hit list of cyber attacks, behind eBay and PayPal.

"It is nothing new - we have seen it before and I think we see with anything where there is a huge amount of public interest, for example, when there's the release of a new iPhone, it is also massively abused by spam," explained Rik Ferguson, director of security, research and communication at Trend Micro.

Anything where there is unlimited availability and huge public interest is something that will encourage spam.

In years to come [social media] will be the dominant platform, without question. That is where the communication preferences are moving for users anyway - if you talk to anybody under the age of 25, email is almost certainly going to be their secondary or maybe even their third preferred form of communication.

Criminals follow the behaviour of consumers and if consumers are moving, as they are, to those alternate platforms, that is where the criminals will go.

So how do we tackle this? Well - that is up to you, the IT professionals.

You can see there is plenty of scope to make your name in the IT industry if you can show you have got your head around social media, as as many people use it personally, then you have got every change of making a career out of something you enjoy doing.

So what sites were favoured by businesses?

2011-10-26T09:30:00.000+01:00

Well Virgin Media Business has found that Facebook seems to be a favourite for retailers looking at how social networking can boost e-commerce, with 36% using it for business.

Twitter, on the other hand, was only used by 9% of the 500 retailers surveyed - perhaps this is an area for future growth.

What results have businesses seen since implementing social media into their technology? IMRG and eDigital research showed that two-thirds of e-commerce businesses and departments have increased their turnover since last year.

But the bottom line about social media is that it is still relatively new - as 70% only started using it in the last three years.

Tim Gibbon, director at Elemental, offered his advice to those who want to show a business that they can lead the social network revolution in their workplace.

"Social media has actually existed for quite some time now and this should be acknowledged, because there were certainly communities and socially driven environments before Facebook, Twitter, You Tube et al."

Mr Gibbon pointed out that social media has changed since it was first around, and so should businesses be prepared to: they will constantly need to evolve with this new technology.

"Balance and realism in what social environments can achieve is important in that just because businesses may have a presence, may participate, it doesn't mean it will yield the results expected".

"Indeed, quite the opposite can happen: when a business is not prepared with even a little understanding of the changing platforms, brand dilution is possible, " he warned.

Do you agree?

Social Media - time to make your mark?

2011-10-25T09:52:00.000+01:00

Social media really is a buzz word for technology at the moment and for anyone interested in an IT career research is key and that is exactly what I have been doing so, I thought (over the next few weeks) I would share some of my findings with you.

Whether it is looking at how social media can help businesses, how cyber crime will be targeting social network sites or how mobile web can be incorporated into this growing industry, there is plenty of opportunity in this fast growing market.

Reagus give a regional picture, showing that almost half (49%) of firms in Manchester are successfully winning new customers through social networking activity, while 55% are using it to engage with existing customers.

Then Prodkauer's International Labor and Employment Group, which looked at companies around the world, announced that over three-quarters are using social networking.

Give it a little thought - do a little research and tell us what sites you think were favoured by businesses.

Happy New Year

2011-01-05T15:36:00.000Z

Christmas was great (too much food but good to spend time with family) and New Year hectic (too many late nights and too much drink but good to spend time with friends) and those New Year resolutions….one of the reasons I think the desk next to me is piled high with left over goodies. So, if your in-centre let me know – I’m happy to share.

Studying Web Design?

2010-09-17T15:33:00.000+01:00

CIW have made some exciting changes to their certification and I have just attended a presentation given by James Stanger who is the President and Chief Certification Architect at CIW. He spoke about the benefits these changes would bring to students and prospective employers.

For those that don’t already know the Certified Internet Webmaster – CIW – was created by a community of web professionals from around the world and has an advisory council made up of Industry, Academia, Government and Not-for profit organisations. I find it reassuring to know that the training and certification we provide is under constant review and evolves to reflect todays Web Design technologies and job roles and that’s what the changes are all about.

Several name changes have taken place along with the re-structure and will now consist of Associate, Specialist and Professional levels.

1D0-510 – This exam is still broken down into 3 sections and when passed you are awarded the CIW Web Foundations Associate certification.

CIW Internet Business Associate
CIW Site Development Associate
CIW Network Technology Associate

1D0-520 – Previously known as CIW Site Designer. This exam continues to be split down into the following sections and when passed you are awarded the CIW Web Design Specialist certification.

CIW Site Development Essentials
CIW Web Design Elements
CIW Basic Web Technologies
CIW Advanced Web Technologies

1D0-525 – Previously known as CIW Ecommerce Designer. This exam continues to be split down into the following sections and when passed you are awarded the CIW E-Commerce Specialist certification.

E-Commerce Site Development
E-Commerce Technology and Security
E-Commerce Business, Marketing and Legal Issues

Once you have gained the Web Design Specialist certification and the E-Commerce Specialist certification you will also gain the Web Design Professional certification.

Six Top Tips for Motivation- my favourites so far

2010-08-11T10:16:00.000+01:00

Well you all know by now that I want to wing walk on my birthday and I agreed to get fit and give up smoking. I can tell you it’s not easy but I have had some great feedback from some of the students and everyone here at Computeach (big thank you) and thought I would share my favourites so far.

1. Get a Buddy – someone who will work with you, share the experience and encourage you to keep going when it gets tough. My brother has been roped in for this one. If you’re a student the student forum is a great place to for you to do this. You can share, gain support and make friends.

2. Visualisation – close your eyes and imagine the end result – here I go - standing on top of a bi-plane and taking a dive – can’t wait.

3. Small Chunks – break your main goal down into small chunks of success.

4. Plan Ahead – plan what you are going to do and when. This is much easier to do once you have broken your main goal down into small chunks.

5. Time – plan your time and let people know what you are doing and why – it’s amazing at how supportive and encouraging everyone becomes.

6. Record Progress – keep a record of the progress you make and detail each success. I’m finding this is a great way to boost my confidence in my ability to stick with it when the going gets tough.

What do you think? Have you got any more?

Yes you can

2010-08-02T15:45:00.000+01:00

It’s going to be my birthday soon –and I wanted to do something really fun like wing walking so, with best intentions decided to give up smoking and get fit. Did you ever wonder how some people find it so easy to remain motivated, positive and focused while others don’t? I know I do. Because it’s just not that easy is it?

When ‘’M’ returned from WPC (and still no gossip from the bond night) she was talking about the keynote speech given by President Bill Clinton. He asked everyone to think about the impact of the IT revolution and what part they can play in achieving equality around the globe. She said his enthusiasm was really quite contagious and everyone was talking about it afterwards. But how is he going to keep that momentum going? Clinton did say he is on Facebook and answers question on the social network site. “We actually do tweets from time to time to keep people up with what we’re doing, which I never thought I would do”, he said.

So, it got me thinking about the students I support and what I can do to help. We have student forums and I often pop in and out to offer a bit of advice and like President Clinton we actually tweet from time to time and the tutors are great when the students need a little more help as IT certification can be quite complicated at times.

But what else helps?

I would like your thoughts – what keeps you enthusiastic about the changes you have committed to? How do you keep yourself motivated when things get tough?

Add your comments and let me know.

It’s going to get cloudy……..

2010-07-23T12:36:00.001+01:00

So, what is all this hype around Cloud computing, what is it and why is everyone talking about how it will revolutionise the way organisations operate.

With the global economy taking a bashing and technology evolving at an alarming rate having the technical infrastructure to operate in today’s business market can be a daunting prospect – it is not easy to forcast with accuracy the requirments needed to operate successfully and at the same time take into account the fluctuating demand on resource?

Well that’s where Cloud computing takes over. It has been described as hosting with a difference – the difference being you can have as little or as much as you want when you want for as long as you want. The infrastructure is there, developed, maintained and updated by a third party so all a user needs is a computer with internet access.

It was apparent at this year’s WPC that Microsoft see the Cloud as something to be taken seriously and it is the bed-rock of their strategy moving forward. CEO, Steve Ballmer and COO, Kevin Turner both addressed cloud-computing in their keynote speech with Turner stating that Microsoft’s big goal for the next couple of decades was “continuous cloud service for every person and every business”.

Corporate VP Jon Roskill, taking over the Microsoft Partner Programme this year from Allison Watson, spoke passionately about Microsoft’s collaboration with partners saying that “together we're going to succeed in this transformation to cloud”.

Computeach will be following progress in this area closely over the next few months and as always we will keep you all in the loop.

Drop your comments in the box as we would like to have your thoughts.

Computeach go to the Microsoft World Partner Conference (WPC)

2010-07-20T14:30:00.001+01:00

All go here today – our boss has just returned from the Microsoft World Partner Conference (WPC) in Washington DC, a bit bleary eyed (jet lag) and full of innovation.. So far she has not mentioned the themed Bond night but we are calling her ‘M’ and I am sure she will reveal all at some point.

The WPC happens every year and provides the opportunity for Microsoft Partners to get together with each other and Microsoft (over 14000 registered attendees from more than 130 countries this year) to exchange ideas and learn from one and other whilst being updated on all the latest technologies and strategies from sessions run by Microsoft.

With over 500 sessions taking place at the event we will provide highlights from the best bits going into much more detail on each subject but Just to give you an idea of some of the subjects that were hot:

• Cloud computing and Mobile working
• Using technology for global aid and development

• Enterprise-class computing for the smaller business

• Education

• Government

• Health and public safety

• National security

• The hybrid organisation

Drop a comment if you have any preference to what would interest you the most.

What Next………

2010-07-19T13:26:00.000+01:00

He really would like you to believe he can leap from tall buildings in one bound………

Anyway, while my meek and mild mannered friend is off saving the planet (well he is doing his bit and putting bottle tops in the golden box) I thought I would introduce myself – I’m the colleague (AKA Lois) and have to agree this is going to be a great place to keep you all updated.

Last week proved very busy with CIW announcing changes to their certification and Microsoft running their World Partner Conference in Washington DC. We have participated in lots of events and will be able to update you with all the interesting news in the weeks to come. So, watch this space and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

It’s a bird……..It’s a plane………….

2010-07-16T08:08:00.000+01:00

Seriously, I’ve just been asked to take over this blog along with my colleague (who for the record I’m now calling Lois) and I’m really excited. It reminds me of the first time I went Zorbing – no idea what to expect and no idea what I am going to do but ready to try. So, like all dedicated Zorbonauts let’s get this ball rolling.

My real job here in Dudley is to support students with their studies keeping them informed and on-track. This is going to be a great place to keep you up to date, provide lots of information on all the programmes, plenty of hints and tips and not forgetting all the latest office gossip. You can even add your own comments and let me know what you think 

Up Up and Away…………………

IT jobs salaries have increased, figures indicate

2010-06-03T14:18:00.002+01:00

The salaries of workers in the UK's IT industry rose by two per cent between 2009 and 2010, new figures indicate.

According to statistics released by recruitment firm CVScreen which surveyed almost 7,500 IT jobs posted online, the average salary stood at £36,818 at the beginning of the year, CIO reports.

IT directors, programme managers and software development managers were found to be the highest earners, bringing in between £55,286 and £95,000.

Despite boasting smaller salaries, positions involving PHP development, SharePoint and .Net were found to be most prevalent.

PC support and VB development were found to offer fewer vacancies, while demand for SAP, Lotus and DB2 skills also declined.

In other news, figures from the Ashdown Group Jobs Index show that almost three per cent more computing and technology jobs were advertised last month compared to April.

Ashdown Group director John Lynes said that despite government cuts, the private sector is still particularly interested in employees with "in-demand development skill sets".

For more information on IT jobs, CIW courses and web design courses visit http://www.computeach.co.uk

Careers in IT

2010-06-01T10:05:00.000+01:00

SEO in Web design

2010-03-22T10:24:00.000Z

Website design is an art form in itself. In order to make sure that the site you are designing achieves all that it has set out to do, the designer has to achieve a dual mindset, embracing what the client wants to project along with what it is that the consumer wants to see. To help strike this balance, we have compiled a list of the top five fundamental 'do's and don'ts' of website design because, in the complicated arena of web design, it can often be these fundamentals that get overlooked.

1) Bigger isn't better
This rule of thumb is applicable to graphics, text and audio effects. The bigger the file size, the longer it will take to download. Google research has found that consumers expect a website to download in full in around 30 seconds. After this time, browsers tended to move on or 'bounce' to another site if the website was not ready for them to use. Where graphics are concerned, if your website has graphics involving a wide range of colours, the file is best saved as JPG files. However, if there are few colours, GIF files are more appropriate. GIF palettes are also available with optimized colours, which can reduce file sizes by around 50%.

2) Don't try flash tactics
According to Google, the second most clicked button on the Internet is the 'skip intro' button. Introductions that use Flash are quickly becoming outdated, as they waste time and serve no real purpose other than to distract the visitor. By disposing of Flash introductions, you can save yourself time and your client a lot of money. It can also stop site visitors bouncing to another site, improving the effectiveness of the client's site and encouraging the visitor to investigate further.

3) Leave them wanting more
Many people make the mistake of assuming that once a website has gone live, the designer's job is over. This is simply not true. In addition to attracting new custom, a website's job is to generate repeat business. Maintaining a website is important - and this doesn't have to involve perpetual re-design. Instead, simple tactics such as updating information, disposing of out of date information and offering interactive services through the website that engage, entertain and inform the visitor can encourage consumers to return.

4) It's all in the details
Research by AOL has found that many browsers save web pages to disk or print them out for future reference. To ensure that you are always contactable and that your website can always be found again, it is worth including your company's contact details and URL address on every page. This needn't get in the way of what you want the website to say and do; it can be a discreet aid to consumers who may want your services at a later date.

5) Do it yourself
While there are many web designers in the marketplace, more people are either attending web design courses themselves or paying for their employees to undertake web design training. This allows a business to operate web design in-house and makes it easier for people to translate their visions into reality.

CIW Courses Becoming More Popular

2010-03-12T14:49:00.000Z

CIW or Certified Internet Webmaster is aimed at providing Internet professionals with the technical know-how and the skills to use the very latest web development tools. In a society that increasingly relies on the Internet for both business and pleasure, CIW certification is one of the most advanced and cutting edge qualifications - and it's one that's highly sought after in the business world.

Bringing the web up to date
The web is constantly evolving and those working behind the scenes can no longer just rely on a good knowledge of computer languages such as Java, Flash or even basic html to see them through. Now, webmasters need to know much more, not just about the technical aspects of web design and maintenance, but also how subjects such as marketing and security fit into the plan. CIW has set itself as the benchmark by which other computer certifications are measured, which makes it a must-have for anyone serious about a career in IT.

CIW has received authorization from a wide range of businesses as well as educational institutions and government organisations. It is its far reaching syllabus and comprehensive coverage of a range of topics that makes it not just another certificate, but a complete educational programme in itself. Organisations don't want IT professionals who specialize in only one area any more - they want multi-skilled technicians who are adept in a range of web development processes, including e-commerce, project management and security management as well as the nuts and bolts of administration and operation. The qualification is designed around real-time operation, making it a very job-focused course, giving students a comprehensive understanding of not only how the web actually works but also its importance and role within the global marketplace. As a result, enterprise development is a key area of the course, giving IT professionals both technical and economic understanding. This means that anyone qualified as a Certified Internet Webmaster brings added value to any position, making them highly desirable in the jobs market.

Applications and opportunities
Because CIW qualifications are so wide ranging, they have a comparatively wide selection of applications out in the 'real' world. While the course itself is one of the most comprehensive courses available, specialist applications can mean that entry level into the jobs market can be higher. For example, successful CIW students can go on to specialize in:
- Master CIW Administrator
- Master CIW Website Manager
- Master CIW Enterprise Developer

The key point is that no matter what area a student wishes to specialize in, the course gives them an important understanding of that specialist area in relation to other key fields such as marketing, business development, administration and even security. CIW qualifications are now regarded as the best and most relevant qualifications for anyone working in an IT role in business. And because the web is constantly evolving, so is the course, with the very latest information on subjects such as Web 2.0, the effects of social networking as a business tool and a range of other topics being constantly added to the curriculum.

The reason it works so well is not just that it offers a comprehensive and wide-reaching range of subjects, but it also focuses on existing transferable skills that the student may already possess. It isn't just for new IT professionals taking their first steps on the ladder - it is also applicable to IT experts who may feel that their qualifications need updating to make them more commercially attractive to prospective employers. CIW is the new gold standard in computer certifications, and is predicted to remain so for the foreseeable future.

Getting a Job With an MCSA Certification

2010-03-09T14:17:00.000Z

The MCSA is the fastest-growing Microsoft certification; within the first five months of its launch over 22,000 people had earned the certification as this program has become the required skill for professionals who are seeking a job for their career in the information technology industry. Microsoft is a global leader in computer networking, so you can set your sights on a high flying career with long term prospects and the potential to travel nationally and internationally.

In the IT industry, you will often hear qualifications referred to as 'Certifications':

o 75% of managers believe that the certifications are important to team performance
o The added market value that a certification brings can be as high as 30 - 40%
o The Average salary uplift reported all certifications in the study were in the 5-11% range.

Job roles with MCSA

Today's networking challenges could be within an organisation's internal network, a network connecting regional offices or a wide area network supporting international operations. The networking role is diverse and highly rewarding.

Job roles for people chasing this certification usually include: systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, network operations analyst, network technician, or technical support specialist.

To achieve a Windows 2003 MCSA, a candidate must pass four exams. There are 3 core exams and one elective exam.

Take your time to understand your learning's around salary potential, career prospects, plus your ambition. It's vital to know what this industry expects from you, what kind of qualifications will be required and how to broaden your experience. Have a conversation with an experienced advisor that has a background in the industry you are considering, and provide detailed descriptions of what you want to do in that role. Getting to the bottom of this all well before beginning a training course will save you both time and money.

Exchange 2000/2003 Database Files 101

2010-01-25T16:39:00.000Z

Exchange data is stored in a database system known as Extensible Storage Engine (ESE) which is a variant of Microsoft Joint Engine Technology (JET). Some of you may be asking why Microsoft doesn’t use SQL Server as the database engine for Exchange. Microsoft have looked into this and ............

............ have even tested an Exchange Server with mailboxes on a SQL database, but for now they’re sticking with good old tried, trusted and reliable ESE. For more information on ESE see the following link: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about ESE

Several files are used in an Exchange ESE database; we have EDB files, STM files, Transaction Log files and Checkpoint files.

EDB and STM Files
Exchange stores data in two files: an EDB file and an STM file. These files work together with uncommitted entries in transaction log files to form a current Exchange database. There are two types of databases available in Exchange which are: Private store databases which contain mailbox data and Public store databases which contains public folder data.

EDB files store content submitted by MAPI clients (Outlook) and data is stored in a proprietary format called Microsoft Database Encapsulated Format (MDBEF). These database files are organised into a B-Tree database structure using a 4KB page size. For more information on ESE’s B-tree database structure see the following link: ESE's B-tree Database Structure

Exchange 5.5 and earlier versions of Exchange converted all messages from non-MAPI clients to the native MAPI format for use by the Information Store and MAPI clients. If a non-MAPI client requested data, it was converted back to the client’s native format before being sent out. This back and forth conversion consumed processor bandwidth and slowed server performance.

The STM file was developed to alleviate this problem. When messages arrive from non-MAPI clients they are streamed directly to the STM file and data is added to it sequentially in its native format. The STM file does not store data in a B-Tree structure and is accessed via the Exchange Installable File System (ExIFS). For more information on the EXIFS see the following link: Exploring Exchange 2000's ExIFS

When a non-MAPI client requests a message stored in an EDB file the message is converted to the appropriate format for the requesting client. When a non-MAPI client accesses messages stored in an STM file there is no need for any conversion as the mail items are already in the proper state for delivery to the client.

When a MAPI client requests a message stored in an STM file, the Information Store converts the message to the native MAPI format and places it in the EDB file, after which the message remains in the EDB file and is never moved back to the STM file.

Storage Groups
Storage groups contain the Exchange databases or stores as they’re known. The standard edition of Exchange supports only one storage group but the enterprise edition supports up to four storage groups. Each storage group can contain up to five stores. A default installation of Exchange Server will create a storage group that contains a mailbox store, consisting of two files: priv1.edb and priv1.stm, and a public folder store consisting of pub1.edb and pub1.stm. All stores in a storage group share the same set of transaction log files.

Transaction Log Files
Exchange updates its databases through transactions. A transaction is a set of operations that must all be completed together. When an action is performed by an end user in Outlook, a remote procedure call (RPC) is made to Exchange, which then builds the transaction and passes it on to ESE for processing. ESE stores these transactions in volatile memory and then moves this data to the information store databases on the disk. As transactions are recorded in memory they are considered committed to the database even though nothing has yet been written to the database files on the disk.

But surely I would lose the ‘committed’ transactions stored in volatile memory should I experience a system failure I hear you cry. You would be correct if it wasn’t for Transaction Log Files.

Transaction Log Files are optimized for high-speed writes and record transactions as they are written to memory. They are used in the event of a system failure to recover data up to the last committed transaction before the crash. In normal operation the database engine never actually reads the log files. It reads from the log files only if the information store service stops abnormally or crashes and the database engine needs to recover by replaying transactions in the log files. Microsoft recommends storing the transaction log files on a separate volume from the Exchange database files for fault tolerance. Therefore if there is a problem with the disk containing your database files the transaction log files (which are required for a complete database recovery) are unaffected.

Exchange Server transaction logs are always 5MB. The current transaction log file is named edbxx.log (the xx represents the Storage Group identifier) and when this becomes full Exchange Server renames the log to edbxxxxx.log (the xxxxx portion of the name is a hexadecimal number starting with 00001) and creates a new edb.log file to accept transactions.

If the Exchange Server attempts to create a new log file and there is less than 10MB of available disk space it records the outstanding transactions to two reserve log files named res1.log and res2.log to enable it to continue logging long enough to stop the database cleanly.

Checkpoint File
A Checkpoint File is used to keep track of data that has not yet been written to a database file on the disk. The checkpoint file is used in soft recovery scenarios where there is a system failure that does not corrupt the database or the transaction log files. Each storage group maintains a checkpoint file named exx.chk (the xx represents the Storage Group identifier) which records which transactions have been committed to the databases for that storage group. When the database is mounted again, Exchange reads the checkpoint file and begins to replay uncommitted transactions into the exchange databases. If there is no checkpoint file, Exchange replay begins with the oldest log file in the transition log folder for the storage group.

Circular Logging
If you have circular logging turned on (it is disabled by default) Exchange reuses a subset (typically five) of transaction logs instead of creating new ones. When circular logging is enabled you can only perform a full backup. The disadvantage of enabling circular logging is seen in disaster recovery scenarios. For example let’s say you perform one full backup at the end of every day and during the day the disk containing your database files experiences a complete failure but the disk containing your transaction log files is intact. You will have to restore the databases from last night’s backup and you’re going to lose a lot of data as Exchange will only replay the transactions from the circular log files that hadn’t yet been committed to the database which will not contain all of the transactions since the last backup.

A full backup of Exchange backs up the database and transaction log files. A differential or incremental backup only backs up only transaction log files. Log files are purged from the disk after a full or incremental backup.

That's all for now on the topic of Exchange databases.
Marek

Do "real" techies use help?

2010-01-22T10:43:00.001Z

At home I have books everywhere. Shelves full of manuals for the various products I have used over the years. This Christmas I bought my wife a new camera. There was a very small leaflet to get you started but no longer a big fat book. The manual came on a CD. This is great for the trees and much cheaper for the companies that need to send out the manuals. Even better, often you don't even get the CD - you can just download the manual from the Internet!

Having got the manual from wherever it might be, one of the questions I ask people, especially techies, is ‘Do you use help’? Although you'd think the standard response would be a sharp "No", strangely a small number say that they do. And good on them, because within the windows operating systems there are a lot of hidden gems tucked away in help and support. The belligerent and misguided refusal to rely on the help crutch means that you might miss them.......

........ You can find the Windows XP Help by clicking Start and choosing the ‘Help and Support’ option.

On the right under ‘Pick a task’ choose the Tools link and you'll find some really useful snippets here - I've selected a few below but have a look for yourself.

For those of you studying, in your manuals they will mention the command tools and provide partial help. This is where to come for more information and it very often provides examples.

Take a look at the Ping command. I have used the ping command as an example as it is non-destructive. Do make sure you know what a command will do to your system before running it - you don't want to do yourself some damage!

The help provides an overview of what the command is for.

Ping - Verifies IP-level connectivity to another TCP/IP computer by sending Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) Echo Request messages. The receipt of corresponding Echo Reply messages are displayed, along with round-trip times. Ping is the primary TCP/IP command used to troubleshoot connectivity, reachability, and name resolution. Used without parameters, ping displays help.

You can often also find complete syntax but do watch out for the odd typo. I always use the reference to make sure.

Syntax - ping [-t] [-a] [-n Count] [-l Size] [-f] [-i TTL] [-v TOS] [-r Count] [-s Count] [{-j HostList
-k HostList}] [-w Timeout] [TargetName]

You then get an explanation of the parameters and what they are used for. I haven't listed all the parameters here - you can find them by opening your own help and support - but here are a few.

Parameters -

-a - Specifies that reverse name resolution is performed on the destination IP address. If this is successful, ping displays the corresponding host name.

-t - Specifies that ping should continue sending Echo Request messages to the destination until interrupted. To interrupt and display statistics, press CTRL-BREAK. To interrupt and quit ping, press CTRL-C.

-n Count - Specifies the number of Echo Request messages sent. The default is 4.

-r Count - Specifies that the Record Route option in the IP header is used to record the path taken by the Echo Request message and corresponding Echo Reply message. Each hop in the path uses an entry in the Record Route option. If possible, specify a Count that is equal to or greater than the number of hops between the source and destination. The Count must be a minimum of 1 and a maximum of 9.

The reference also has remarks giving further support details, mentioning earlier versions and some usage info - here are a couple of examples:

• You can use ping to test both the computer name and the IP address of the computer. If pinging the IP address is successful, but pinging the computer name is not, you might have a name resolution problem. In this case, ensure that the computer name you are specifying can be resolved through the local Hosts file, by using Domain Name System (DNS) queries, or through NetBIOS name resolution techniques.

• This command is available only if the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) protocol is installed as a component in the properties of a network adapter in Network Connections.

You get examples of the use of the command and that can help you to understand the context - I've listed a couple here:
The following example shows ping command output:

C:\>ping example.microsoft.com
Pinging example.microsoft.com [192.168.239.132] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.239.132: bytes=32 time=101ms TTL=124
Reply from 192.168.239.132: bytes=32 time=100ms TTL=124
Reply from 192.168.239.132: bytes=32 time=120ms TTL=124
Reply from 192.168.239.132: bytes=32 time=120ms TTL=124

To ping the destination 10.0.99.221 and resolve 10.0.99.221 to its host name, type:
ping -a 10.0.99.221

To ping the destination 10.0.99.221 with 10 Echo Request messages, each of which has a Data field of 1000 bytes, type:
ping -n 10 -l 1000 10.0.99.221

Trying to learn all the commands is a tall order but having a vague recollection that there is a command that might help and knowing how to quickly get to the help and support to find out how to use it, what it does exactly and what parameters you can use provides you with a fantstic support resource.

It might not be macho to admit to using help but don't write it off until you've tried it!

All the best - Mel.

Learning to Learn

2010-01-11T14:58:00.007Z

So..... it's still snowy and my eldest daughter's school is still closed. She's at home and really would like to spend all day watching Buffy The Vampire Slayer but I (and the school) don't think this is a suitable addition to the National Curriculum!

I'm really impressed with the use of technology at her school. They have constantly updated their web site to let us know what's happening snow wise and, to make sure that the children keep up with their work, each year has a section on the site with their own special homework assignments.

What has been really interesting today though is watching how my daughter approaches this work......

..... She perused the list and immediately ticked off the items that she'd already done or those she shouldn't be doing ("we're not reading that book and I'm not doing textiles" apparently!) and then she picked out the ones that she thought would be fun, polishing those off in no time at all. Then she starts on the more laborious tasks. Understandably by the time she's been at it on her own in her room for a couple of hours she's getting stir crazy and is trying to sneak Buffy back on to her laptop (apparently having it playing helps her with her maths!).

Obviously, I took it away so that Buffy was not an option. Another hour or so later I pop back to check progress and find a sullen, unmotivated youngster. She's trying to concentrate on the mathematical problem but really all she can think about is the outrage of TV deprivation. So we get in to a discussion about responsibility for learning. 10 minutes in and we're both entrenched in our own views and no maths is being done. She is completely overwhelmed by the number of assignments she needs to complete by tomorrow and she's lost all motivation to study.

So.... what to do?

We start by making a proper list with a column for her to tick those items that she's completed and write in where she's done as much as possible and what she needs to do when she's back at school. As she ticks the ones that she's done already I can see her face brightening. It appears she's only now got 4 left to do but it didn't seem that way until she really organised the task.

Next, we talk about which of these are likely to be the hardest and which ones can be picked off relatively easily and we separate them into two sections with a hard and an easy one in each (nothing she's doing is dependent on another thing so it does make it easier for her to pick and choose at will). Then I whip out "the Buffy card" and explain that if she completes (to my satisfaction) one of the sets of two items then she'll be able to watch one episode of Buffy before she has to get straight back to doing the other two.

In an instant she's like a new girl. She does make sure that she's tied down the details of the negotiation (like mother like daughter!) but then she ushers me out of the room and sets to on the maths problem. I'm called for input about 20 minutes later, just to check that she's on the right lines, and then dismissed until I'm needed as an audience for her Drama project (stereotypes). I check her maths and then watch her play an old man, a clown and a mad scientist (very well I might add, although I may be a touch biased). We're done with the two items completed and ticked off the list in less than an hour and now she's upstairs getting her treat and fully understanding of the fact that once this episode is over she's got English and Design and Tech to do.

This made me think about motivation and how to push on through the important but sometimes boring things that we have to do. In the courses that we run at Computeach sometimes there are really difficult concepts that have to be understood before moving on to the next item and they can be such a hard slog, especially when you're doing them on your own using distance learning. But it's no different than my daughter and her over-facing school work. There are some very simple but very effective techniques to help you get through them:

Make sure you break down the task into manageable chunks - we help to do this by providing a structured study plan but within that you can also work out how much or how little you can achieve in each sitting.
Make sure you can easily review your progress so that when you have lots left to do you can still take 2 seconds to look at how much you've already done. It's amazing how much of a boost this can give you. Use "My Report" in SkillPort to review your progress or make a simple checklist and refer to it often.
Set yourself milestones along the way to the main goals. Whilst your overall goal may be passing a certification exam, with upward of 250 hours of study to do, this is a long way off. Use your study plan and the topics of eLearning or the chapters of the books to give yourself natural milestones.
When you've identified your milestones, work out what your reward will be for reaching one of them. I'm not talking about something fancy or expensive. It can be as simple as "I can have a cup of tea (or an episode of Buffy) when I finish this chapter". Having something to aim for and something that provides a break, no matter how short, can really help to keep you focused.
Don't overstretch. You do have to do all the study if you want to progress but it's better to do that in a manageable way than to over face yourself and find you can't juggle everything. Everyone's situation is different but you need to factor in work, spouse, children, football, telly, whatever your things are. They haven't disappeared because you started a course and you need to keep a balance. So set space in your timetable for the other things that you need to do alongside your learning.

Employing these simple but effective points can help you keep on track with your studies.

Of course there is a huge wealth of research and theory about motivation and learning and anyone who's really into that level of detail may laugh at the simplicity of the messages above but they work for me and they seem to be working for my daughter, who just came downstairs, post Buffy, eager to make a model of the seating area she's designed.

Now where are the cocktail sticks, string and sticky back plastic - Valerie Singleton (who?)has got nothing on me!

Happy studying
Lucy

So who did invent the Wibbly Wobbly World?

2010-01-07T13:36:00.005Z

Before joining Computeach I used to work with a very clever chap called Lawrence O'Connor who always called the World Wide Web the Wibbly Wobbly World. Now that's got no bearing on anything really but everytime I write WWW it makes me think of him.

I'm an avid Radio 4 listener and over the last few days I've heard the trails for some of the "Moments of Genius" that they've been featuring.

Today, as I went in to the kitchen to make a cup of tea because my internet connection had just gone down (probably something to do with the"wrong" type of snow) I just happened to hear Martha Lane Fox giving us her chosen Moment of Genius (if you don't know who Martha Lane Fox is and you want to then you can click here).

She was thanking Tim Berners-Lee for inventing the Internet. You can hear the broadcast at the BBC website...........

..........As I was stirring in the sugar (I know I shouldn't but tea is so dull without it) I was very aware that in the brief minutes that my connection had been down so far, I'd already run through a long list of the things that I wasn't going to be able to do now that I was "cut off from the world"! How was I going to finish the work I'm in the middle of, how would I know if my kids schools were going to be closed tomorrow, how could I order those flowers for the birthday of my friend in the US and the list goes on....

I've experienced this "loss of limb" feeling before - usually when moving house and BT don't quite get the dates right -and it's horrible. So I'd like to add my thanks to Tim Berners-Lee for this now vital contribution to my everyday life. Now, if he could just stop the Phishing and the Viagra ads I'd really think he was a God!

If you're more of a geek and you want to read a version of Tim Berners-Lee's original proposal for the WWW then you can see it here.

Lucy

IT Staff most sought-after in December

2010-01-06T10:19:00.001Z

So it seems that IT may be riding out the recession and still remains one of the areas where employers are seeking new talent.

In this article from computing.co.uk Nicola Britton references research sponsored by the major consulting firm KPMG that shows that in December IT was ranked second and third most sought after for permanent and temporary staff respectively.

Good news for all of you studying towards your IT qualifications with a view to getting in to the world of IT.

Happy studying
Lucy

It's nice to hear from our students.....

2010-01-05T16:03:00.000Z

See this article for a review of the Computeach experience by one of our former students.

Thanks Mike.

Lucy

For the SQL geeks out there - Security – Password Policy support

2009-12-31T14:09:00.001Z

If you want more info about Password Security within SQL and it's ability to use the Windows password policy mechanisms, there's an interesting article from the Microsoft MSDN site here

Melville

More SQL info - Microsoft SQL Server Documentation

2009-12-30T18:25:00.003Z

One area of Microsoft SQL I am impressed with is the documentation, or books online (BOL). This set of documentation helps you understand SQL Server, and how to implement data management and business intelligence projects.

The current version is November 2008 you can download it here.

To learn more about Microsoft SQL Server Technologies, there are white papers and technical documentation available from the link above.

For new users there is also a wealth of information to help with particular features. I posted previously about the SQL Server tutorials to learn more about the common tools used to manage SQL Server.

There are also lots of ‘How Do I’ articles. These are useful to find out about new features or areas you are less familiar with and you can find them here.

This information answers a lot of the questions I get asked by Students. They cover a lot of basic database tasks.

Happy studying

Melville

SQL Server Management Studio Tutorial

2009-12-29T12:45:00.002Z

Some useful additional materials that our SQL Tutor, Mel thought you might be interested in:

SQL Server is a client / server Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) which has been developed by Microsoft and is made up several different client and server programs that make up the entire product. It can be a challenging prospect for new users to find their way around. Microsoft have provided excellent documentation to get you started. I would like to highlight some of that information. For ‘SQL Server Management Studio’, there are some tutorials available . I would recommend these to help get you started with the tools.

Lesson 1: Basic Navigation in SQL Server Management Studio

Lesson 3: Using Help

There are also tutorials that provide a step by step walkthrough of some of the SQL Server Tools. Take a look at this Tutorial Link for access to all of them.

Melville Thomson