ECDL ?

[stefanus]

What is ECDL and how does it compare to A + or other certifications. Have just completed part two of IT and have been recomended to take ECDL.

Stefanus

[deddard]

ECDL is not a technical qualification, but a recognition of the ability to use a computer generally - word processing, spreadsheets etc.
It's mainly aimed at end users of PCs, rather than the techies who go to fix things. If you wanted to teach in a college environment and were a techie, it may be a good idea to have it, as many colleges require you to have bits of paper coming out of your ears!

If you want a techie qualification, then the A+ is the way to go - do be warned though that it is a completely different kettle of fish from qualifications such as ECDL, and though it is considered the international entry level to PC tech work, it will still tax your brain if you are also studying other stuff at the same time.
THere are plenty of good books out there on the A+, and the 'exam cram' guides will give you a good overview of what is expected (don't rely on these books to give you all the info you need though!)

You say you've just done IT part 2 - is this the C&G IT qualifications?

[stefanus]

Thanx dedard. I have a techie qualification in PC destruction(he he) and a degree in Structual and Mech Engineering from UNISA (RSA):cool: and started IT for beginners to keep the grey matter operating. Retirement is definatley for the birds. The course is CLAIT and OCR. Hope that will help. Am certainly interested in A +. Maybe you can point me in the right direction ;) Again thanx


Stefanus:

[deddard]

The ECDL is pretty much the same as the CLAIT you are studying. OCR take on board several qualifications, and you will likely get an OCR certificate because of the other course (CLAIT) which I believe was started by RSA (now part of OCR)
If you prefer to do something along the techie lines, then find out if your local college does the A+, I'm not sure whether the ECDL would be of any further benefit to you than the CLAIT/OCR.
A+ certification for Dummies is a pretty simple intro to the A+, and it would be wise to study a couple of books on XP - that's the syllabus now.
Bear in mind that although the A+ syllabus is listed as being the 'XP' edition (that's the OS they consider current) you may well be asked questions on earlier systems.
The A+ is split into two parts - hardware and software. The hardware is reasonably straightforward, although remembering all the IRQs etc can be a pain.
The software section really covers M$ Windows and DOS, - I took mine last year and we were supposed to be on Windoze 2000 - I got most of my questions on NT!
Further study if you want other things than A+ could include the City & Guilds computing courses for technicians - the Network level 2 is generally easy enough to get on with if you can apply the grey matter. The Network+ is more complex (I'll probably take it soon, I'm currently on semester 2 of my CCNA - so it shouldn't be too taxing)

It depends on what you want things for really. Keeping the grey matter exercised is a brilliant thing to do by itself, and these courses will certainly do that!

[stefanus]

Thanx deddard for your very informative reply. I will certainly follow your sugestions and check my local college when term starts Thursday 22--04-04. Finding OCR and CLAIT a bit boring now, to much repetition, my own personal veiw of course.

Stefanus