Back to Basics

[geebee76]

Hi Guys,
I am currently studying for a City and Guilds qualification in PC Repair and Maintenance by distance learning and will also be studying for a Higher National Certificate in Computing at college in the new term.

I have recently been deciding the direction that I would like to take with regards to my education and future career. I will get to the point soon
Anyway, I've decided that although my current education will stand me in good stead, the industry requirements pointed towards Microsoft Certification. With that in mind I decided to start looking at the A+ exam as a starting point. (nearly there)
I began looking at braindumps and taking practise exams. Although these exams gave poor results initially (60%), within a few days I was attaining 80% to 90% on every exam and began to think that I could just about pass the real thing. Big mistake!
My point is! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif I was gaining these results by memorising the answers, not because I understood the answers.
Reading the advice given by some of the members of this forum has made me realise just how little I know. I think these sites offering A+ information are invaluable if you use it correctly. If you take a few practise exams and get, as in my case 60%, then you should stop and study a bit more until you can not only give the correct answer but understand the answer,
I don't suppose everyone will agree with this, but for me it is back to basics http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by geebee76 (edited 07-12-2001).]

[sea69]

nice post, I was taking all of cramsessions tests and doing "OK" but nothing to write home about.. lol

surprisingly, I did very well on win2000/ NT, questions.. especially the networking ones.. and that's a bit odd.. as I don't / never have owned either OS>

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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homepage (http://www.seanweb1.homestead.com/3.html)


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[steveo]

gb76..

I agree with you, one never really stops learning about this field...there's always something extra to learn as every tech seems to have discovered different workarounds for simular problems. And, of course, as technology moves forward so must the people that have to deal with it. Sites like this one become a valuable tool with people sharing ideas and I know I've used solutions found here, be it at home or at work. Like yourself I took mock A+ exams before I wrote the real one and it did help but to no great means. My exam questions were all over the place and common sense seemed to be the order of the day.

[Jen]

I'm also studying on the C&G PC Repair and Maintenance course - and VERY glad to have found this forum! Between this and Whatis.com I think I might just learn something useful http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif I'm amazed at the amount of information available here... this is wonderful.

[geebee76]

Steveo, I think if you have in depth knowledge it will get you through the A+ exams no matter what questions they throw at you.
SEA mentioned doing well in Win2000/NT when he'd never had either OS but that must be because of an underlying knowledge of OS's.

I have two fairly new computers (one is the kids), both running '98, which I am going to attempt to network (with the help of this forum) and another old thing that just has a floppy drive (think it's a 486) . Haven't figured out what to do with it but I'm sure I can get some kind of practical experience out of it even if it means just taking it apart and putting it together again. Maybe i can use it for practising DOS commands.

Jen Iagree with you, I would never have managed to get started with the C&G course without this site. I spent a whole week in the hard disk section, (which reminds me I must purchase the download version to support the site.) I've just finished the Graphics Card module, which was fairly easy. Looking forward to getting the Motherboard, Processor and Memory modules, they'll be interesting http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif

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I used to have a split personality but I'm better now
(and so am I) !!

geebee76@hotmail.com

[Pianorak]

geebee <<I am currently studying for a City and Guilds qualification in PC Repair and Maintenance by distance learning ...>>

How and where can one enrol? Have done C & G in the past myself but didn't know they did Distance Learning. Any prerequisites for enrolling?

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Mother to child: No, you were not downloaded, you were born!

[geebee76]

Hi Pianorak,

There are no prerequisites for studying this course, although to be honest I could imagine it being a bit difficult for a complete beginner.

The course is run by:

The National Distance Learning College
York House
102-108 Borough Road
Middlesborough
TS1 2HJ

Tel: 01642 219990

There are 20 modules and a final exam.
It could take about 1.5 - 2 years to complete depending on the time you can allocate to it.

The cost http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

The course is around £800
But a grant and your Individual Learning Account reduces it to about £450
You can also pay it over 10 months

Hope this helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Post back if you need more info.

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You are making progress if each mistake is a new one!

Sig from Here (http://www.oneliners-and-proverbs.com/)

geebee76@hotmail.com

[Pianorak]

Hi Geebee - Once again many thanks for detailed info. Shall investigate anon, although it does sound a bit daunting especially as I am a total beginner. To be interested in a subject isn't always enough http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif A natural aptitude would not come amiss either.

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Mother to child: No, you were not downloaded, you were born!

[geebee76]

Hi Pianorak, Didn't mean to make it sound so daunting.

When I said it would be a bit difficult for a beginner, I meant someone who had just purchased a computer and had little or no knowledge of any aspects of computing. The course advertising reports that ypu don't even need a computer....hmmm!.
The fact that you take part in this forum shows you have come beyond the beginners stage.
I hadn't used a computer at all until about 2.5 years ago but like you I had an interest and that was enough to get me started. I still have a long way to go but the road ahead looks clearer by the day.

Don't forget the the help that's available within the main site and this forum.

http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

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You are making progress if each mistake is a new one!

Sig from Here (http://www.oneliners-and-proverbs.com/)

geebee76@hotmail.com

[Pianorak]

Hi geebee <<Didn't mean to make it sound so daunting.>>

I know you didn't. It's just my inferiority complex hard at work (again!) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/redface.gif http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif


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Mother to child: No, you were not downloaded, you were born!