What are the courses like - what did you learn? and did it help when you actually got the job you wanted?

Jaye

maybe a couple of books to start me off?

When I was at college the only course that dealt with programming in any depth was A-Level Computer Studies - the language they used was Turbo Pascal and it was more about teaching you the basics of programming and good techniques. It wasn't a course to get you straight in to Windows programming.

What is your knowledge of programming at the moment, are you new to it or do you have experience?

Okay I might have have got it wrong - what I am looking for is learning PHP and MySQL (and the like)

I'm basically self taught in HTML and other web design techniques like photoshop and a little bit of JavaScript, but I feel that I need to learn more and I thought the best place to start would be by going to college. doing A level might not be my thing - I'm hoping for an alternative :)

Best bet would be to go on a specific course for these. You may struggle to get one locally, you could try someone like Learningtree

Originally posted by sanman
Best bet would be to go on a specific course for these. You may struggle to get one locally, you could try someone like Learningtree

I was hoping to get something a bit closer to home, but thanks anyway :)

PHP may get touched upon on a web design course. SQL was covered in a module of my business degree.

colleges don't do much programming to my knowledge... I did some programming for my A level Computer Studies course, but that was at 6th form. As far as I'm aware A level computer studies is the only course that requires you to do some programming, its usually either VB or Pascal/Delphi.

the only way to get some programming done is to teach yourself, or do a degree.

Especially when it comes to PHP and SQL, your probably better teaching yourself... experiance is worth a lot, if you want a job in it then teach yourself, create something really good to show off your skill, or a few things to create a portfolio.

Personally I have experiance in many languages, learnt quite a few at Uni :)

Certainly when I did my MSc they tought a whole batch of langauges, some vaguely usefull (like C and SQL) others completely academic (Occam and 8086 assembler!) but none in depth enough to actually be usefull. What it does teach you though is some knowledge of the structure of programs which helps in designing logical and tight code. However I think you will struggle to find class on PHP - you might try looking on www.devshed.com for some decent online tutorials?

Thank you all :) it has been most helpful - I'll get on it straight way :D

Dont know if this is several months too late, but if you are in Sheffield then try Sheffield University which run a short course on PHP and MySql. It runs for about 12 weeks and at the end of it you should be fairly competent at a basic level. The course is for about 2 hours once a week. However dont think you can roller coast with just doing that. You will be expected to put in about 15 hours private study.

well I managed to get on a course for computers but they still don't deal with MySql and PHP so I will check out Sheffield Uni though, Thanks :D

In my experience the local Colleges don't do anything more advanced than word processing or basic IT with computers cos locally there's apparently no demand for anything more advanced :loopy:

So if you want to learn the fancy stuff like PHP and all that guff you'll have to do a Uni course.

Personally I wouldent bother - its ridiculously hard to find a programming job these days.


I'd reccomend that you use your brains for something like nursing (where at least your practically guranteed a job - the nhs pays your course fees and gives you a bursary as well)