Become a Programmer through Distance Learning
If you already know your discipline and industry, you have a head start on being a successful applying I.T. in that industry. This course is designed to "top up" the skills you already have; giving you expanded skills you can offer employers or clients; and new ways of applying the knowledge you already have in an industry you already know.
Add programming to your existing skills, to broaden business opportunities or attactiveness to employers.
- You don't need to commit to a degree to be an I.T. Professional
- Many IT professionals are in fact not qualified at all
- Success in IT comes by having up to date, useable skills; good networking (contacts with industry) and being commercially sensitive.
What is a Proficiency Award?
- a type of “specialist” certificate;
- a way of topping up an existing degree or diploma with professional training that gives your employablilty a quantum leap forward;
- designed to provide a qualification to reflect “knowledge or skills” in a specialised area
Modules
Note that each module in the Proficiency Award In Computer Programming is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
WORKSHOPS I & II - INDUSTRY PROJECTS OR WORK EXPERIENCE
This is the final requirement that you must satisfy before receiving your award.
There are two options available to you to satisfy this requirement:
Alternative 1.
If you work in programming; you may submit a reference from your employer (or a reputable colleague oir client), in an effort to satisfy this industry (ie. workplace project) requirement; on the basis of RPL (ie. recognition for prior learning), achieved through your current and past work experience.
The reference must indicate that you have skills and an awareness of your industry, which is sufficient for you to work in a position of responsibility.
Alternative 2.
If you do not work in the relevant industry, you need to undertake a project as follows.
Example Procedure for a Workplace Project
This project is a major part of the course involving the number of hours relevant to the course (see above). Although the course does not contain mandatory work requirements, work experience is seen as highly desirable.
This project is based on applications in the work place and specifically aims to provide the student with the opportunity to apply and integrate skills and knowledge developed through various areas of formal study.
Students will design this project in consultation with a tutor to involve industry based activities in the area of specialized study which they select to follow in the course. The project outcomes may take the form of a written report, folio, visuals or a mixture of forms. Participants with relevant, current or past work experience will be given exemption from this project if they can provide suitable references from employers that show they have already fulfilled the requirements of this project.
The 200 hours may be split into two projects each of 100 hours. Alternatively, the student may wish to do one large project with a duration of 200 hours.
Students will be assessed on how well they achieve the goals and outcomes they originally set as part of their negotiations with their tutor. During each 100 hours of the project, the students will present three short progress reports. These progress reports will be taken into account when evaluating the final submission. The tutor must be satisfied that the work submitted is original.
If the student wishes to do one large 200 hour report, then only three progressive reports will be needed (however the length of each report will be longer).
WHY CHOOSE US?
• Reputation and Experience: using I.T. for all courses since 1982, on the internet since 1992, teaching courses online since 1995, developing our own software with in house progammers since 1998
• Industry focus: courses designed to suit industry needs and expectations
• Different focus: develop problem solving skills that make you stand out from others
• Hands on: develop practical as well as theoretical skills
• Lots of help: dedicated and knowledgeable tutors.
• Efficient: prompt responses to your questions
• Reliable: established in 1979, independent school with a solid history
• Up to date: courses under constant review
• Resources: huge wealth of constantly developing intellectual property
• Value: courses compare very favourably on a cost per study hour basis
• Student amenities: online student room, bookshop, ebooks, acs garden online resources.
