@scottalanmiller said in How Do Such Big Gaps Get Missed in IT Education:
@scotth said in How Do Such Big Gaps Get Missed in IT Education:
@scottalanmiller said in How Do Such Big Gaps Get Missed in IT Education:
@scotth said in How Do Such Big Gaps Get Missed in IT Education:
I, by no means am an expert in IT, but I've found that after many years and many issues, that I wonder if it's possible to develop a 'feeling' for systems rather than needing to constantly needing to Google log messages. I catch myself constantly deciding that something doesn't 'feel right' even though the issue isn't glaringly obvious.
I agree there. In software circles it's called "smell". After 28 years in IT, one of the reasons that people bring me in for troubleshooting is that I can often "feel" a system and sense what is wrong long before people can dig through logs or whatever and I know when to say "I know this sounds crazy, but this almost impossible thing... I'm sure that that is what happened."
But that doesn't help for someone who, for example, has never even heard of virtualization. That's a pure gap. He can't be faulted for not "sensing the lack of it" when he was unaware someone had made it. Now how he never heard of it, that's what worries me. What sources and articles and groups and people is he dealing with that never talk about or mention it?
So "I'm not crazy -- and my mother 'didn't' have me tested :).
I can't imagine that especially trade schools or community colleges wouldn't take the approach of creating a lab and moving to hands on as most of the course. Hell, even basic electricity courses make a dummy wall and have the students wire up outlets.
Trade schools aren't considered valid for IT, though. Not at this point. That leaves some big gaps and problems as there isn't an existing, professional trade process for getting into IT.
Agreed, although it would be better than nothing. However, I do know that many community colleges do have basic computing classes. But they are only basic and don't attract talent the way that would help the IT community.
My current partner went to one of the tech schools in Pittsburgh for an 18 month certificate. He's still lacking in many areas but we are working on that. I've found that once we decide on a course of action, I go back to my office and let him work through a problem and so far, most of the solutions that he comes up with can be fixed or made to work. Not very efficient, but some day when I ride into the sunset, this is his baby.
It's the only way that I use at the moment that can fill the gap that exists in my tiny world.