Networks I - Term 2

It seems I underestimated my networking course which will give me my Network+ certification by about 30 days. I was going to get a head start reading the texts and test a few days after term 2 started on December 1st. However, my test for Network+ is scheduled for early January and I am just now done with the primary text and refreshing with videos which will be followed by test and lab simulations.

There are some tough areas in networking although I have touched up on some of these areas already for CIW Associates and A+. The key is to read slower with comprehension; if you get to the chapter summary questions and can't answer them, go back and read that section again. Also, make sure you keep to a set schedule so there are no gaps in your reading for even one day.

For those who might be wondering what the quality of the texts are these are indeed high quality college texts with labs where professors have you walk through what you've learned. The only difference is you are responsible for performing the lab activities instead of sitting in a classroom and following the instructors instructions.

The next concern you might have is that in a brick and mortar universities computer room, they have all the operating systems and software programs you need. Surely we can't be expected to go buy a copy of Server 2008 to do some lab exercises, right? Well, you don't have to. IT students at WGU get access to dozens of operating systems and applications to perform any tasks they need to.

I have 60 days to complete both Network+ and Security+ (each) which technically leaves me with two extra months in this second term although if I pass Network+ on my scheduled date and complete Security+ in the same amount of time, I'll be ahead by four months.

I understand that the day might come where I fail one of my certification exams first attempts and will need some extra time to study and re-test. As you become a student you will have access to your course of study for any course, even ones you haven't enrolled in yet. This is so valuable because it allows you to get a preview of what that course entails so you can accurately gauge how much time you'll need to complete it.

Remember that once you and your mentor approve courses during your term setup (called AAV) you will need to complete all those courses by terms end (or a certain percentage) in order to remain in good standing with the university.

Networks I and Security I are both worth 6 credits which gives me the 12 I need to be a fulltime student, and I am absolutely confident I will pass them both long before the six month term end. But I am still only enrolled in the two for right now so I am not "under pressure" to complete more in the event one of these two courses becomes a snag (I've heard Security+ exam is difficult).

Once I pass these two courses and if I have, say, three months left in the term, I can then call up my mentor and add another couple courses. I can look at the course of study's for any course I want to add to determine if I have enough time to complete it, or add another course that seems easier.

All thing's I've picked up along the way.

Update:

I passed the Network+ exam today using the same primary texts and video instruction I used for A+.

Term 2

Started my second term on the 1st of this month and am working on my Network+ and Security+ certifications. Now that I know my way around the university and don't have any introductory courses such as EWB, I think this will be a great term.

Networking gets tough in places but this is why I like Western Governors multiple learning resources. What seems overwhelming in the texts gets cleared up in labs and videos. Mike Meyers is doing the videos for Network+ and he is one of my favorites for clearing up confusing sections.

This past week I have been in Florida enjoying air boating, the Kennedy Space Center, Gatorland, and Disneyworld among other places. I have read my textbooks on the plane, in the airport, and at my hotel desk after a day of fun. Not too much of course, but just enough so I can continue working.

But I actually enjoy learning these subjects, and I know that every chapter I read brings me one step closer to a better career.

Ahead Of The Game

I finished my Language And Communications course with just over a month left in this term and had a choice:

Take a month break or keep working.

So I had my mentor add one more course in the Language And Communications domain for two more credits this term. I passed a week ago. For those who are wondering how Taskstream works - my assignments were graded within 3 days, no revisions were necessary, and everything went smoothly. Scored a 4.0 which is "highly competent.

The following day I ordered the learning resources for two of the IT courses I am taking this next term...

Even though I won't be officially adding the new courses until next term, I am already reading the textbooks for one of them and will be ready to take the objective assessment within days of my next terms start date.

Tis so much better to be ahead than behind.

First Term Comes To A Close

I have one course left in my first term at Western Governors University, a Language and Communications course. Like the other courses I have taken this term, the learning resources are top notch and even the lower division courses have videos, pre-assessments, and faculty support. With a click of the mouse I can chat with one of the instructors, or call/e-mail my mentor if I need anything.

Update 1:

This Language and Communications course is my first lower division course at WGU and is slightly different than the IT courses I have taken this first term. There are three e-texts to read, labs, and videos so at first it might seem a tad overwhelming knowing where to start, what to read, and how to gain competency...IF you are in too much of a hurry.

This is why reading the COS or course of study (the syllabus) is so important before beginning any course. The COS will literally tell you line-by-line how to get started, what learning resources you need, what chapters and pages to read and in what order, which labs to do, etc.

Following the course of study I am having absolutely no trouble at all navigating these resources and am learning a great deal. The course mentors are also really helpful and frequently post messages and tutorials on how to excel in these courses.

One of the e-texts features I was impressed with were the imbedded videos. As I was reading a certain section that I didn't fully understand, I noticed a video link that illustrated the concepts for me.

During my first term I have amassed a short stack of "real" books that were 100% included with my tuition, several hours of video training, hundreds of practice test questions regarding my CIW and CompTIA A+ certs, a community message board with nearly endless information, and I just found out I have access to tons of free software and operating systems through the university. This machine is currently running a copy of Windows 7 Professional, and I have XP Professional 64 ready to install on my other desktop along with a fresh copy of Vista to be installed on one of my notebooks. Cost? Absolutely nothing.

There have been no hidden charges whatsoever at WGU. My costs have been a flat rate tuition and a $45 library fee. The books cost nothing. The software cost nothing. The numerous e-mails and phone calls with my mentor have cost nothing, nor have the chat sessions or e-mails I've sent to course instructors.

On to my second term...

Update 2:

I completed my last course for this term and still have a little time left before the next term starts, so I decided to knock out a couple more credits to accelerate my progress.

Something else we can do here at Western Governors is request the learning resources for upcoming courses at any time. My next term doesn't start until December but I have already ordered my (included) textbooks for my Networks I and Security I courses. So not only am I finishing a couple more credits, I can also get a head start on two of next terms courses.

CompTIA A+

I just tested for my A+ certification and passed on my first attempt. I had bought a single A+ guide prior to enrolling at WGU and while I liked it, the primary learning resources available through WGU much better prepared me for the questions I encountered in the exams today.

The key to WGU is multiple learning resources. Mike Meyer's videos were excellent for "most" of the information but CompTIA often words questions in deliberately confusing ways. The primary texts were technically descriptive and helped fill in any blanks Mike's materials left out. I used practice tests from one resource that was more straightforward, and another that more closely matched the difficult wording/structure of CompTIA's.

The result is I passed.

IT Fundamentals II & III

After passing IT Fundamentals I and receiving my CIW Associates certification it is now time to begin working on IT Fundamentals II and III which will award me my CompTIA A+ IT Technician certification, likely the most common certification to get that coveted first computer related job.

Just as I did with IT Fundamentals I the process is to first read the course of study which will tell me which learning resources are available and a detailed week by week guide to gaining competency. The timeline is very generous and most computer savvy people should have no trouble passing early. I don't know, you'll find out since this is a real time account of my experience.

Then like I did with IT Fundamentals I, I'll take the pre-assessment to see how much I already know and where I should focus my attention. Remember, WGU is competency based so if you already know enough to prove competency (i.e. you are already a tech or have industry experience) they won't waste your money making you take courses you already have the knowledge to pass.

But for now I am going to go into the WGU communities and see what tips and techniques my fellow students have for me.

Update:

Just took a first look at the learning resources and am extremely pleased. The primary text based learning resource is a set of two texts and another is a good sized workbook with fill in the blank questions, short answers, etc. While there are multiple choice sections of the workbook as well, having to "know" the material by providing answers that aren't in front of you will help you pass the certification exams which contain questions worded in ways you're not familiar with, etc.

There are also 36 hours of interactive training videos covering all the material that I recognize from Mike Meyer's Sixth Edition A+ guide which is regarded as one of the best on the subject. I bought Meyer's book a few months before enrolling at WGU and remember the agony of lugging that 1100 page hard cover monster around. Sure, there is a pdf version (a nice touch) but staring at an online book for hours on end can strain the eyes.

Note: Meyer's monstrous book is listed as an optional resource that you can purchase, but from experience I can say the learning resources included from WGU are more than enough.

I had just gotten started into the videos when I had the strong desire to blog about my satisfaction with the materials. There were certain things in Meyer's book I had trouble retaining (due to its print format) that I am certain will become clear as I watch and learn.

Update 2:

I am currently set up to take my exams for the entry level A+ certification after which I will take one more course to complete this term.

For those of you who have enrolled at WGU I wanted to share a few pointers that will help you accelerate your progress:

- Enroll in the learning resources at least a week before you start a course as texts arrive by mail. This also includes signing up for any exam databases you'll need.

Let's say you are set to begin IT Fundamentals I on the 1st of the month and have a required completion date of the 30th. So on the 1st you sign up for all the learning resources and find out the primary texts will arrive by mail and in one week they get to your house. You just lost an entire week of study time. Then a few days before your exam you're ready to begin taking practice tests but, whoops, you forgot to sign up for those. So you submit your request which can take between 2-7 business days. You're pacing the floor knowing you have an exam coming up with fewer practice exams at your fingertips. Sure, you can re-schedule the exam, but then you've lost another week.

So to make life easier and accelerate your progress, read the course of study and make sure you have everything you need BEFORE you start a course. You don't want to be waiting around for learning resources or exam databases which is the equivalent of forgetting to go to the student bookstore to get your textbooks.

Taking IT Fundamentals I

EWB was relatively simple, and much of it I did on a vacation to Disneyland via hotel rooms and airports. Could I have done this at a brick and mortar school? No.

So upon arriving home I spoke with my mentor to setup the initial courses for my degree program. I was initially setup with some lower division courses to start off with before getting into the Information Technology courses but after informing my mentor I had been studying for my A+ certification using Mike Meyers 1100 page book, he switched my courses around that within the next few months I would have my CIW Associates and A+ IT Technician certs.

When you start a course at WGU the first thing you do is refer to the Course Of Study which is the course syllabus. The texts, videos, practice tests, and other materials are called Learning Resources. The Course Of Study will tell you exactly which learning resources you need to sign up for as well as give a detailed outline for your progress.

The primary learning resource for my first course (IT Fundamentals I) is four textbooks with an included disk with labs and other tools. You will perform a variety of tasks such as web design, working with servers, databases, and some introductory programming (PHP, Javascript, Perl, etc.) They were also mailed to me without any extra cost, something I never experienced at community college.

Another resource is an extremely detailed video training course that covers the textbook material. I prefer to read the material first, and use the video training to clarify what I have read.

You will also be given access to practice tests that can be taken in a variety of different modes and will show you the specific areas that you are weak and/or strong. For instance, having done html in the past I scored well for that portion of the test, but was weaker with databases and programming. So instead of reading the whole book(s) again I could just view my test scores and review the specific sections I was lacking in.

It is really nice to have different learning resources with different formats. If I don't want to sit at my desk in front of the computer I can grab a textbook and read lying down on the couch. If textbook study gets boring and/or confusing I can tilt my chair back, put my feet up, and watch detailed and professional videos.

Education Without Boundaries

The first thing that you have to do before beginning Education Without Boundaries (EWB) is take another skills assessment. This one is much more difficult than the readiness assessment because there is very little multiple choice. You have to actually solve the math equations this time. The english is also considerably more advanced this time.

Those of you who are only a year or two out of high school or spent some time in college might breeze through this, but if you're like me and haven't been in school for over 10 years, it's difficult.

Now that that's out of the way, it's time to move on to the Education Without Boundaries course itself.

Most people go into EWB thinking they are going to fly right through this "intro" course within a couple hours. (Insert laughter here) And indeed, Education Without Boundaries starts out relatively simple since most of the beginning sections were already explained in the pamphlets you receive when requesting information.

But it does get more difficult. Not necessarily academically difficult, but you WILL need to pay attention, re-read sections frequently, perform tasks, and take simple tests. And there is more to EWB than just passing it; since this intro course explains how everything works within WGU, you will need to revisit it often when you begin your studies.

I won't give anything away, but let's just say WGU provides awesome tools and resources for students. While a brick and mortar school is well, a school, WGU will have you browsing around for hours with occasional exclamations such as "ah, cool!". (Well, at least I did.)

For those of you who might prefer the "social" aspect of a traditional school I will say you will do plenty of communicating at WGU. You don't just sit at your desk alone never talking with anyone. In fact, working with others at WGU is much more comfortable than what I experienced at a regular school. You'll like it.

Another thing you'll learn in EWB is that WGU doesn't tolerate slacking off. You'll need to work if you want to stay in, but I'll leave the details to EWB.

Once Education Without Boundaries is complete you will officially begin your degree program. Mine comes with a bachelors and the following certifications:

• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
• CIW Professional
• CIW Associates
• CIW Database Design Specialist
• CompTIA A+ IT Technician
• CompTIA Project+
• CompTIA Network+ (2009 Objectives)
• CompTIA Security+ (2008 Objectives)
• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) – Windows Vista, Configuration 70-620

Stay tuned...

Why WGU?

After being dissatisfied with my labor intensive, low wage job, I decided to pursue some sort of higher education. My initial plan was to take courses at the local community college to gain a host of IT certifications which coupled with my self taught skills, might get me a decent career in IT. My cousin landed a high paying job doing just that (actually he had no certifications, he's just a computer genuis).

But there are many other self taught computer guys and gals who are thinking the exact same thing, and many of them are going to be even better than I am. I found that the entry level CompTIA certs required a simple book and a little money for testing vouchers, but when I factored in the cost of getting higher level certs (which would require classroom instruction), I was looking at several thousand dollars. So I thought, "why not just get a degree"?

Let's face it. IT careers these days require a bachelors to get your foot in the door. The few that don't will have every aforementioned "self taught computer genuis" competing with me. So I went to the local community college and set up my path to an associates, and later, a bachelors.

The problem? I am not a 20 year old living with their parents and working a few hours a week, I am a 30 year old adult with a full time job and bills to pay. College classes were never held at a convenient time for my schedule, and the commute alone would've cut into much of the "free time" I had after work.

So I began to look into online education, or "distance education" as it is often called, and was both excited and skeptical. I could get a bachelors degree at my own pace, and without setting foot on a campus, but would employers value a degree from such a school?

And which online university should I choose?

For legal reasons I won't name any other schools but let's just say I clicked a few ads and searched Yahoo answers for some opinions. What I found were these online universities were not regionally accredited, were expensive, and were generally mocked by the college educated community at large.

Then a friend I hadn't seen in awhile introduced me to Western Governors University, or WGU. He told me WGU is regionally accredited, affordable, and that I should check it out. I wasn't expecting much, and felt bad for my friend who I believed was in for a rude awakening upon graduation.

But upon inspection, I found that WGU was indeed regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, who is recognized by CHEA. Other schools sharing this accreditation? Oregon State, Portland State, MHCC (the local community college), PCC (the other local community college), Lewis & Clark, Washington State, University Of Oregon, Brigham Young, and several others.

I also found that when reviewing WGU's IT bachelor degrees, they included 9 certifications including CompTIA's A+, Network+, and Security+ which according to employment listings in my area, is more than enough to become a technician until I finish my degree.

Cost? Pay a flat rate of $2,890 per six month term which makes it highly affordable. So not only can you "attend class" whenever is convenient for you, but you can put more time in at your leisure and complete sooner. Brick and mortar schools don't have classes at 3am. WGU does.

But even though WGU was looking very good, it didn't stop me from checking out a wide variety of opinions. The funny thing? Most negative opinions of WGU come from people who have never enrolled...

So after much consideration I decided to enroll at WGU.

The first thing you do once you've decided to enroll at WGU is request more information; a counselor will call you and answer any questions you might have. You will also be mailed detailed materials about the university that you can look over.

Then you will begin the admissions process which is rather straightforward. First you fill out the online application and pay the application fee (which is waived if another WGU student refers you). Since my friend is a student, I didn't pay the application fee.

Please note: Unfortunately, I am unable to refer any visitors to this blog. The reasons are as follows:

1) The friend referrel form requires personal information from both the referring student and the prospective student including full name, mailing address, and e-mail. Neither of us can/should provide these details to someone we don't know.

2) This blog is an unbiased account of my experience as a student. Since a referring student can receive a modest gift certificate for thing's such as recommended texts, referring people through this blog would be viewed as bias.

3) WGU limits the amount of students one can refer for the above reason. Enrollment in the university should be strictly to obtain a quality education that fits our busy lifestyles, not as a profit driven affiliation.

Thank you for understanding.

Then you will complete the readiness assessment (brush up on your english/math), and send in your transcripts, if any.

Next is making tuition arrangements or applying for financial aid. Not difficult at all, and there are plenty of checklists, phone numbers, and e-mails to get the support you need. After completing the financial aid process you will do an intake interview with your enrollment counselor to make sure you're ready and that everything is in order.

School begins on the 1st of the month after you complete all the necessary steps.

Your first class?

Education Without Boundaries, WGU's introduction course.