[dundee] NoHelpDesk

[Kris Davidson]

Okay I'm tapping out, I admit it I'm somewhat beating a dead horse
with this topic in general but it contains a lot of my hot-button
issues. So I'm just gonna let rip; guess I really should start a blog
then I can complain and no one would care or read it for that matter.

Tim Spencer wrote:
> i mean come on i signed up to learn about deep computing not become a
> frinking web designer or a general computing student

Exactly, I signed up for the general computing course and specialised
in networking, there was no System Administrator course or a stand
alone Networking course or I would have gone there.

1st and 2nd year: Bit business and very web tech heavy; with a
complete waste of resources teaching both Java and VB from scratch
including programming concepts. covers every other specialisation
except networking.

Now while I despise Java thats a personal thing so I'm not going to
beat them on language choice, but it always annoyed me how much time
was wasted, can't Unis just make higher computing a prerequisite or
not have to appeal to lowest common denominator. Abertay has dealt
with the no Networking exposure though, by adding a module this year.

Now being in third year theres 4 main opinions on what the courses
main focus should:

1. 'Hardware' - whatever the hell that means, mostly from the College
guys. They seem to think the course should cover cables etc.
2. 'Network Programming' - These guys seem to think we should be
programming Network applications.
3. 'System and Network Administration' - Me etc, we think covering
this has scope to incorporate both 1 and 2
4. 'Idiots who shouldn't even be here' - Harsh, arrogant on my part
but someone had to say it and its true, I'm not talking about a lack
of knowledge but no desire to learn.

Anyway I think this stems from a lack of good advertising or a
malicious attempt to mislead and attract the most students.

In third year content we have a the usual web modules, a badly taught
and assessed business module. A module that teaches you how to write a
CV! and one fucking network module, taught by a prick, with dubious
content.

This one networking module teaches you, Network fundamentals, Active
Directory, Little Linux and some Perl scripting.

Now apart from the fact I would consider this a 1st module and I feel
like a bloody retard taking it in 3rd year. Anyone with even a mild
interest in Networking already knows all of this. Hell I'm sure most
of us know in High School. I could go on and on but will close third
year by saying they could have called Computing and Internet
Development.

4th year has a bit more networking I personally think its all a bit
too basic theres also a module that teach you how to write a report!

Even I can think of numerous module topics, not all of them technical
that would easily apply to networking

Arron M Finnon wrote:
> I don't feel like i'm being taught CISCO CCNA 1 and 2 in networking, oh hang on better
> scrub that

Better not forget to mention that, yeah Abertay offer Cisco modules at
£250 a module, but wait these aren't taught, no they just give you
access to substandard materials and a lab. Anyone with even basic
pirating experience (Arrrrr) can find much better materials.

Now just in general, and this is not a persecution complex. I feel
like Computing and the Networking specialisation in particular are
pushed to the sidelines by more sexier courses like Ethical Hacking
and Games Tech.

Anyway end of rant, I'll try not to say more I promise. I even tried
being a student rep this year but even then no one would listen to
Zathras.

Kris