"I recently spent around 10 days doing a breakdown of my study curriculum, and it made me realize
how strong O'Reilly's course selection and certificate structure are.
I lost my job unexpectedly, so I've been forced to re-focus my approach and figure out how to be
better qualified when I return to work. To do this, I made a list of everything I could learn that
would help me professionally, and then set out to find what my options are for learning it.
Overall, the O'Reilly School of Technology offerings line up extremely well with what I need.
Here are some of the things I found:
- OST seems to have the closest thing to client-side programming
certification, particularly one that validates knowledge of CSS. All of the similar programs I
found were less complete than yours and seemed contrived by comparison. From what I can tell,
you've really found a gap that needed to be filled.
- The PHP/SQL series seems remarkably well-done.
For a short time I regretted not going the "professional" route with Zend and MySQL certifications.
But after comparing them more closely, OST appears to have really hit the mark on this one.
Ultimately, what I realized is that in losing my job, the O'Reilly/University of Illinois
certificates have become even more valuable to me than when I was just trying to enhance my skills."
--Michael Jarosik
|
"I like being challenged to
solve problems on my own, so the sandbox environment is perfect for me. The
start page that shows how far along I am in a course motivates me to keep going.
I have a big sense of accomplishment when I finish a course, or a final
project. The encouragement to build real projects, be creative, and incorporate
what I've learned so far, even from previous courses, allows me to get invested
in the work, and be excited about showing it to people. Smiley faces are much
better than grades, and the instructors are really friendly. The "extra credit"
challenges are fun too, even if I am not always ready for them. And of course,
it helps to know that if I hit a dead end, I can e-mail my instructor for some
advice.
"The tools' accessibility from anywhere is very convenient. I have worked on my classes in
many locations, even while traveling. The amount that is covered in each lesson,
objective, or quiz, is also usually an appropriate amount to do at one sitting.
Overal I found the CodeRunner/Sandbox very easy to use: following along with
lessons, switching between modes, and saving, uploading and previewing files.
The environment feels very real, and the built-in URLs are handy for sharing my
projects with others."
--Nellie Bridge, Web Services Manager
|
"I'd been preparing for this moment for months, maybe even years. I had
passed the Certificate courses, studied the books and memorized interview
questions and the answers. So the CEO of the company sits across from me and
asks 'Do you know Javascript?'
"I smile and say 'Sure, do you want to see some stuff I've worked on?' He
turns his MacBook Pro towards me and I show him my OST lab account website with exercises
from my Ajax course. We talk a little bit about how difficult it is add
Autocomplete functionality to some web pages without loading massive arrays
and a few other things. He pauses for a moment and says, 'I think I want to
hire you, how much money would you like to make?' I tell him and he says
he'll send an offer letter tomorrow or the next day.
"And just like that, I became a software developer.
"Having worked in the IT industry for over 7 years, I had a gut feeling it
wasn't always about who you know so much as what you know. I knew that if I
worked hard and smart and learned the technology there would be no barriers
to my achievement and for the last 2 years I had been planning to transition
to software development.
"Now, I work for a small but growing software company using open-source
software for an enterprise level product. I make a good salary and I'm
confident that I can handle any new challenges that come my way. I can say
without a doubt the O'Reilly School of Technology courses contributed to achieving my goals and
giving me the confidence to make my goals a reality."
-- Juba Wright, Software Developer
|
"I have just completed my System Administration Certificate and I am already looking forward to taking more classes through the O'Reilly School of Technology. Before I started working in the IT department at O'Reilly Media, one of my supervisor's conditions was that I complete all four classes in Linux and Unix to better prepare myself for the daily routine of server maintenance. I had almost no knowledge of Unix before I began these classes and now that they are complete, I feel confident I have the skills needed to complete any project my supervisor gives me.
"The material for the first class was well thought out and perfect for a beginning user. The next three classes were a bit more difficult, but still possible to pass with a little extra study time using the wonderful and easy to follow O'Reilly textbooks. One neat thing I really enjoy about the classes is that it is possible to look ahead and complete assignments. In Unix, it's not unusual to get stuck on a problem and have no clue as how to fix it. When that would happen to me, I would look ahead to the next lesson and complete a different objective and then go back to the previous problem. I learned a lot of the much needed basics and was able to program in Perl by the end of the fourth class! My teacher was very patient and took the time to answer any questions, usually getting back to me within a day.
"I had a very positive experience with these classes and have now signed up for the Open Source Programming Certificate. I have been and will continue to recommend the O'Reilly School of Technology to my friends and coworkers."
-- Rachel Thurow, Sysadmin Intern for O'Reilly Media
|
"I was prompted to enter this great Sandbox learning experience by my
imminent mandatory retirement in two and a half years from a local
government position. Such a short time to prepare for a new career, I
couldn't see how I would do it.
"Although I spent the last decade developing and maintaining several
websites for Brevard County Parks and Recreation in Florida, I did so
with no formal web development training that I could list on a resume.
Desiring to hone my skills and obtain reputable certification, I
sought out the best school to accomplish my goals. Already an O'Reilly
fan through books I'd relied on, word from a friend in our IT
department that O'Reilly had an online school was all it took to get
me enrolled.
"I couldn't be more pleased with the decision. The many features that
appeal to me start with reasonable tuition, and especially the fact
that I can proceed completely at my own pace, one course at a time
sequentially instead of with the brain strain of concurrent
coursework. I really like how the courses build on one another, with
lesson format and instructions easy to understand and not embellished
with academic gibberish. They are just to the point and get you where
you want to go.
"Not only are the "blanks" being filled in on details I've never had
time to focus on while on the job, but the new necessary questions
that lead to the next level of expertise are arising in a nifty
orderly fashion (not with the perplexity that arises during random
"self instruction").
"Having suffered through undergraduate school, better instruction
during graduate school, plus continuing education courses and much
self-study, I have learned a little about how to learn effectively and
efficiently. In my estimation, the O'Reilly framework of instruction
and hands-on learning experience is perfectly apropos for the subject
matter, completely user friendly, and deserving of many smiley faces
and gold stars (that truly beats ivory tower academia). Best of all,
my upcoming new career is looking much more promising!"
-- Jan McLarty
|
"I had been laid-off due to the sale of the company and subsequent reorganization. Up until then most, if not all, of my work was in the windows environment. I had an interest in Linux and open source, but never had enough time to develop that skill area. Since the economy was slow at the time, I looked around for courses on Linux and came across the O'Reilly School of Technology.
"I took the Linux Administration Certificate series to get handle on Linux. I was amazed at being able to mess around with the system in the sandbox and not create a disaster. I had installed Mandrake Linux at home (now Mandriva), and the courses gave me the confidence to actually manage my system and try things out. I was impressed both with the progressive structure of the classes and the tools.
"I went on to take Web development courses and completed the Web Programming, Client Side Programming, and Open Source Programming certificates. Each series provided a solid foothold into the subject area.
"The OST courses provided a structure that helped me get through the material in a logical way. Taking the classes online at my own pace gave me the freedom to put in the hours where they were needed and when they were available. Each class cover about the right size chunk of material. Some came easier then others and I adjusted the time invested accordingly.
"I was able to build my knowledge and skill. Sharing this know-how with others led to my becoming a Master Expert in Javscript and CSS at Experts-exchange.com. Now, I am a freelance consultant working primarily in Web development, based on the foundation gained from taking OST courses."
-- Lawrence O'Sullivan
|
"With what I learned in the O'Reilly School of Technology and UIUC Certificate program, I was able to develop the SUNY Rockland Community College Web Development Certificate program. I've also been asked to manage several professional and community Web sites."
-- Lynn Aaron, College Instructor
|
"First of all, while I brought a little knowledge of HTML with me into
the courses, I'm not in information technology nor have plans to be. I
just thought it would be useful to learn more HTML and some CSS to use
in a personal website that I was putting together for my wife and
myself. While I worked through the HTML and CSS course I decided it
might be useful to learn some JavaScript. And then as I neared
completion of JavaScript I thought, heck, I'm so close to completing a
certificate I might as well take the AJAX course.
In between those two
courses I had a brief period when I wasn't taking anything and the only
way I can think to describe what I went through was withdrawal. I truly
missed working on the assignments! They are challenging and practical,
and while they might not necessarily always be described as fun, when I
would finish a project and get it to work I had a tremendous sense of
accomplishment.
"I just finished the third and last of the Client-Side Web Programming
Certificate courses today and have signed up to take the Introduction
to PHP. I can sincerely say that among the wide range of topics
covered in the courses I've taken so far there has been nothing that I
would consider fluff, nothing of a 'when on earth would I ever use
that?' nature. Actually, when I get back to working on our personal
website, I will be bringing to it many cool techniques that never would
have even occurred to me before. Some things, like using Google Maps,
I would have thought prohibitively difficult for a layman like me to
learn and yet I'm now quite looking forward to implementing it on our
website.
"If I had tried to teach myself from books or the online
documentation, I know I would have given up. And it certainly helped
to know that I could always contact my instructor Kerry for guidance.
When I finish taking whatever ends up being my last OST course I
know I will really miss the experience.
Thank you from a very satisfied O'Reilly student!"
-- Terry Mills
|
"I am a Research Scientist supporting the CERES Ocean Validation Experiment in the Atmospheric Sciences Division at NASA Langley. In my position I could be considered as a jack of all trades and master of many. Along with atmospheric research and data analysis I also serve as webmaster and database administrator with a little bit of systems administration thrown in for good measure.
I firmly believe that the more tools that you have, with the knowledge to back them up, the more options you have for doing things better and more efficiently. OST has (and continues to) provide me with tools and invaluable hands-on practice through The Sandbox; JavaScript to HTML to PHP. Again, the more you know and practice the more you can do.
OST is definitely one of the best!" -- Jay Madigan, Research Scientist
|
"My name is Juba, and I work for a company that installs and supports CAD (computer aided dispatch) systems used by 911 operators. These are mission-critical applications that help to save lives every day.
In this type of high stress environment, I've learned that knowledge of how a system actually works is crucial. Books are good resources, but they will never replace actual experience. When it comes to getting this experience, the OST courses have been invaluable to me. I have been able to actually set up, test, and in some cases really mess up an environment, and get experience using tools and programs in the real world.
When I complete a course, not only do I feel good about passing, but I also get a boost in confidence knowing I've learned useful skills along the way. Shortly after finishing the System Administration course, I tested for and passed my Linux+ exam. Before taking the exam, I was able to practice my hands-on skills in the Learning Sandbox.
The last thing I would like to say is that I am very impressed with the quality of the instructors. They guide a student toward a solution rather than offering easy answers. There are many lessons to be learned in failure, and my instructors allowed me to flounder around a bit so that I really learned the concept. Sometimes I came up with novel ways of doing things because I was willing to figure it out my own way. I'm the type of guy who likes to put together IKEA furniture before I read the directions. (It's more fun that way!)
For those people who like a good challenge and who learn by doing I highly recommend these courses. Keep up the good work because you guys are ahead of your time!" -- Juba Wright, Technical Services Engineer
|
"I'd like to tell you what a great experience it has been learning Perl, SQL, HTML/CSS, and the four Linux System Administration Courses. Now I am looking forward to the next ones. I studied on my own, and in classroom based courses, but never before have I learned so much in such a short time: Learning by doing does make a difference!
What I really like is the Learning Sandbox where I have a real Linux machine at my disposal. In the programming courses, the Preview button is very useful; I can see my mistakes. I believe that what I learn by debugging mistakes will stick more than an exercise done right at the first shot. I'd like to thank all the staff at OST for the promptness to help me solve whatever problems I had.
I plan to use the skills I have learned to start a new business. Here in Italy, Linux is still not used a lot, but I believe it will in the near future. Thank You!"
-- Sandro Cipolat
|
"For fifteen years I was in social service ministry, ten of those years with The Salvation Army.
I always wanted to learn computer programming, but I have dozens of good computer books, all with bookmarks in the first chapter. I just could not progress beyond page X, without dozing off. I was afraid I was too old to learn this new
"techy" stuff. I had looked at the OST programs, but I let the price hold me back.
Then two years ago I was diagnosed with stage four cancer. With less than a 20% chance of surviving 5 years, it was time to set about accomplishing dreams put off due to time, fear or difficulty. Realizing I had developed a way to track down fraud, and "frequent flyers" that prey upon small charitable organizations, a new goal unfolded. Soon I started to write a book, created complementing forms, and used skills acquired from OST to complete the effectiveness of my ideas. I used MySQL to build the database, I have almost finished the Unix System Administrators Certification to manage the network, and I will be using PHP to present the reports, data, and web pages. Using the tools I learned at OST, I believe I can help small charitable organizations save as much as 30% of their gross revenue. All of this translates into more money for programs for the genuinely needy.
Having a terminal illness prevents me from being a part of the workforce, but I can learn, and on good days, I am able to share my information with organizations that would never be able to afford it. My best times are used to help network and share information, in a very rural community. It's wonderful to feel useful, and the sense of accomplishment is beyond description. If I can start learning computer programming, networking, and other high tech tools, at 55 years, then you can too. The Learning Sandbox promotes learning without losing interest, plus O'Reilly instructors will never cut you down or belittle you. You will always feel like you matter, to everyone, from the phone receptionist on up the ladder.
It's a new world; don't let it pass you by. You can learn, and OST is a great program for those of us that fall asleep in the preface of our new computer books."
-- Phil Bogle, Non-Profit Volunteer
|
"OST courses and training have helped me immensely.
After completing my first two certificates, not only did the quality of my work jump (and my clients recognized
it) but this also led to much more work and opportunities for me.
The opportunity to learn, hands-on, with the
Sandbox and CodeRunner systems, is hard to beat...I'm an experiential learner
and, rather than sitting, reading a book, then going to try code,
I got the opportunity to start playing right away with the code and the
technologies I was studying...all in an easy-to-use and intuitive format.
As if the increase in work, greater
confidence in what I do, and the rush of trying new technologies weren't enough to keep me at O'Reilly
School of Technology, my Instructors sure are. Never has a question I had lingered or gone unanswered. The OST instructors are professional, knowledgeable, prompt, and encouraging and, to put it simply, they make
it a lot more fun to learn!"
-- Craig Kaminsky, Web Developer
|
"The reason I am taking this entire certification class is so I can run a company I designed, but was unable to program it. I just had the idea but no programming and no knowledge of anything behind the browser.
I am VERY VERY surprised at my retention rate with these classes. This is truly the way to learn, by DOING!!! I tried to learn this from books but it only seemed like letters and numbers for me.
Now I am dreaming in code. :)"
-- William Twiner, Entrepreneur
|
"I love learning at my own pace, in my own time, but it is great to get the directions, support and the focus from Kerry [my Instructor]. I do also need to do the hands on programming to understand it, usually many, many times before it sinks in totally. I like having all the lessons at my fingertips in the Sandbox whether I am at work, at home or whatever.
[The courses have] made me able to participate in the work of my department in the library with more confidence and be more productive. That the program is affiliated with the University of Illinois makes it acceptable to my employer, too.
I can now go into the unix program on the apache server and customize the Metalib program so it works for our library.
Wow! :-) It feels great."
-- Ingrid Mifflin, Systems Librarian
|
"I would never, and I mean never, have imagined that a computer learning course would actually be fun too.
Thanks for getting me started and for all of your hard work--
(Learning HTML despite myself!)" -- Kerry Beck, PR Specialist
| |
"I have taken gazillion of courses online, and even though I am a very disciplined and keen learner there has always been a limit in my learning in all of them. (OST Courses) are a good step forward and definitely years ahead of the rest of the CBT herd." -- Ahmed Avais, IT Professional
| |
This approach -- lessons coupled with a live "test" environment
to do the labs -- really works. It is the best learning approach, as you
allow students to put the information to immediate use. This method
reinforces learning, and is much more effective than lecture-based classes
or online "slideshows" that do not provide a hands on approach. --Linux Student
|
"I liked the hands-on using your servers. The skills I gained have given me a better grasp on networking..." --John Meyers, IT Professional.
|
At this time I am about halfway through the 2nd Linux System Admin class. While the first class was very basic, the second one is already dealing with things I have not been able to do before. I am enjoying it very much, and really like the concept of doing it when my schedule allows. I have been very impressed with your lab set up, and the availability of the site. I have DSL in my home, and I have never had connectivity or speed issues. The mentor I have has always graded my work and answered my questions by the next day.
|
I'm actually in the middle of a lesson and just had to stop and e-mail you.
I am very impressed with the way you put together this interactive learning tool.
... I know HTML and wanted to learn javascript and
later more difficult programming but when I went to look up resources on
learning javascript as a beginner I was suprised at how few resources there
are for true beginners like me. Thanks for giving newbies a chance to play
catch up with everyone else and for making it so easy. I have you bookmarked
and I'm sure I'll return for more. I've only had my computer about 3 months
and before that barely knew how to turn one on and now I'm writing javascripts.
|
Dear Sir/Madame
I want to compliment you on your courses. I have been using it to
teach myself JavaScript before I go into the classroom and teach my HTML
students the subject. I have found your site very useful and
informative. You do an excellent job of coming down to a beginning
level without being moronic about it. Thank you.
|
Wow! Now I am really impressed!
I used your courses to get a introduction to Javascript (actually created
my first "rollovers") and thought it was great. But, now, man you guys
have out did yourselves! This is absolutely wonderful...keep up the good
work.
Thanks and keep going this is absolutely wonderful. I just love being
able to apply and implement as I learn.
A real UserActive FAN
|
Hello,
I just wanted to say that I enjoyed following you're course on
Java. It's the best lessons on Java that I found. I
really learned a lot. Continue with the good work!
|
All I can say is WOW. This is the best resource I have seen yet on the
web as far as learning. It is easy yet really comprehensive.
|
Thank you!!!
--John Meyers, IT professional
A friend referred me to your course and I have to tell you I really enjoy
it. Your explanations are clear, consice, and fun. I have told
others how great I think it is. And your e-mail telling me where I
errorred, well that just blew me away. I can see now that I will be
spending a lot of time here.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
|
Well Done!!
I really enjoy your site! It is not only a great example, but a great tool!
|
Hi,
You're site is AWESOME. I had been reading books and trying to learn
Java on my own without much success. After doing your lessons and spending about an hour on them I feel I understand
Java better than ever. It is exciting!
Thank-you for doing this.
|
Your lessons on HTML and JavaScript are wonderful. Excellent job. You have a great example of true interactivity
on the web.
|
|
