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ZsExperiment
Zse
Premium
join:2004-04-01
Chicago Area
| reply to jp10558
Re: No pay differences for IS workers...
said by jp10558  :...I have noticed to some extent that there is something that people with a college degree (though, again, not everyone - this is why the presence or lack of a piece of paper isn't a good way to judge someone) are better at finding information. To elaborate, there is a knack to figuring out where to start. Sure, anyone can type into google, but there is a lot of time in college spent understanding how to "rate" a source - reliable or not. Also, there's a lot of time spent understanding the difference between a primary and secondary source. Wow, college is really late to be learning the research skills you mention.
I've found that students are expected to be able to "rate" sources' reliability, credibility, and relevance, and to be able to distinguish whether a source is primary or secondary as early as Junior High.
Case in point: The National History Day project competition program
»www.nhd.org/Objectives.htm
NHD Competition levels begin as early as the 6th grade. We have been fortunate enough to have both of our kids reach the State and National levels of competition in this program, and the caliber and quality of the Junior High and High School students' research and work we have witnessed at the State and National expositions is, frankly, astonishingly high.
...It really makes you feel hopeful for the future.
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Hmmmm... That worked last time... | |
jp10558
Premium
join:2005-06-24
Willseyville, NY
| reply to astirusty
said by astirusty :said by TearAbite :I used to work with a guy with a Masters degree "business" (or some such thing).. but he was borderline RETARDED! (no exaggeration). In fairness the guy may not have actually been borderline retarded, he just appeared that way to you because of his "higher" education. I have found that hands-on technical types (without degrees) have a very hard time relating to those hands-off theoretical academic types (with degrees). As others have pointed out the relating problems stem from universities filling students heads with lots of academic ideas that have little relationship to the real world (the world outside the hollowed halls). Of course you can not expect much else when the professors themselves rarely have held a non-academic job. An inbreeding problem - students learning theory from theorists who learned from theorists, and so-forth. A good example of wasted learning is the use of the APA style format for papers, just about an absolutely requirement in universities, but I never saw our company (and two associated companies) even remotely promote the APA style in 20 years. The other relating problems stem from people with degrees who come into a work area and decided that just because they have a degree and those around them do not; that they are smarter and therefore should call the shots. This probably doesn't hold exactly in the IT field, as many in the field are good at teaching themselves. It seems to be a stereotype almost. But I have noticed to some extent that there is something that people with a college degree (though, again, not everyone - this is why the presence or lack of a piece of paper isn't a good way to judge someone) are better at finding information.
To elaborate, there is a knack to figuring out where to start. Sure, anyone can type into google, but there is a lot of time in college spent understanding how to "rate" a source - reliable or not. Also, there's a lot of time spent understanding the difference between a primary and secondary source.
If there's one major thing I've learned in academia, it's how to do research. And though many scoff at that, it really does carry over into many things.
I know a lot of smart people without college degrees, and they all have problems with "finding answers" if you will.
Of course, anectadotes are worthless, and as I said, I've met many techies who just are good with the net, so that's not so much an issue really.
So, where am I going with all this? Much of college IME was 2 things - soft skills, and giving you access to hardware you wouldn't be able to experiment with (or get access to) in most companies.
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TearAbite
join:2001-07-25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
 ·surpasshosting
 ·Charter Pipeline
| reply to astirusty
said by astirusty :said by TearAbite :I used to work with a guy with a Masters degree "business" (or some such thing).. but he was borderline RETARDED! (no exaggeration). In fairness the guy may not have actually been borderline retarded, he just appeared that way to you because of his "higher" education. I have found that hands-on technical types (without degrees) have a very hard time relating to those hands-off theoretical academic types (with degrees). I work with several very highly educated engineers (building airplane parts) and i know what you mean about those 'higher educated' guys.. but THIS particular guy was retarted.. seriously.. i'm not the only one that had this view.. he was nice, and was able to communicate well, but give him a problem to solve, or try to explain something to him and it was very clear..he was the winner of the "dee Dee DEE!" award.
The lady that was his manager just told me that he also had dislexia..
BUT
he DID have that pretty piece of paper on his wall!
phhffttt
.
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Click HERE to see my FAKEz | |
astirusty
Premium
join:2000-12-23
Henderson, NV
 ·AT&T Southwest
| reply to TearAbite
said by TearAbite :I used to work with a guy with a Masters degree "business" (or some such thing).. but he was borderline RETARDED! (no exaggeration). In fairness the guy may not have actually been borderline retarded, he just appeared that way to you because of his "higher" education. I have found that hands-on technical types (without degrees) have a very hard time relating to those hands-off theoretical academic types (with degrees).
As others have pointed out the relating problems stem from universities filling students heads with lots of academic ideas that have little relationship to the real world (the world outside the hollowed halls). Of course you can not expect much else when the professors themselves rarely have held a non-academic job. An inbreeding problem - students learning theory from theorists who learned from theorists, and so-forth. A good example of wasted learning is the use of the APA style format for papers, just about an absolutely requirement in universities, but I never saw our company (and two associated companies) even remotely promote the APA style in 20 years.
The other relating problems stem from people with degrees who come into a work area and decided that just because they have a degree and those around them do not; that they are smarter and therefore should call the shots. | |
TearAbite
join:2001-07-25
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
·surpasshosting
·Charter Pipeline
| reply to antdude
i'll have to partially agree with the XRay..
paying gobs of $$ to get a pretty piece of paper to hang on your wall does not buy you any common sense..
I used to work with a guy with a Masters degree "business" (or some such thing).. but he was borderline RETARDED! (no exaggeration).
I have also interviewed countless 'grads' for I.T./Tech Support roles that could hardly speak english, or did not know how to answer a telephone.. BUT.. they DID have those pretty pieces of paper ..
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