Saturday, September 17, 2011

[itroundtable] How to DIY a degree - Download The Edupunks’ Guide to a DIY Credential (Free eBook)

 



http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/09/16/mm-how-to-diy-a-degree/

How to DIY a degree

Marketplace Money, Thursday, September 15, 2011

A bachelor's degree is almost a requirement to enter the middle class these days. But author Anya Kamenetz thinks that people can cobble together a "DIY degree" with a little ingenuity and hard work.

"DIY U" by Anya Kamenetz.

"DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education" by Anya Kamenetz. (diyu.com)

  • Writer Anya Kamenetz.

    Writer Anya Kamenetz. (Diana Levine).

TESS VIGELAND: So much for getting a good deal on education at a state school. Good lord. This week the University of California laid out a budget plan that could raise tuition -- just tuition -- to more than $22,000 by the 2015 school year. So what if you could get the benefits of college, at least some of them, without the price tag?

Anya Kamenetz is a senior writer for Fast Company and the author of the new FREE e-book called "The Edupunks' Guide to a DIY Credential." Anya, what's the problem with college?

ANYA KAMENETZ: Well, the problem is that there are millions and millions of people out there who want access to a college education, who have the ability to take advantage of a college education but they do not have that access. Either because of money, because of time, because of other responsibilities -- and that's who this guide is for.

VIGELAND: So essentially, you're just saying, Look, college does not have to be the only option for you to be a success in your life. But haven't we known that all the way along?

KAMENETZ: Well, we may know that in our hearts and in our minds, but the fact is, in this economy, it is very very hard to join the middle class without some kind of credential past high school. And there just isn't enough capacity in our public systems. They have been dealing with year after year of budget cuts and, you know, there's not a lot of resources out there. So I think people need to start figuring out other paths to get that degree.

VIGELAND: What exactly is involved in that DIY degree? What do you do for it and what do you get out of it?

KAMENETZ: So what I'm encouraging people to do is put together a personal learning plan, which includes their personal goals. And once you've determined what it is that you want to do, it may be that you want to get a certification or a license, which could mean taking a private course or taking a course at a community college, and then sitting in an exam and passing an exam. If you want to get credit for your life experience, you can put together a portfolio and there's a national program calledLearningCounts.org, which shows you how to do a six-week class to put together a portfolio, which is the narrative of your learning that you've gotten from military training or job training or volunteering or traveling -- and put that all towards a degree. And then there are colleges and universities -- like Excelsior, Empire State, Charter Oaks State College -- and these are all public universities that specialized in helping people take their prior learning experience and put them towards a personally designed learning plan.

VIGELAND: Let me play devil's advocate here though: You know, a DIY credential is nice and all, but you've got this incredibly cutthroat job market out there right now. How is this going to help someone make the cut, to stand out against someone like you, a Yale grad; someone who went to a state school, a community college even?

KAMENETZ: I think that the key ingredient is that individuals are taking charge of their own learning and they're connecting their goals within the classroom to a goal outside the classroom. And that's why the guide includes tutorials for people to start to create and build their personal learning network, to find a mentor, to connect to a community. People are not getting hired because of a paper resume or because of their transcript or their diploma. They're getting hired because they can demonstrate value.

VIGELAND: But that doesn't sound true. I feel like we are actually hearing the opposite, that if you don't have a resume and an education that is going to make you stand out from everybody in the field, it's just going to get dumped in the trash. I mean, it's so competitive.

KAMENETZ: So what does it really mean to stand out? I mean, I profile, for example, a community of programmers called GitHub. And GitHub was started just as a place for people to collaborate on open source software projects. And the languages that are being used in that community to program in -- languages like Python, Java, PHP -- these are not being taught in our computer science programs. Our computer science programs can't keep up. And there are companies like Twitter and Apple that are recruiting directly off of GitHub. And this is really the new credential. A resume is a dead piece of paper, unless you can connect it to something that really demonstrates what you can do and how you can do it. You know, a credential is nice, it's important, but it is not sufficient anymore.

VIGELAND: Anya Kamenetz is the author of the new e-book, "The Edupunks' Guide to a DIY Credential." She's also a senior writer for Fast Company magazine. Thanks for coming in.

KAMENETZ: Thanks so much for having me.



Download The Edupunks' Guide to a DIY Credential (Free eBook)

in e-booksEducation | August 2nd, 2011 Leave a Comment

 119 165

It's hot off the digital press. Anya Kamenetz, a senior writer at Fast Company Magazine and author of DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education, has teamed up with the Gates Foundation to release a free ebook, The Edupunks' Guide to a DIY Credential.

The new ebook offers a "comprehensive guide to learning online and charting a personalized path to an affordable credential," and it comes complete with some handy-sounding tutorials: how to write a personal learning plan, how to teach yourself online, how to build your personal learning network, 7 ways to get college credit without taking a college course, etc.

The book also smartly features a long list of open educational resources, where the author was nice enough to give us a small mention.

You can read The Edupunks' Guide to a DIY Credential on Scribd, or alternatively you can download it in multiple formats (PDF, Kindle, ePub, RTF, etc.) at the bottom of this page.



The Edupunks' Guide to a DIY Credential

Ebook By Anya Kamenetz
Rating: Not yet rated. 
Published: July 31, 2011 
Category: Non-Fiction » Education and Study Guides » College Guides
Words: 28451 (approximate)
Language: English


Ebook Short Description

A first-of-its kind resource for the future of education: a comprehensive guide to learning online and charting a personalized path to an affordable credential using the latest innovative tools and organizations. Real-life stories and hands-on advice for today's students, whether you're going back to school, working, transferring colleges, or pursuing lifelong learning goals. 

Extended Description

Anya Kamenetz, a nationally recognized educational expert and author of Generation Debt and DIY U, has written the first-ever book sponsored by the Gates Foundation. The Edupunks' Guide is a first-of-its kind resource for the future of education: a comprehensive guide to learning online and charting a personalized path to an affordable credential using the latest innovative tools and organizations. Real-life stories and hands-on advice for today's students, whether you're going back to school, working, transferring colleges, or pursuing lifelong learning goals.

Highlights:

*A series of tutorials: How to Write a Personal Learning Plan, How to Teach Yourself Online, How to Build Your Personal Learning Network, How to Find a Mentor, How to Get a Credential, How To Demonstrate Value to a Network.

*The DIY Degree: A Degree At Your Own Pace (18 months to 18 years) at 81% Off Retail

*7 Ways to Get College Credit Without Taking a College Course/7 Ways to Learn College Material Without Tak... (Read more) 


Tags

careercollegenetworkingonlineresumecareer adviceonline educationeducation higher,education helponline collegecollege adviceresume building 

Available Ebook reading formats:

This book is free. 
Format Full Book
Online Reading (HTML, good for sampling in web browser) View
Online Reading (JavaScript, experimental, buggy) View
Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps) Download
Epub (Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others) Download
PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing) Download
RTF (readable on most word processors) Download
LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub) Download
Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices) Download
Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting) Download
Plain Text (view) (viewable as web page) View



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[SMCNG] Digest Number 735

Messages In This Digest (1 Message)

Message

1.

Fw: New Project Manager job with RBS Citizens Bank - 1234393

Posted by: "Sabina Margeton" sebm1027@yahoo.com   sabinamargeton

Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:41 pm (PDT)





--- On Fri, 9/16/11, Ravi Vijay <ravi.vijay@talentburst.com> wrote:

From: Ravi Vijay <ravi.vijay@talentburst.com>
Subject: New Project Manager job with RBS Citizens Bank - 1234393
To: SabinaMargeton@yahoo.com
Date: Friday, September 16, 2011, 5:11 PM

Dear Sabina

 
I came across your resume on an online job board and wanted to reach out to you to see if you might be interested in a contract opportunity in Cranston, RI
 
My client is looking for a Project Manager 3 to join their team on a contractual basis. My firm Talentburst, Inc. is headquartered in Massachusetts and provides nationwide staffing support to our client.
 
Please carefully read the Job Description below, and if you would like to pursue this opportunity please email me an updated MS Word version of your resume and call me at (508) 628-7576 at your earliest convenience.  I appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.

 
 
Position # 1234393
Title: Project Manager 3
Location: Cranston, RI
Duration: 12 Months
 
Job Details:
Recruiting a technical PM with 15+ years' experience to manage a 12 month project for Loan Loss Data in the Risk Business Unit of the Bank.
 
 
What is the business purpose of the project this person will be supporting? Current systems processing at CFG do not completely capture and process wholesale loan loss data with enough granularity and lineage between systems. This project will retrieve loss data, approx. 30 data elements from approx. 5 source systems. If the source system does not contain the loss data elements, then application enhancements will be needed. The source systems will send this data to a central repository that will in turn send to a reporting system already in existence. How large is this project? (in dollar amount) $3.2MM What are the top three technical skills this person must display? Budget and forecasting skills, excellent people management skills and ability to manage change control. What type of individual excels best in your environment and why? Someone who can handle a business sponsor who is not familiar with project life cycle. Someone who can manage scope creep.
This project has had challenges with locking down business requirements. What type of individual excels best in your environment and why? It is preferred that this person work in the same location (Smithfield or Cranston) as the business team. This will be required to get this project off the ground. After this, there may be flexibility in working remote.
 
Description:
Summary: Responsible for using best practice PMO methodology to create a project plan to fit the stakeholders/sponsor's needs and deliver on desired outcomes. Education/ Experience: Bachelor degree in an IT-related discipline - preferred. PMP certification - preferred. 5+ years' experience managing projects. Skills and Competencies: Advanced verbal and written communication skills. Must have a strong command of the English language ý written and oral. Ability to develop project plans, manage individual deadlines and goals. Knowledge of project metrics, including gathering, reporting, trend analysis, creation, and metrics. Ability to identify issues and problems, generate solutions and choose appropriate alternatives using basic root cause analysis. Advanced proficiency with all MS applications, MS Project and/or Visio. Highly organized with good time management skills. Customer service orientation, and strong interpersonal skills. Analytical thinker
with creative problem solving skills and attention to detail. Major Job Duties and Responsibilities: Develop integrated baseline project plans applying estimating models, identify resources and skills required, document estimating assumptions, refine plans and manage performance against them. Recommend best solutions based on understanding of business issues. Provide task-based schedule and cost forecasts and assist in assessing risk-based provisions. Capture and track program metrics and perform analysis. Manage project scope by assessing requirements changes, determining and conveying impact on budget, time and risk. Manage client expectations, anticipates operational and tactical risks and tracks them. Clarify, identify, and track requirements and issues, remove barriers, resolve minor project issues and escalate to immediate manager where required. Manage project closure initiatives, such as client satisfaction survey and closure analysis. Document
and archive project activities, deliverables, tools and findings for future projects. 
 
 
***Please note my deadline for Submittal of qualified resumes is by CLOSE OF BUSINESS TOMORROW ******
 

Best Regards,
Ravi Vijay

** 4 time INC 500/5000, 4 time BBJ "Pacesetter", 2 time SIA-fastest growing**
__________________________________________________________
 Ravi Vijay | TalentBurst, Inc.
Boston| San Francisco | Toronto | New Delhi|
Work: (508) 628-7576| Fax: (508) 319-3065 | Email: ravi.vijay@talentburst.com
"The Meadows" 161 Worcester Road | Suite 630 | Framingham, MA 01701 | www.talentburst.com
 
About TalentBurst:  Founded in 2002 by three former Monster.com executives; TalentBurst is an award winning full-service Staffing Firm working directly with Fortune 500 companies in the US and Canada.  We specialize in Contract and Contract to Permanent roles across many industries and have direct/contractual relationships with all our clients.  A partial list of direct clients include: VISA, Yahoo!, The Home Depot, Royal Bank of Scotland/Citizens Bank, M&T Bank, National Grid, Duke Energy, Symantec, Adobe Systems, SalesForce.com, and Genzyme.  Please visit our website www.talentburst.com or come meet us at our offices in Framingham, MA & downtown San Francisco, CA.

Certified Minority & Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (M/DBE)
___________________________________________________
 

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[NE-Financial-Services-IT-Jobs] Digest Number 684

Messages In This Digest (2 Messages)

Messages

1.

Lead System's Analyst - Trading Systems - Java or .Net - SQL - Bosto

Posted by: "Gary Wright - Wright Associates" gary_wright@verizon.net   wrightassociates

Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:46 pm (PDT)



Please feel free to refer this position to other groups and people you know.

Position Title - WR723271 - 09-16-2011

Lead System's Analyst - Trading Systems - Java or .Net - SQL - Boston, MA
Area -Outstanding Package

Excellent Compensation Package - Base + Bonus + PS

Stable Work History

No Relocation or Sponsorship

Company

Large, successful, and growing Boston based Investment Management Firm -
Great Company - Lots of Upside - Excellent Compensation Package - Bonus -
Profit Sharing etc. Join a team oriented, collaborative, results focused
environment and become part of an elite organization with great growth
possibilities.

Position Responsibilities - Summary

Applicants must have experience in many different technologies to fit
solutions to diverse problems. Manage small projects with a time to market
focus that requires working with end users in tight time constraints.

My client's trading systems support 24 hour trading across multiple
geographic locations. Trading systems provide a high level of electronic
trading automation. Currently, the systems provide the means for traders to
electronically receive, execute, and send execution reports to interested
parties. Qualified applicants must possess a strong knowledge of
technology, trading, and financial services.

The rapid solutions team has two main goals. First, to deliver quick
prototypes so that new business ideas can be flushed out into full
solutions. These projects are usually ideas from senior management trying
out new processes and ideas to help support the investment process.

Second, to deliver solutions to problems that are not be big enough to
justify the full IT project requirement, but add a huge value to the
traders. These projects can cover any area of the Trading Business and are
usually identified by Traders as an urgent need. Usually these needs come
about suddenly due to market conditions or other outside opportunities.

Candidates must possess excellent communication skills, be self-motivated,
willing to work in an energetic, fun, fast pasted and team-oriented group.
The ability to manage multiple priorities is also required.

Key Responsibilities:

Daily activities and responsibilities for this role include, but are not
limited to:

· Ability to develop in may different technologies

· Manage development resources and projects

· Experience in agile programming

· Contribute to the development of internal and external
documentation

Required Skills and Competencies:

· BS degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience

· 5 to 7 years experience working with Financial/Trading Systems

· Hands on coding with Java, or .NET & SQL technologies - Strong
programming and SQL skills

· Knowledge of Relational Database Systems and Websphere MQ

· Knowledge of Data Services and Data Service Vendors would be a
plus

· Familiarity with Pre-trade and compliance systems

· Experience with all types of trading would be very desirable
(Foreign Exchange, Fixed income, Equity, and Mortgage)

Keys to this Position:

1. Technical: 50% of the time will be hands on coding with Java, or .NET &
SQL technologies.

2. Domain: Strong knowledge of Trading Systems is required as well as the
various asset classes (Fixed Income, Equities, FX, Mortgage, Currency etc.)

3. Analyst skills: This individual will need to be able to effectively
interface with Traders, gather business requirements and write functional
specs.

4. Leadership: This individual will manage one consultant and the team
will grow, yet stay relatively small (3 to 5 resources).

Contact Information

Gary Wright - President - Wright Associates

Phone - (508) 761-6354 - Email - replywrightassociates@verizon.net - WEB
Site - www.wrightassociates.org

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

2a.

Senior Runtime Software Engineer - SW Technology Firm - Up to $120K+

Posted by: "Gary Wright - Wright Associates" gary_wright@verizon.net   wrightassociates

Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:47 pm (PDT)



Please feel free to refer this position to people you know who might be a
strong fit.

Open & Active as of 09-15-2011

Position Title - WRSSRTE082011

Senior Runtime Software Engineer - SW Technology Firm - Up to $120K+ DOE -
N. 128 Area MA

Base DOE + Excellent Benefits

Candidate local to Mass. Only - No sponsorship

Stable Work History with proven success

Company

Innovative, well funded, fast growing, and highly successful Software
Start-Up. This is an outstanding opportunity for the right person to join an
innovative organization and grow as it grows. Rated as one of the best
companies to work for in New England. Great products - innovative
technology - seasoned management team - tremendous opportunity and upside -
great culture.

Join a winner and contribute to their future success.

Position Responsibilities - Summary
Programming language design, compiler implementation, network protocols,
data management, real-time responsiveness, high throughput, scalability, and
fault tolerant clustering. Are you prepared to work on one system combining
all these skills?

My client's solution is the leading Complex Event Processing Platform, used
by developers building the most demanding data processing systems in the
world. As a platform, it enables their customers to rapidly develop high
performance flexible applications, meeting the needs of the most demanding
customers in financial services, federal intelligence, e-commerce, and
telecommunications.

Runtime engineers are responsible for developing the programming language,
compiler, and deployment server for their technology. They collaborate
closely with the user interface team in order to provide end-users with the
most powerful authoring environment available on any CEP platform.

Reports to the CTO

Responsibilities:

Your primary responsibilities will be to define, design, and develop
functionality within the Complex Event Processing (CEP) engine for
commercial product release. This position requires hands-on development
expertise, developing innovative solutions for scalable, high performance
distributed systems. Successful candidates must be self-reliant,
resourceful, and enjoy working with other smart motivated people.

Required Skills and Competencies:

· Possess excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
and ability to work well in a team.

· Solid background in software engineering, including code reviews,
unit testing, and iterative development in large object-oriented codebases.

· BS in Computer Science or related field and four years experience
in server based development.

· Experience developing high-performance system software.

The ideal candidate will have substantial skill in at least one of the
following areas:

· Programming Language and Compiler Development

o Knowledge of several programming languages and opinions about their
design and implementation, with emphasis on compiler technology.

o Experience building code models for use in integrated development
environments, supporting broken-syntax recovery, semantic analysis, and
refactoring.

· Server and Cluster Development

o Experience in network/server programming with focus on throughput
performance tuning, connection scalability, reliability, and latency.

o Experience implementing fault tolerance and clustering
functionality in server deployments.

· Database Management System Implementation

o Experienced database user and designer, including schema design and
performance optimization.

o Experience designing and developing database management systems
core functionality such as query planners, query executors, access methods,
and reliability/rollback functionality.

The following skills are also desirable:

· Experience with real-time system development

· Experience working with Web and application servers like Apache,
Spring, BEA, JBoss, IBM WebSphere, or other distributed applications
frameworks.

· Experience with scalable performance enhancing technologies
(Memcache, Voldemorte, Coherence, Terracotta, Varnish)

· Experience optimizing performance in a managed VM (e.g. Java or
.NET) and including bytecode/JIT, GC tuning, and dynamic code generation.

Resumes in Microsoft Word Format to:

Gary Wright - President - Wright Associates

Phone - (508) 761-6354

Email - ReplyWrightAssociates@Verizon.Net - WEB Site -
www.wrightassociates.org

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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The New England Networking Group is Moderated by:

Gary L. Wright - President/Principal - Wright Associates

Wright Associates specializes in High Technology Recruiting Services for the New England Market Place.

Phone:    508-761-6354
Email:    mailto:garywright@prodigy.net
Website: www.WrightAssociates.org
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