NUIM Computer Center, your experiences.

Nision

Ive had some unbelievable experiences whilst dealing with them.
Never before have i encountered a more backward bunch of eejits, there only skill appears to be an ability to take incompetence to new and dizzying heights.

For example,
Finding out that the woman who organises ECDL has no email address and the computer center has no phone number for her.
How do they contact her?
Do they rub a magic lamp and hope she appears?

Am i the only one to have this experience whenever i have to approach them?

Ian Beale

Tried this one....? ecdl@nuim.ie

Nision

Yes, they have one now. Old story.

BarryDoodles

Nision wrote: »

Ive had some unbelievable experiences whilst dealing with them.
Never before have i encountered a more backward bunch of eejits, there only skill appears to be an ability to take incompetence to new and dizzying heights.
QUOTE]

While I appreciate the option of ecdl I think the fact economics and law students are forced under penalty of repeating to do it is simply rediculous.
The Cost? 40€ up front then 20€ per module for 7 modules. That equals 180€ complusory cost.
Expensive for most student but the service "with a smile" from the computer centre makes up for this..
Wait, sorry, I am mistaken. The service is rife with delays and mistakes.

You can only pay for the exams on Thursdays? There is a arbitrary limit on the numbers allowed sit the exam at one time?
This all leads to further delays for students requiring the certificate. All of this messing around impacts the various departments in the college leading to decreasing clarity about deadlines and frankly it all becomes a joke.

This joke has led to the computer centre refusing to deal with ecdl inquries in person but instead by email. Service with a smile alright.

I want to know how much of our reg fee supports this joke and what exactly they do with it.

irish_goat

The ECDL in Maynooth is a joke, I'm doing it in the north for half the cost.

banquo

The ECDL itself is a joke.

mickstupp

I (STUPIDLY) clicked into the ECDL thing on Moodle and can't unsubscribe from the blasted thing. Every bleedin day I'm getting stupid email updates from a forum I have no need or desire to be in. Tried the option to not get updates... won't let me. :mad:

Alt_Grrr

banquo wrote: »

The ECDL itself is a joke.

I fail to see the need to force students to take it.
and the fact its poorly organized is no surprise, I mean look at the shambles that emerges around exam results time.

I would love to see simple things like this run like clock work, but its never going to happen.

banquo

The ECDL is so unbelievably flawed that's it's just a joke. Not only does it become less and less relevant, it also teaches a lot of bad habits.

If I was interviewing two people on equal footing for an office job and one had the ecdl, but the other didn't, it wouldn't sway me one way or the other. It means nothing. It's full of useless but easily examinable information (I.e. What does RAM stand for) - great for the techie, but it's a million miles removed from the national requirement for a course that teaches skills for general office use. One browser. One office suite. Advice that was relevant ten years ago but, when followed today, makes you actually more likely to get a virus (etc).

It is the laziest, worst thought out way of teaching computers I've know about. But everywhere does it because there's no standardized international equivalent. So it's the only choice.

/rant

xOxSinéadxOx

It's a load of bollox and a waste of money. I would have prefered that 200 euro for myself thanks. I didn't learn anything from it.

BarryDoodles

Rob, is there anything you can do?

Aurongroove

Rob, make a New ECDL, I suggest you call it ECDLplus: the one you Really need to not be a nincompoop

banquo

When I worked in NALA I always made sure to avoid all jargon wherever possible. Lesson one was JUST the mouse (playing solitaire), lesson two was JUST a very basic introduction to the browser and the keyboard was hardly needed at all. The ECDL syllabus 5 (latest) doesn't even mention browsers - preposterous in a time when
99% of what you do is done through the browser. And as we get closer to a time when everything is online we're going to have all these "qualified" workers stuck in an old idiom and with zero knowledge of good practices.

There is a really, really strong case for a new, completely independent syllabus that is:

A) aimed not at qualification, but actually learning
based on good habits and not a list of specific skills
C) made by a few young 'uns, not by a group of duffers around the card table in a nursing home
D) without an agenda or any special interests

But it's almost impossible. The 71yo nun headmistress who craps herself with fear everytime she sits down to send an email would look at the two syllabi, trying to decide which syllabus her TY girls are going to do, fret, then choose then ECDL because it's wider recognised and contains lots of familiar words that she sees on ads for PC World.

And so it's a vicious circle. My gf's sister was in a 'computer class' in school and teacher was showing them how to set up an email account. (Hotmail)

Student: Sir, I already have a GMail account.
Teacher: (rolling his eyes to heaven) Silly girl. I said *E* mail, not 'G' Mail. Pffft.

Seriously.

TouchingVirus

Nision wrote: »

Yes, they have one now. Old story.

Yet you still bear a grudge? One example of a problem and you tar the whole CC with an incompetence badge?

For what it's worth, I deal with the Computer Centre on an almost daily basis and find the people who I deal with both competent and polite I do have a few issues with them (e.g. no Helpdesk after 1pm during the summer months, sometimes slow to respond to helpdesk queries etc) but on the whole I think they're all right

banquo

BarryDoodles wrote: »

Rob, is there anything you can do?

Explain?

Vojera

As an undergrad I found them a bit frustrating alright (I was also forced into ECDL but at least my dept paid for it), but as a postgrad I've found them very helpful. They only deal with departmental equipment, wouldn't help when I had an issue connecting my laptop to the lan (before the wireless came in), but they've always been prompt and efficient when we've had problems with department stuff.

BarryDoodles

TouchingVirus wrote: »

Yet you still bear a grudge? One example of a problem and you tar the whole CC with an incompetence badge?

For what it's worth, I deal with the Computer Centre on an almost daily basis and find the people who I deal with both competent and polite I do have a few issues with them (e.g. no Helpdesk after 1pm during the summer months, sometimes slow to respond to helpdesk queries etc) but on the whole I think they're all right

And you need this help desk so regularly because?




Rob is there anything you can do about the many issues outlined here or the general requirement of the now out-dated ecdl?

banquo

Believe it or not, I have little power to change the ecdl syllabus, or create a new one and get this and other colleges to follow it

banquo

Believe it or not, I have little power to change the ecdl syllabus, or create a new one and get this and other colleges to follow it

BarryDoodles

Maybe you should contact USI and give them something to do... (sorry about hijacking that status update by the way )

banquo

Ha!

irish_goat

Did my ECDL in Limavady today. For those of you who don't know where Limavady is it's in north county Derry and it is Grimmmmston Churchill. Paid £95 for it and I am pretty certain I've passed.

Some sample questions...

What is a good way of ensuring your MP3 player is not at risk of theft in a cafe?
A: Leave it on the table
B: Leave it in your coat pocket with the coat draped over your seat.
C: Keep it on your person, hidden from view.
Leave it in your open handbag on the floor.

Every module started with the instructions "open file X and insert your name in the space provided". You got 2 marks for mastering that tricky question.

Printing a page in each module got you a mark.

I got asked "what can kind of software would you use to prevent intrusions into your computer from external sources over the internet?" about 3 times.

I did have some trouble using some bits of Microsoft Database cause I'd not used it in 5 years but you're actually allowed to use the help function if you're stuck.

TouchingVirus

BarryDoodles wrote: »

And you need this help desk so regularly because?

Because I work for a research institute that's based in NUI Maynooth, in a role that has heavy requirements in systems & networks and all the stuff that the Computer Centre is responsible for.

Alt_Grrr

banquo wrote: »

Believe it or not, I have little power to change the ecdl syllabus, or create a new one and get this and other colleges to follow it

would you at least look into why its a requirement for some degrees?
seriously...

And maybe look to change that. I mean Microsoft has some professional certification courses offered for lots of things, like Office or there developer tools. (...But talk about pricey)

Why do you need the watered down dribble version?

banquo

The word 'browser' is not mentioned in syllabus 5. It could drive ya to murder...

banquo

Alt_Grrr wrote: »

would you at least look into why its a requirement for some degrees?
seriously...

And maybe look to change that. I mean Microsoft has some professional certification courses offered for lots of things, like Office or there developer tools. (...But talk about pricey)

Why do you need the watered down dribble version?

If someone makes a list for me of the courses that do it, I'll ask around. Best I can do.

Rushden

Ive just finished the ECDL and need to hand in my results to the Accounting and Economics department, anybody know if theres certain office hours it needs to be handed in during or is it anytime 9-5? Thanks

irish_goat

Rushden wrote: »

Ive just finished the ECDL and need to hand in my results to the Accounting and Economics department, anybody know if theres certain office hours it needs to be handed in during or is it anytime 9-5? Thanks

I'd just whack it in an envelope with your name on it and leave it in between 9-5. They'll figure out what to do with it.

Rushden

irish_goat wrote: »

I'd just whack it in an envelope with your name on it and leave it in between 9-5. They'll figure out what to do with it.

do you know where exactly it has to be handed in, always seem to get lost in the rhetoric house

irish_goat

Think on the top floor of Rhetoric there's an office on the left manned by the economics "receptionist" so you could try there.

b2thaza

it seems that this course is clearly not up to snuff for today's world, like is there a way we can talk to the head of department to show em it's not worthwhile?

I'm starting Finance and Economics and it seems like this ECDL thing is very outdated! surely the Computer Centre see that it is out of date?

I really dont see how it can be 'required' and then we HAVE to pay for it out of our own pockets, if it's in the required course, shouldnt it be included in all costs?

How can we get it subsidised from the department even??

Ms. Koi

Our school always ran the ECDL for Transition Years but they got us to do Microsoft Office Specialist (which is something I can legitimately call myself...why I would I have no idea!) and it was so much simpler. The mammy did the ECDL, but was just made more confused by it all!

Maybe some of the courses require it because they don't realise the other options available to them?

banquo

Right. So what courses require to to take the ECDL? course and year please.

irish_goat

banquo wrote: »

Right. So what courses require to to take the ECDL? course and year please.

1st year Economics.

Handed my ECDL cert into the woman in the admissions office and even she knew how useless it was.

"I'll photocopy it and you can keep the original, sure you never know when you might need it."

She looked as unconvinced as I was.

b2thaza

b2thaza wrote: »

I'm starting Finance and Economics and it seems like this ECDL thing is very outdated! surely the Computer Centre see that it is out of date?

The Computer Center are just running it on behalf of other departments. I managed to finish my degree before this was all brought in but it certainly was the Economics departments idea as they mentioned this to us during our 2nd year they even recommended that we do it even though it wasnt a requirement at the time

BarryDoodles

Ch'law and arts, Law and Business, Business and Economics.

Requirement was to have ecdl by second year but this has been changed to by the end of first year.

XxMCRxBabyxX

BarryDoodles wrote: »

Ch'law and arts, Law and Business, Business and Economics.

Requirement was to have ecdl by second year but this has been changed to by the end of first year.

The 2nd year thing was only for law and arts last year because the arts students were never told about it until Feb!
Dunno about you 2nd years last year tho!

BarryDoodles

XxMCRxBabyxX wrote: »

The 2nd year thing was only for law and arts last year because the arts students were never told about it until Feb!
Dunno about you 2nd years last year tho!

What I said was true for the second years (now third years).

Now ecdl is uniformly required by the end of first year. SILLY DEPARTMENT!

XxMCRxBabyxX

BarryDoodles wrote: »

What I said was true for the second years (now third years).

Now ecdl is uniformly required by the end of first year. SILLY DEPARTMENT!

Yea thats what I thought. They were just getting us sorted and now everyone has to have it done by end of first year!

lanmaster

Dunno about this ECDL but I just went to the computer center and thought they were v. helpful.
I had a problem with the wireless and they got me going, no probs.

orl677

..also required for Business & Management (in order to progress to 2nd yr). :rolleyes:

Having worked in an office, with computers (I miss my work Mac ) - miscrosoft suite et al - prior to returning to education, with certificates behind me (not the ECDL so I must do it), I really relish the idea of parting with €180 and time that could have been spent on things more relevant to me. I honestly will never need to mention this (ECDL) to a potential employer, nor could I imagine doing so, ever.
Having said that, even though it does annoy me a tad bit, I block it out of my head, and I won't moan about it apart from here and now.
Just to say this: I think if certain courses insist the ECDL should be done, we should not have to cover the cost. At the very least, perhaps there should be some sort of preliminary test to assess your level of competence and in fact if you do (or really dont) NEED to take the course. Might save some people from unneccessary expense.
In fairness, I have encountered people in my working life that made me think that perhaps some practical computer training might be a good thing at undergraduate level, but honestly that is a small minority i'm talking about in this day and age, and maybe its those people who should take such a course. Having said all that, I realise how lucky I am, particularly as a mature student to be at university and i'm glad of it, ECDL or no ECDL. Rant over, happy happy smiley smiley!