Books for IT computing

Dymo

I know from people posting here that they've done the some IT courses and I'm hoping to get a head start and just need to know what books are being used now or is every lecturer different?

The course is BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (ORDINARY)IN COMPUTING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY part time

And the modules for the first year are:

OO Programming Fundamentals
Information Technology Systems
Systems Analysis Fundamentals
Visual Communications
Mathematics
Document Management

OO Programming Principles
Information Technology Applications
Systems Implementation
Web Design
Statistical Analysis
Critical Thinking and Learning

Thanks

MitchKoobski

Dymo wrote: »

OO Programming Fundamentals
Visual Communications
Mathematics
OO Programming Principles
Web Design
Critical Thinking and Learning

Have completed these classes, no books. We used whats called 'Moodle'. Its like an online resource for WIT where lecturers post notes and sample questions. You go off your notes in class and notes on Moodle for the majority of classes, but other than the classes I quoted there I can't say for sure.

Edit
Forgot to add, some lecturers will recommend that you buy a book or read a book to get a better insight into the subject matter. One or two classes might require you to go out and buy the book, but usually they just recommend a book and then use moodle.

Sully

Rarely use books in WIT as part of the course, sometimes though. In general, at the start of the year they give a "Recommended Reading list" but the books can be pricey and the notes provided or on Moodle should do the trick depending on how good the lecturer is. Some provide notes and you will still need books to get your head around it all!

Adyx

I've just finished the Higher Cert in this course (Part-time too). We didn't have to get any books but for Operating Systems and Computer Networks we were recommended Computer Science by CS. French and Computer Networks and Internets (4th Edition) by Douglas E. Comer respectively. You don't seem to be doing either of these subjects this year though and like I said they weren't essential anyway.

For myself I found Ground Up Java by Philip Heller a great book for starting in Java.

Dymo

Thanks, I started doing this course with the Open university where its based over 12 modules but with the time involved and the bigger expense I decided to switch to this course.

I was thinking books would'nt be used. The only subject's I'm a bit afraid of is Mathematics and Java, I've done Java before but it took a while to get the hang of it and even then I wasn't great.

Adyx

Dymo wrote: »

Thanks, I started doing this course with the Open university where its based over 12 modules but with the time involved and the bigger expense I decided to switch to this course.

I was thinking books would'nt be used. The only subject's I'm a bit afraid of is Mathematics and Java, I've done Java before but it took a while to get the hang of it and even then I wasn't great.

Well you only seem to be doing Maths for one semester so I wouldn't stress too much. Assuming it'll be the same as for my course, you'll be doing Fractions & Simultaneous Equations, Matrices, Binary/Hex/Octal number bases, Modular Arithmetic and Statistics. Of course this probably depends on what lecturer you have, but most of it is straight forward enough.

I'd done some programming before too but it was C and COBOL so it took me a while to get used to the whole Object-Orientated thing. It starts off fairly easily though and it won't be until the second semester that it really gets past the whole "this is an int, this is a float, this is how you write an if statement" stuff.

Dymo

Thanks for the info, one last thing is this course examined by an outside body or affiliated with some university or is it the lecturer than controls everything.

Thanks

Adyx

As far as I know WIT confers all awards itself. All courses are monitored by HETAC. There is also an external examiner for each exam too, same as full time courses.

stick-dan

purchased a maximum of three books in my fours years there, not necessary, their notes are more than adequate.

Sack

Don't bother with books for an IT course unless you are really struggling with something and need a specific insight. Everything is available on the net if you look for it and there are huge communities willing to help, especially in IT.

der2

I finished first year of that course last May, the award is the same of the comparable day course and each year gives you the 60 credits you need to move on into next year.

As for books, Programming was the subject we had to buy a book for in order to match what the lecturer covered. We used a book called "Objects First with Java:
A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ" found it here...

Objects First with Java:
A Practical Introduction Using BlueJ

We had to find the european fourth edition for the classes as there are a few different versions it seems. But maybe they'll move up to another edition this year, so wait until the lecturer says so, also you might have a different lecturer who will want a different book. I have it here, not sure if I'll need it this year, so I might have one spare for cheap if you are using it. But again wait until the lecturers tell you.

In the other classes, books were recommended, but the notes and the Internet were more than enough to get through Yr1.

Good luck in the course!

Dymo

Found out today their having problems with numbers on the course, and have not start date if any, if this happens what are my alternatives:( . All part time course cut off dates was the 31st of July

Sully

Dymo wrote: »

Found out today their having problems with number on the course, and have not start date if any, if this happens what are my alternatives:( . All part time course cut off dates was the 31st of July

I would imagine they would look after you, I cant see them turning you away and not moving you into a similar course or whatever.

But, I would advise you speak with your Students Union for further assistance and the best advise.