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ChrisGilmore · Sep 13, 2006, 12:29

Hey Guys, Im bored so I thought I'd post this.

I'm on a ICT course that gets me a GCSE in Year 9. (trial thing) And part of it is to design a website for our E-Portfolio, and I thought it would be CSS but no, they said to use Frames, and then for the navigation use tables and put a flash button in each cell.

So I said I use CSS because you shouldn't use tables. And now they take the mic because they think Im a geek and think that what they're doing is cheating. But you still pass the exam using the WRONG way, so Ive done it that way.

Do you think we should be learning it this way? Or should they be teaching it the proper way?

awestmoreland · Sep 13, 2006, 19:05

It depends on what your long-term objectives are really. As long as you know the preferred method of doing it, then there's no real harm in doing it their way to get the grade. Most qualifications only prove that you can memorize theory anyway

My biggest regret was not taking "computers" as it was called then when I was at school. Having been programming a ZX Spectrum 48k (you may have seen one of those in a museum) since the age of 11, I was familiar with all the...
10 PRINT "HELLO WORLD!"
20 GOTO 10
...that I would have learned in class, so opted not to take the course.

Upon leaving school, I found that many of my lesser-skilled classmates were finding the programming jobs of my dreams, whereas I didn't have the piece of paper to prove that I knew at least as much as they did.

My advice would be to do what you need to do to pass, then do it your own way. If you go on to take further classes at college/uni, then chances are that they'll do it the correct way, but you may need the pass to get on the course.

If you intend to look for work in the industry, or set up on your own, then a portfolio speaks much louder than a qualification any day of the week.

Good luck!

Andy

ChrisGilmore · Sep 14, 2006, 00:26

Ye, Thanks for the advice, I'm doing it how they say anyway because it still gets you the qualification. Not like im going to refuse to do it or anything. Lol, i thought I'd seen that computer somewhere. London Science museum most probably.

mmj · Sep 14, 2006, 00:44

I have done courses where "you're not supposed to use CSS". I chose to use CSS anyway. I passed with a medium score. The lecturer was a good bloke, and told me I was a bit advanced for that class. I got a medium grade.

He was kind a member of "these people should learn tables first before CSS" school of thought.

Sep 13, 2006, 12:29	#1
ChrisGilmore SitePoint Zealot Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 191	AiDA ICT Year 9 Course. Hey Guys, Im bored so I thought I'd post this. I'm on a ICT course that gets me a GCSE in Year 9. (trial thing) And part of it is to design a website for our E-Portfolio, and I thought it would be CSS but no, they said to use Frames, and then for the navigation use tables and put a flash button in each cell. So I said I use CSS because you shouldn't use tables. And now they take the mic because they think Im a geek and think that what they're doing is cheating. But you still pass the exam using the WRONG way, so Ive done it that way. Do you think we should be learning it this way? Or should they be teaching it the proper way?

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Sep 13, 2006, 19:05	#2
awestmoreland American't Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,141	It depends on what your long-term objectives are really. As long as you know the preferred method of doing it, then there's no real harm in doing it their way to get the grade. Most qualifications only prove that you can memorize theory anyway My biggest regret was not taking "computers" as it was called then when I was at school. Having been programming a ZX Spectrum 48k (you may have seen one of those in a museum) since the age of 11, I was familiar with all the... 10 PRINT "HELLO WORLD!" 20 GOTO 10 ...that I would have learned in class, so opted not to take the course. Upon leaving school, I found that many of my lesser-skilled classmates were finding the programming jobs of my dreams, whereas I didn't have the piece of paper to prove that I knew at least as much as they did. My advice would be to do what you need to do to pass, then do it your own way. If you go on to take further classes at college/uni, then chances are that they'll do it the correct way, but you may need the pass to get on the course. If you intend to look for work in the industry, or set up on your own, then a portfolio speaks much louder than a qualification any day of the week. Good luck! Andy

Sep 14, 2006, 00:26	#3
ChrisGilmore SitePoint Zealot Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 191	Ye, Thanks for the advice, I'm doing it how they say anyway because it still gets you the qualification. Not like im going to refuse to do it or anything. Lol, i thought I'd seen that computer somewhere. London Science museum most probably.

Sep 14, 2006, 00:44	#4
mmj Test cases complete. 0 fails. Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 6,721	I have done courses where "you're not supposed to use CSS". I chose to use CSS anyway. I passed with a medium score. The lecturer was a good bloke, and told me I was a bit advanced for that class. I got a medium grade. He was kind a member of "these people should learn tables first before CSS" school of thought.