RE: giving an iSeries system to each college -- MIDRANGE-L

I guess an exception might be made for an endowment.  Wanna set one up,

Aaron?

[embarrassed] I had to look up endowment to make sure I knew what you meant
in this instance.

Unfortunately I am not independently wealthy so endowing a college is not an
option, though I can offer something much more valuable (IMO) in the way of
educating, viral marketing, and providing direction.  With that said I
recently got invited to be on the "Advisory Committee" for
http://southcentral.edu/ (or more specifically the Computer Careers program:
http://southcentral.edu/cc/) which will allow me to get my foot in the door
concerning curriculum.  I also got invited to speak in a XML related class
in February and am working on getting time to show RPG learners about WDSC
to create some excitement.  I guess I am finding that they are very open to
professionals coming in and telling kids (makes me feel old saying that)
about real world experiences and mine, for the most part, have to do with
the iSeries which I will recommend up one side and down the other.
Unfortunately for their curriculum they don't go past basic iSeries
operations and simple RPG programming (no web development, Java integration,
etc).  I am hoping eventually to put on a two or three session night class
that will show them how to "Unlock the iSeries for Web Development" which I
think would be real popular.

In the end I think we really need to network on the different initiatives
going on with the community so we can share from the wins and not have to
start from ground zero at every college.  This might come in the form of
having a place to post Power Point presentations to teach college level
individuals about iSeries development - is there a place we could do this?

Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com
 

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jerry Adams
Sent: Thursday, January 25, 2007 6:46 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: giving an iSeries system to each college

Nashville Tech dropped its RPG programming class several years ago.  The
only other thing they had was an Operations class.

The RPG class was III.  I tried convincing them to change it to IV but, they
said, employers wanted III (probably true, sigh).  The other "reason" I fear
is because the instructor didn't know IV.

Anyway, they, as Mark pointed out, dropped it because they couldn't get
enough enrollment.  Most of us don't think of it, but colleges are
businesses.  Unless the course is mandatory for a core offering, such as
engineering, or has enough students to "pay" for the instructor, facilities,
etc., it's a money loser and is dropped.  I guess an exception might be made
for an endowment.  Wanna set one up, Aaron?  
That was certainly be a way of getting involved.

And the people who make the business decisions regarding systems (as well as
other things), are *not* programmers.  It is necessary to convince and prove
to these people that the iSeries is not a legacy system, that it can do damn
near anything, etc.  As Mark pointed out, it's a Catch-22: The colleges
won't start the courses until there's a demand; the businessmen say, "There
are no people available to make this thing go." 


        * Jerry C. Adams
*IBM System i5/iSeries Programmer/Analyst B&W Wholesale Distributors, Inc.*
* voice
        615.995.7024
fax
        615.995.1201
email
        jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



Nick_Radich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Actually I thought that all of the Colleges, etc..., had dropped it.  
It was a surprise to hear about the one in Mankato still going.  From 
what I have heard, even most of the schools on the northern and 
western side of Wisconson had dropped it as well.

Nick



Nick Radich
Sr. Programmer/Analyst
EPC Molding, Inc.
Direct  (320) 679-6683
Toll free  (800) 388-2155  ext. 6683
Fax  (320) 679-4516
nick_radich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx



"albartell" <albartell@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent by: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
01/24/07 02:27 PM
Please respond to
Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>


To
"'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'" <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx> cc

Subject
RE: giving an iSeries system to each college

CALL TO ACTION...If you want to see System i education offered in 
your

area, GET INVOLVED

It would be nice to be able to assess the situation a little more and 
gain insight to where we could even apply our skills and donate our 
time.  I was surprised at Nick's statement of Mankato MN being the 
last tech college in MN that offers iSeries/RPG specific curriculum - 
is that really the case Nick?  It would be cool to have a page on 
ibm.com devoted to the success stories so the wheel doesn't need to be 
recreated.  I am guessing the one in Kansas has some formidable 
support and man hours put into it, what about the staff that is 
already stretched too thin?  How can they best leverage upcoming 
programs?  How can they best get in touch with area businesses that 
are running i5's to find people to donate their time?

Aaron Bartell
http://mowyourlawn.com

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mark S. 
Waterbury
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 1:49 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: giving an iSeries system to each college

The success of any program like the IBM System i Academic Initiative 
(formerly iSeries Scholars Program, nee PIE), is predicated on several 
things that MUST HAPPEN (not necessarily in this order):

1. availability of necessary infrastructure (e.g. access to an i5/OS 
system either locally or remotely) and any i5-related software 
students need to use (especially on their PCs, for IDEs, etc.)

2. availability of full-time i5/OS administrators or programmers from 
industry who are willing and able to serve as "adjunct faculty" to 
teach part-time courses in a local community college or university, 
and/or to act as a part-time administrators for any i5 systems on 
campus -OR- availability of full-time faculty with the necessary 
knowledge to do the same.

3. availability of textbooks, preferably with "instructor's guide" and 
lesson plans, suggested homework exercises, sample quizzes and exams, 
etc., so that anyone trying to teach the course for the first time can 
get "up and running" quickly. (This was a major inhibitor over the 
past
5 years at several schools I was involved with.) Many college 
professors will not even attempt to teach a new course without this kind

of support.

(Oh, by the way, Microsoft does an EXCELLENT JOB in providing all of 
these kinds of materials to colleges, for their recommended courses, 
at very low
cost.)

4. students willing to enroll in such courses.  Without enough 
students, most colleges will be forced to CANCEL those courses, as 
they cannot afford to run them "at a loss" (or at least "break even" 
with regard to paying adjunct faculty, etc.)  Many students are not 
willing to take any courses in a curriculum for "some platform they 
never heard of" -- especially if they have little or no faith that 
there will be any jobs available upon the completion of such 
coursework.  This is a big "CATCH-22" ... I know of several community 
colleges that listed several AS/400 related courses in their catalog, 
but NO ONE EVER SIGNED-UP for those courses. There needs to be some 
kind of advertising-marketing in the local community to attract 
student interest, such as having potential employers (companies that 
use
i5)
come on campus and give a lecture to the students in the "introduction 
to computers" courses to explain that there are jobs in the local 
market for people with i5 skills.  This requires some cooperation and 
assistance from the i5 community -- most colleges generally cannot or 
will not be able do this adequately by themselves (there are of course 
some rare exceptions who do a very good job of this "promotional" 
work.)

CALL TO ACTION
If you want to see System i education offered in your area, GET 
INVOLVED ...
Volunteer to serve on a local college's CIS Advisory Board (or 
whatever they call it), so you can have input into their curriculum, 
etc. -- volunteer to help to "spread the word" ... Employers who use 
System i in the local community could pay for their employees to 
sign-up for and take courses (evening or week-ends) at the local 
colleges, in these courses ... For example, how many RPG programmers 
would like to learn Java for iSeries?
etc.


It is not easy -- it requres a commitment of your time, effort, etc.; 
it can take a year or more to "get the ball rolling" -- perhaps you 
may even need to volunteer to teach one or two courses the first time 
around.

If we don't take any action, we will continue to get the same results 
we are seeing now -- very few colleges are currently offering ANY 
courses related to IBM System i, p or z.  (Think globally, act 
locally.)

Sincerely,

Mark S. Waterbury

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