Zach Dennison's ePortfolio: Reflection

Reflection

I have really enjoyed my time in the Computer Technology program at Southern Maine Community College. Some of the classes have been more of a review, others have given me a review and taught me new things, and one has introduced me to a bunch of concepts I had not been introduced to before. Below is my reflection on each course in the program.

Introduction to Computer Technology CMPT 100	This course was an introduction to DOS and how to install Windows. I had a lot of prior experience with DOS and Windows, and had installed windows at least 50 times before taking the course. Therefore, the majority of the course was review. One of the things I learned in the course that I had not had experience with before was deploying sysprep images of Windows. Other than that, I did not learn much in this course.
Introduction to Web Programming CMPT 105	This course was mainly an introduction to the PERL programming language. I had prior experience with PHP, which was based on PERL, so I found the course easy. I did not know the specifics of PERL, so I did learn a lot.
Introduction to Databases CMPT 110	This course was an introduction to Microsoft Access 2007 and the key concepts of Databases. I feel that the concepts of using databases is a key concept to know in the computer field. I don't feel that knowledge of Access is as important, because I feel that companies are more often using web databases like MySQL and using web software to manage data. However this class did teach those concepts thorugh access, so I feel it was a valuable course.
Microcomputer Hardware CMPT 115	This course goes over the history of computer hardware, and introduces students to the inside of a computer. It's a hands-on course, and requires you to disassemble and reassemble a computer. I had seen all this before, and had prior experience repairing computer hardware problems, so this course was only a review for me. However is was a thorough review of microcomputer hardware.
Open Source Operating Systems CMPT 120	This course was an introduction to Linux, how to install it and set it up an Apache web server, a CUPS print server, and other Linux server tasks. I really liked the class, and feel it will be very valuable if I ever work somewhere where I will manage a Linux server.
Structured Programming CMPT 125	I am currently taking this course, but I already feel it's a valuable course. In addition to learning the basics of Java, I'm learning important concepts of Opbject-Oriented Programming, such as creating several methods that perform small tasks so my code can be reused, and separating methods that perform different functions into different classes (for example, separating GUI methods from logical methods and I/O methods). I really like the course.
Applications in Software CMPT 210	An introduction to PHP and MySQL, this course is just a review for me. I feel the skills learned in this course are valuable if I get a job where I need to create or manage web software, however I knew everything prior to the course. For me, this course is just a basic review.
Microsoft Operating Systems CMPT 215	This course goes deep into the world of managing Windows. I learned a lot in this course, about setting permissions, setting up Windows to automatically reset to a certain state upon each reboot, and how to limit users activities. I learned the basics of setting up an Active Directory server too. I liked this course, and now I feel prepared to work anywhere that I might have to manage an Active Directory server.
Network Systems Management CMPT 220	This course takes the Microsoft Operating Systems class a step further, and deals mainly with Windows server operating systems. Setting up an Active Directory server was a common task, each time setting it up to perform different tasks. We also took a look things like IP addresses, and other networking concepts like what networking switches are and how the work. I gave me a deeper understanding of how networking works. I enjoyed the course.
Network Engineering CMPT 225	Prior to entering this course, I had not had experience with any of the tasks performed. We setup a Linux server to act as a gateway that filtered certain computer's access to the internet, create subnets that only allowed certain web sites to certain subnets, and setup a domain name server (DNS). I really like the class, and found it the most challenging of the whole program. I really like this course, and it has given me an even deeper understanding of networking than I got from Network Systems Management.

Introduction to Computer Technology
CMPT 100

This course was an introduction to DOS and how to install Windows. I had a lot of prior experience with DOS and Windows, and had installed windows at least 50 times before taking the course. Therefore, the majority of the course was review. One of the things I learned in the course that I had not had experience with before was deploying sysprep images of Windows. Other than that, I did not learn much in this course.

Introduction to Web Programming
CMPT 105

This course was mainly an introduction to the PERL programming language. I had prior experience with PHP, which was based on PERL, so I found the course easy. I did not know the specifics of PERL, so I did learn a lot.

Introduction to Databases
CMPT 110

This course was an introduction to Microsoft Access 2007 and the key concepts of Databases. I feel that the concepts of using databases is a key concept to know in the computer field. I don't feel that knowledge of Access is as important, because I feel that companies are more often using web databases like MySQL and using web software to manage data. However this class did teach those concepts thorugh access, so I feel it was a valuable course.

Microcomputer Hardware
CMPT 115

This course goes over the history of computer hardware, and introduces students to the inside of a computer. It's a hands-on course, and requires you to disassemble and reassemble a computer. I had seen all this before, and had prior experience repairing computer hardware problems, so this course was only a review for me. However is was a thorough review of microcomputer hardware.

Open Source Operating Systems
CMPT 120

This course was an introduction to Linux, how to install it and set it up an Apache web server, a CUPS print server, and other Linux server tasks. I really liked the class, and feel it will be very valuable if I ever work somewhere where I will manage a Linux server.

Structured Programming
CMPT 125

I am currently taking this course, but I already feel it's a valuable course. In addition to learning the basics of Java, I'm learning important concepts of Opbject-Oriented Programming, such as creating several methods that perform small tasks so my code can be reused, and separating methods that perform different functions into different classes (for example, separating GUI methods from logical methods and I/O methods). I really like the course.

Applications in Software
CMPT 210

An introduction to PHP and MySQL, this course is just a review for me. I feel the skills learned in this course are valuable if I get a job where I need to create or manage web software, however I knew everything prior to the course. For me, this course is just a basic review.

Microsoft Operating Systems
CMPT 215

This course goes deep into the world of managing Windows. I learned a lot in this course, about setting permissions, setting up Windows to automatically reset to a certain state upon each reboot, and how to limit users activities. I learned the basics of setting up an Active Directory server too. I liked this course, and now I feel prepared to work anywhere that I might have to manage an Active Directory server.

Network Systems Management
CMPT 220

This course takes the Microsoft Operating Systems class a step further, and deals mainly with Windows server operating systems. Setting up an Active Directory server was a common task, each time setting it up to perform different tasks. We also took a look things like IP addresses, and other networking concepts like what networking switches are and how the work. I gave me a deeper understanding of how networking works. I enjoyed the course.

Network Engineering
CMPT 225

Prior to entering this course, I had not had experience with any of the tasks performed. We setup a Linux server to act as a gateway that filtered certain computer's access to the internet, create subnets that only allowed certain web sites to certain subnets, and setup a domain name server (DNS). I really like the class, and found it the most challenging of the whole program. I really like this course, and it has given me an even deeper understanding of networking than I got from Network Systems Management.