After Week 4 of INTRICT

"SURPRISE"

That's the word for the week. Yes, life is indeed full of surprises. Just like in our meeting in INTRICT this past week, last 18th of June, 2008 which was our only meeting.

It was 8AM when Sir Oli arrived and later on distributed papers among us... it was a friggin' surprise... a surprise test, haha. We didn't have any friggin' idea on what the coverage was. No announcement was made the week before. Just the dreaded test paper on our respective tables, plus the "bonus" powerpoint that Sir Oli flashed on the board, haha. Well it kinda helped... I guess? HAHAHA.

To cut the crap off, there's a lesson learned... BE FRIGGIN' READY AT ALL FRIGGIN' TIMES. XP

ANYWAY...

The tests items were discussed in class. We discussed about the positions that are part of a company/enterprise (Non-Management Employees, Operational Management, Middle Management, Executive Management), the different activities of managers (Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling), the different kinds of company/enterprise reports (External, Detailed, Summary), other terms (Chief Information Officer, Enterprise Resource Planning, Workflow Application, Knowledge Workers), etc.

MAN, talk about understanding these things.

IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF FUN, AIN'T IT? Hehe.

And though the different functional units of an enterprise were included in the test, we didn't discuss it. But yes, there are a lot of enterprise functional units, examples are the engineering unit, sales and marketing unit, and customer service. There was even an essay question in the test asking how understanding the relation of the functional units affects an ICT professional. And in my personal perception, it is important for the professional as it affects him/her since that particular individual is tasked to conceptualize and if possible come up with possible applications on how the functional units can interact and communicate smoothly in the industry and/or how they can be integrated together.

So BASICALLY...

That's it for INTRICT week number 4.

After Week 3 of INTRICT

Companies require from ICTM Professionals to be knowledgeable with multiple programming languages. Applications are made and developed from different programming languages, that is why, it is a requirement for invididuals in the ICT field to be familiar and knowledgeable with not just one, BUT AS MANY programming languages possible. For example, I should not just be very familiar with Java, but also, I must learn other programming languages well, like C++, SQL, and VisualBasic.

The non-technical skills that I must really develop for me to be able to excel in the ICT field/industry are having good communication skills, being a more independent worker, developing my problem-solving skills, and becoming a socially reponsible and ethical IT student (of course, before becoming a professional, haha!).

I need to develop my verbal communication skills through learning and practicing how to talk professionally and smoothly, and also with great sense. Speaking in front of many people is one of my weaknesses, really. Also, I should help myself be more independent by being more resourceful on the different references and materials that I need in order to develop my learnings and skills for the ICT field. Developing my problem-solving skills is a must since it's an important skill required in the ICT field to further conceptualize, design, and develop applications. I may have the analytical and critical thinking skills already, but still problem-solving skills is needed in this "three-punch" non-technical skills package. Lastly, I will just learn along the way how to become a socially responsible and ethical IT student since I don't have a clear idea on this particular skill yet. After all, skills are acquired along the way, hehe.

Job Findings | Results and Reflections (INTRICT)

1. TECHNICAL SKILLS. From the data acquired, I've noticed that C++, MS SQL, Visual Basic, Java, JavaScript, and C, are the programming languages that one must be very familiar with and knowledgeable about. Different companies require for an individual to be familiar with different programming languages, and NOT JUST ONE. From the job findings, I realized that, when one desires to work in the IT industry, he/she must be flexible with the different programming languages that are utilized in the IT field. I just wonder why C++ is more required than Java.



2. NON-TECHNICAL SKILLS. In the IT industry, excellent communication skills and the ability to build and develop interpersonal relationships are important factors for a clear and smooth interaction among the different IT fields (development, designing, etc.) Companies also require great analytical and problem-solving skills since these are factors for an optimum performance in the industry. Take for example when developing an application: one cannot develop an application if he/she can't analyze the application and come up with possible solutions for its development. Also, being a team player is also a requirement and I believe it's needed in the IT industry, because no one can make a great product or output on his/her own, that work should be done always as a unit or a team. Working under minimal supervision is also a requirement; though working as a team in the IT field is important, a team is still divided into certain assignments and tasks in which different individuals to work on their own. One member of the team cannot afford to supervise the work of his/her teammate/s since it will totally decrease the former's time to work properly. Lastly, just like in any industry, to be able to work under pressure is a requirement. Deadlines and tons of tasks are also "formidable foes" for everyone in the IT industry, and it's important to work properly through these pressures, because if not, deadlines will not be met and tasks will not be accomplished.



3. RESPONSIBILITIES. The responsibilities for the jobs are given of great importance too, since these responsibilities will all be carried out through the technical and non-technical skills that the employees possess. There are variations in responsibilities but still, companies require effort in the carrying out of these reponsibilities. From the results, applications development is the usual responsibilities. In the IT industry, development of applications is the usual but great responsibility since, in the industry, all applications aren't retained as is but are modified and changed from time to time, probably according to the needs and wants of particular generation or a specific group of people.

____________________________________________________________________

Hays... natapos ko rin. I did this in Maynilad Study Center. Breaktime namin eh, haha. Busted pa rin laptop ko, haha. Malas! XP

Job Findings | Sources (INTRICT)

jobsdb.com

http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP059697999
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP059303999
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP059301099
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP058891099
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP058358499
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP058075599
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP057996499
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP059919199
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP058516299
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP059944799
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP059686099
http://www.jobsdb.com.ph/PH/EN/Job.asp?R=JDBP059300899

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jobstreet.com

http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/6/default/20/1880770.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/5/default/20/1862875.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/6/d/20/1877962.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/6/d/20/1877955.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/6/d/20/1875852.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/5/default/20/1844035.htm?fr=J
http://my.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/5/default/10/640829.htm?fr=J
http://my.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/6/default/10/644721.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/6/default/20/1878768.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/4/default/20/1830819.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/6/d/20/1877965.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/6/default/20/1876959.htm?fr=J
http://ph.jobstreet.com/jobs/2008/6/default/20/1874752.htm?fr=J

After Week 2 of INTRICT

Blast it! Talk about bad luck, man. My laptop busted out a couple of nights ago and it's not yet fixed. Now I'm having trouble in getting my "online" assignments done. It's either I go to Maynilad Study Center (in Taft) or I go here at the internet shop near our house to finish the assignments. Talk about inconvenience, HAHA. Badtrip!

So, this week's blog is about productivity with the use of technology. And I guess that the technology I should start maximizing are the Google applications, specifically the Google Docs and the Google Calendar. As I've said, I can't finish my assignments (e.g. blog in INTRICT, reaction paper in SCIENVB, etc.) at home since my laptop is busted. Basically, there's no Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer, as well as Microsoft Word to finish those assignments. But thanks to Google Docs, I can do my work online and save it in Google Docs, and access it to any computer (like in different computer shops and in the study center). Also, Sir Paul (FEAD Head) asked me to send to him my schedule. And I learned that he's also using Gmail. Now, I can just simply share with him my schedule through the Google Calendar. Using this application, I can easily make adjustments to my schedule, unlike when doing and printing my schedule using MS Excel, it'll be hard making copies of schedule over and over again. HASSLE KAYA 'YUN!

Let me share something... I was in the study center yesterday and I was accessing my Gmail account. I was fixing my calendar and starting with my SCIENVB reaction paper when my friend, Carlos a.k.a Doc, asked me what I was doing. I then answered him that I was fixing my schedule for the month and starting with the reaction paper. He then asked me how Gmail is, and I told him that it's really helpful in organizing one's tasks, works, or whatsoever. He was even amazed when he I shared to him that Google even texts me when a particular activity of mine is coming up. To his amazement, he then sat in front to the the other computer and made his Gmail account. HAHA. Gmail indeed worked its magic on another individual.

I can probably share Gmail with my parents so that they can pretty much develop their time management in doing their work. My mom calls me every now and then and at times, I can't attend to her calls because I might be busy or probably out somewhere. With Google Calendar sharing, my mom can know my whereabouts, and with that she will know when she can call me for a little chitchat. My dad, on the other hand, needs to get done with lots of documents. Just like me, he will not be able to finish working with his documents if the laptop is busted. With Google Docs, my dad can finish his work more efficiently (like internet shops or meeting places) since he can access his documents online in any computer. Basically... it's great. HAHA.

I made the right choice of entering BS-ICTM since I know and I believe that the applications and skills to be learned, utilized, and developed in this course can be well applied and integrated with my daily activities, such as completing my tasks and assignments, managing my schedule, saving my documents online and accessing them in other computers, etc. I know I can be more productive in finishing my works with the lessons and applications that we learn in BS-ICTM. And so far, the applications we learned in INTRICT class are very, and I mean VERY helpful and convenient. Thanks Sir Oli, hahaha!

At last, I finished INTRICT blog entry #2, haha.
That would be all. God bless! :)

After Week 1 of INTRICT

The first two meetings of INTRICT was a hell lot of fun, not only because our professor's, Mr. Oliver Malabanan, being humorous and lively and our class', S13, being crazy and "united" (or should I say crazily united?), but because I've discovered certain features of Google that can be very helpful to my daily whereabouts and activities.

And honestly, I didn't actually know that Google had these many applications! Calendar sharing, document sharing, bookmarking... You got it there! I'm grateful for having known these applications that Sir Oli had shared with us. I find the document sharing really helpful, since, given a group paperwork or research in INTRICT, it can be done by me and my groupmates simultaneously (on the web page itself), which will make things faster. How convenient and awesome is that? We get to type our assigned sections in the paperwork all at the same time! Also, I can get to share schedule of activities with other people through the internet calendar, and if fixed to the SMS setup, Google will even text you a reminder of a particular event (for example, Google will send you a text reminder of INTRICT class 10 minutes before INTRICT class begins)! Awesome isn't it?

Oh yeah, since I've about research and paperwork, do not limit yourselves with WIKIPEDIA. I repeat, do not limit yourselves searching in Wikipedia. There are other sites in the web wherein you can research. One is Answers.com; it's a search engine like Google and Yahoo!, but all the "searches" are narrowed down to the websites that are really closely related (if not exactly related) to the topic you're searching about. It gives a variety of information, definitions, etc. about the topic that you are researching on. It's pretty convenient, really. I suggest you guys also try it. I've been using that search engine for about 2 years now.

Productivity has been in MY dictionary for such a long time already. I admit that at times I also do get lazy (face it people, it's a reality), but when work enters in my system, I really do mean work. Productivity requires your D.E.W.: discipline, effort, and willpower. It starts with discipline since no one can start working productively if he or she does not set him/herself up for all his or her tasks, and discipline means being ready and setting yourself up for work. Then effort comes in; productivity in one's work is not possible if effort is not present. Will one's work output be of great quality if less effort was given by that particular individual? I don't really think so. And lastly, the willpower; to continue working to come up with a great output requires this factor. No one can ever get his or her work done if he or she has no willpower. This factor is what drives an individual to do and produce quality output from his or her work. Well, I can share this D.E.W. thing with my parents by showing them how my work attitude is, this would probably inspire or motivate them to work harder (haha!). Well, it's how life goes; even the older ones get to learn from the younger ones, right? So basically, that's it.

Oh yeah, productivity in relation to technology means coming up with an output of great value under a shorter period of time. For example, when writing reports that are usually done in a time span of weeks, can be minimize to getting done in just a time span of a few hours or even just minutes. Yes, that's how one can be convenient in doing his/her work with the use of technology.

I guess it would be all for now. 'Til the next blog. God bless. :)