5 ms·

So, we are just calling certifications by different names now? I opened the iOS nanodegree page: -- The core courses will bring you from zero to hero in deve

by BSousa 12y ago

So, we are just calling certifications by different names now? I opened the iOS nanodegree page: -- The core courses will bring you from zero to hero in developing industry-quality iOS apps using Apple's innovative programming language, Swift . . . * 7-8 months if you can commit 10 hours per week * 3-4 months if you can commit 20 hours per week -- So assuming one spends 40 hours a week (normal work week) in 1.5-2.0 months you will be a 'accredited' iOS developer. Sorry, I wouldn't hire you, and I can't remember a place I worked at that would. They will just be like the MCTS or whatever from Microsoft, but without at least a 'governing' body that issues the requirements. Just something to add to your resume to work at a place that doesn't know how to do hiring.

thatthatis 12y ago
A degree/certificate/certification is a signal based on reputation of granting institution, requisite work, and quality of others possessing the signal. I am a huge fan of udacity, so I personally would take a udacity nano degree at higher value than an average certificate. I think their pedagogical approach delivers 2-5x the average course hour worth of knowledge per udacity hour. (1 he udacity ~= 2-5 hrs normal course). Right now there's an enormous pool of self taught developers who can only point to portfolios to demonstrate their competence, and a portfolio is heavily, heavily bias able with a little bit of sales and marketing talent. In the long run, the question is: how much do you have to know to get the nano degree?
ratsbane 12y ago
I wouldn't vote to hire a candidate solely because of a nanodegree from Udacity but I would consider it a positive signal; not as strong as an MS in CS from Stanford or a long list of published apps, but evidence of a desire for self-improvement and the discipline to act on that.
- radmuzom 12y ago
  Even an online CS degree from Stanford (if one existed) could not compete with their regular CS degree. I think this is more appropriate for "average" developers to put a stamp on their resume, and demonstrate to a prospective employer that they have taken the time and effort to complete a course. It is possible that you do not hire average developers, but then you are a minority.
  - ratsbane 12y ago
    Stanford does offer certificates and degrees delivered either partially or entirely online: http://scpd.stanford.edu/publicViewHome.do?method=load http://scpd.stanford.edu/publicViewHome.do?method=load I've taken CS courses at Stanford both through SCPD and on-campus. They're literally the same classes. Lectures are videorecorded and online. Tests and assignments are exactly the same. There are minor advantages to being on campus: asking questions after class; sitting around your TA's office in Palantir bean-bag chairs while someone sketches sparse autoencoder on the dry-erase board; Axe burgers; but really, remote is okay too.

by BSousa 12y ago

thatthatis 12y ago

A degree/certificate/certification is a signal based on reputation of granting institution, requisite work, and quality of others possessing the signal. I am a huge fan of udacity, so I personally would take a udacity nano degree at higher value than an average certificate. I think their pedagogical approach delivers 2-5x the average course hour worth of knowledge per udacity hour. (1 he udacity ~= 2-5 hrs normal course). Right now there's an enormous pool of self taught developers who can only point to portfolios to demonstrate their competence, and a portfolio is heavily, heavily bias able with a little bit of sales and marketing talent. In the long run, the question is: how much do you have to know to get the nano degree?

ratsbane 12y ago

I wouldn't vote to hire a candidate solely because of a nanodegree from Udacity but I would consider it a positive signal; not as strong as an MS in CS from Stanford or a long list of published apps, but evidence of a desire for self-improvement and the discipline to act on that.

radmuzom 12y ago
Even an online CS degree from Stanford (if one existed) could not compete with their regular CS degree. I think this is more appropriate for "average" developers to put a stamp on their resume, and demonstrate to a prospective employer that they have taken the time and effort to complete a course. It is possible that you do not hire average developers, but then you are a minority.
- ratsbane 12y ago
  Stanford does offer certificates and degrees delivered either partially or entirely online: http://scpd.stanford.edu/publicViewHome.do?method=load http://scpd.stanford.edu/publicViewHome.do?method=load I've taken CS courses at Stanford both through SCPD and on-campus. They're literally the same classes. Lectures are videorecorded and online. Tests and assignments are exactly the same. There are minor advantages to being on campus: asking questions after class; sitting around your TA's office in Palantir bean-bag chairs while someone sketches sparse autoencoder on the dry-erase board; Axe burgers; but really, remote is okay too.