IT Fundamentals : Never Stop Improving

It is better to move forward an inch then to stop.

~Chinese Proverb

Go little guy go!

Ever since I made the leap from office assisting to IT I have been in a constant state of improvement and development.  Whether I am learning how to build a computer in my bedroom (please PLEASE use anti-static pads if you do this!  The last thing you need is your cat zapping your motherboard... and keep your cat out of your work space.) or taking classes at a community college I have been developing skill sets.

Warning : Does NOT Mix Well With Computers

This has been both an intrinsic desire to learn how things operate and spurred by new job responsibilities (I have no clue how Microsoft Project works, but there's a class for that!).  I have found that by building time for the into my daily routine I am able to blend it into my life.  I know that after I get home I just need to spend half an hour doing homework, then I get to do other stuff (of course, this kind of back fires since if I'm not studying I feel antsy...).  I am fortunate that my current position highly encourages this. 

Now where is that note...

The biggest hurdle I had when I began doing this was where to get information.  The internet, as you may be aware, is a vast wilderness.  Part dumping ground, part hallowed shrine, part Mad Max, it can be hard to find what you're looking for.  Searching for "A+ Study" returns several million hits (fortunately some good ones pop up), the vast majority of which are rather useless.  The most success I had was with word of mouth.  A friend recommended Professor Messer (check him out.  Seriously, he rocks), which really got me started.  Taking time to examine information sources was also valuable.  Think of it like studying to study.

Once I got started, I was hooked.  I have borrowed books from co-workers, watched countless Youtube videos, taken classes, written papers, browsed hardware, tinkered with computers, fried circuits, dreamt about systems analysis (that was a weird night), and made hundreds, if not thousands, of note cards.  All of this drives towards the singular purpose of improving my skill set.
The trick is to choose activities which complement each other.  Taking a cooking class, then going to welding school may be interesting, but don't exactly support each other (unless you're cooking with a blow torch...)

This has several advantages, the biggest is I increase my value to my employer.  I have been able to take on increasing responsibility at work, mostly due to my new-found skills.  Simply learning how to learn has also helped at work since I am able to learn from my co-workers and take on new tasks.  Another big advantage is I feel better about myself.  I consistently find myself in new and interesting situations (not all are enjoyable, but they're all interesting...).  This keeps me out of a rut, which is a very dangerous place to be in.

To quote Dori, from finding Nemo:

Just Keep Swimming

Study Tips : Shorthand

I'll start this off with saying that my hand writing is awful, may worse than Doctor awful.  This, combined with the large amount of handwritten notes I take led to me developing a good number of shortcuts when writing.  These short cuts have helped speed up not only my note taking, but the speed at which I can make note cards (a very boring task at times!).  It also cuts down on the quantity of paper I have to use to contain everything.

There is training you can get on actual shorthand.  Secretaries and others taking tons of notes utilize it to write quickly and accurately.  I have not gotten into any of it, although I was much more interested when I was still taking hand written notes.

Unfortunately if you are sharing your notes or cards with anyone, these can make it quite challenging for them.  I have shared my cards with co-workers and have had to spend some time teaching them my short cuts.  The thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't matter what shorthand you use, just be consistent with yourself so you don't get confused.  There are a few shorthand shortcuts I use that have confused me (Auth can mean either Authentication or Authorization... oops) which I have had to go back and change.  It did take a bunch of discipline to un-learn.

Just like Mnemonics, your short hand doesn't have to make sense to anyone else, and it doesn't have to make sense out of context either.  Just be careful that you setup symbols and shortcuts that you will remember.  Even draw up a list, print it out and use it until you remember them all.

Moving on to some suggestions for short hand!  Remember, it doesn't matter what you use, just be consistent with what you use, and be open to change.

@ = "At"

Replace the word "at" with the "@" symbol.  This was one of the first ones I figured out, mostly since we all use it daily with email addresses.  The symbol is quite fluid when handwritten, so while replace "at" with a similarly sized symbol I find it easier to write.

"-/"  =  Not

I use this one frequently.  I remember it from a predicate logic class in college.  Basically it means "not" (whatever comes next), or "opposite" (whatever comes next).  So if I write "The light should be -/red" it would mean the light will be any color but red.

Pcol = Protocol

Replace the word "Protocol" with Pcol.  I haven't seen any word ever in English (which I am less than skilled at) that starts with Pcol, so it's unlikely you'll mix this up with anything.  I used this one a LOT when I was working on Security+ (there's a ton of protocols to understand), and am continued using it in Project+, although not to the extent I had.

Msg = Message

Using "Msg" instead of Message.  This one is a bit more widely used (at least in some of the games I have played in the past).  It showed up a bit more in Project+ than the others, but still shows up.

SVC = Service 

SVC popped up in all the certifications I've taken.  When I use it I tend to put it in all caps just so I know it's the short hand.

SVR = Server 

SVR also showed up in all the certifications I've taken.  Servers also show up a lot in IT (shocker, I know) so I have kept using it in notes at my current job.  This is another one I try to keep capitalized.

Dest = Destination 

Dest found it's life mainly in Network+ and Security+.  

Nwork = Network

Nwork came about in my first Certification, Network+ (also a shocker...).  I've used it fairly consistently in my note taking, not only for technical stuff but for other functions as well.

Sec = Security

I began using Sec during my Security+ training.  It took some getting used to to remember this one (I am not sure why) but it certainly came in handy.

Auth = Authentication... OR Authorization

This one was dangerous.  The terms "Authentication" and "Authorization" came up a LOT in Security+ and I kept forgetting which one Auth meant.  I mainly began using contextual clues to tell me which one it should be.

HW, SW = Hardware and Software

I started using these when I began taking inventory at one of my older jobs.  I began to circle them so I knew they were short hand, and it's stuck with me.

Study Tools: Note Cards Part 2

Being stuck on a plane for several hours recently I've put some more thoughts into how to use note cards to study.  Check out my previous thoughts on note cards for a starting point.  

When I was first studying for Network+ I would label each card with the portion of the exam the information relates to.  I would put the Objective number (i.e. 1.8 for DNS information) in the upper right hand corner of the front of the card.  I kept them all grouped by Objective.  Since then, I have dropped the Objective number from the card just to see how it changes how I use the cards.

An example of the front of my note cards with the Objective.

The advantage I have found in having the Objective is it allows me to study specific portions.  This is great because I can target my studying to areas that I am not doing as well in.  Of course, the trick is figuring out where your weakness is.  The Sybex books generally contain a CD with bonus content (practice exams, note cards etc.) which I have used to figure out where I'm weak.  There are also some practice exams online, the problem is you never know if they're all that accurate.

And the back

The problem I have found in having the Objective on the card is it distracts me from the information on the card.  Instead of focusing entirely on the question or answer, I am also thinking of the Objective number.  None of the exams I have taken have ever made mention of the Objective number during the exam.  Many exams will give you a readout of the areas you missed at the end.  They don't tell you the answers, or even the specific questions you've missed, but they give you the Objective number and a description of that Objective.  e.g. 3.2 Categorize standard connector types based on network media.

In addition to having the Objective on the card (or not!) I have begun to randomize the order I have the cards in.  For Network+ I kept all of the cards grouped by their Objective, all the Objective 1's were in a group, all the 2's in another etc.  For Project+ I kept shuffling the deck as I put together smaller stacks.  Once I could do most of the stack I would shuffle it into the rest of the deck.  I still pull out all of the Stumpers, but I keep them as mixed up as possible.  All the exams I have taken randomize the questions, so you never know which Objective is first.  I figure if I study that way it will make me better on the exam.

Study Tools: Note Cards

I have found that note cards are a great study tool.  I first started using them with Professor Messer's Network+ course.  First I would watch the videos and take copious notes on what was covered.  After that I would take those notes and then transfer the important points to some blank note cards.  From there it was an easy task of just going over them as much as I could.

There are really only three steps in developing this tool.  The secret is discipline.  You have to keep up on it. You must do a little every day and the overall effort will be immense.

The first step in the process is easy to do but takes a bit of practice.  All you have to do is read (or watch) and write down the important points.  The hard part is knowing what information to copy down.  The Sybex lines of books tend to italicize important points, and they also list exam related items at the end of the chapter.  Many books will do a similar thing and alert you to important ideas or definitions through boxes off areas on the page or other visual cues.  When I was using the Professor Messer books I copied over as much as I could write down about what he was saying (everything if I could get it).  This led to a lot of pausing the video so I could catch up with my writing.

The second step is also easy.  Just copy down the most pertinent notes from your first step onto your note cards.  I don't always write down every single note, some things I know I don't need to put onto note card format since I already have it memorized.  My general rule is to put it on a note card if I think it is important and if I cannot repeat the information with no cues.  This process can take a while since you need to re-format the information into a question on one side and then write the answer on the reverse.

The third step is also easy.  Just read the cards.  Read them a lot.  Every day.  Every hour.  Every spare moment you can find read the cards.  The more you go over them, the more they will stick in your brain, and that's the idea.  The key to success is the ability to recall facts, ideas and concepts clearly.

My current Project+ deck, note the business card. (and I'm only about 75% done!)

The biggest problem I have with note cards is simply the size of them.  I end up with stacks several inches high, and carting them all around town is a bit of a pain.  Fortunately, I have figured out some methods to combat this.

1. Do not make all of your note cards at once.  Instead, make them in sections.  Chapters of a book make for great sections.  Only carry one or two sections at a time.  Study them until you can answer every card, then switch up to another section.
2. Carry all your note cards in your bag, but only a few on you at any time.  Rotate out cards frequently to keep your brain guessing as to whats next.
3. Develop two, or more, decks.  Go through all your cards and set aside the ones you cannot answer immediately (My "Stumper" deck).  Take all the cards you know the first time and put them away for now (my "Easy" deck) and only carry around the ones that stump you.  Go over the first deck every other day just to keep it fresh, but focus mostly on the Stumper deck.  As you find yourself answering Stumper deck cards more and more frequently, move them into the Easy deck.  Once you only have one (a BIG Easy deck) you should be doing pretty good!

My stumper deck (right) and the easy deck (left).

The best part for me about this process is I get to spend time in coffee shops listening to music and relaxing.  I am furiously writing out note cards or focusing on reading, but at least I get to see a new spot and enjoy a nice cup of coffee (or tea).

The greatest strength of the note card is for facts.  Things like port numbers, types of contracts, OSI layers etc. are great.  More fluid concepts and ideas can be a bit hard to get on a note card, but at least it will get your brain thinking about these things regularly.

And the best part, 300 blank note cards only put me back $2!