computeach
 

hello ,
is any one on a course with them ? . i am thinking about doing one . any one know any thing about them ,i know they have been around a long time
any help will be nice .
thanks
daz300

Re: computeach
 

Hope they have changed from when I looked into a course with them a few years ago. If not I have a spare barge pole you can borrow ;)

Re: computeach
 

I will post back later, I done the java course with them

ik

Re: computeach
 

Computeach are crap.

I started a Programming course with them, supossedly for C++

Turned out they didnt do C++ and I was paying £3500 to learn COBOL.

Needless to say it got me no where to complain.

When I called them for assistance their idea of support was to say "well its in your folder why dont you read that before calling us"

I have spoke to many many people about this company and NO ONE i came across in the IT industry had a good word to say about them.


The only advice I can and will give is DO NOT GO WITH COMPUTEACH.

Re: computeach
 

There's some info here:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...07&postcount=7

There's others if you search for Computeach :)

Re: computeach
 

well they are a bit..... I class them very expensive.
starting at £3500 per course, they teach you
Programming: java, C, C++, C#, VB, VB.NET, Javascript (ok not technically an all powerful language) and the likes
Datbases: oracle, sql
Windows: 2003 server
Networking
CIW: for webdesign
etc

well they put you where they think you will be strongest, but a lot of students are complaining that they are very weak in some courses and would be stronger in other courses, if you want to change your course you may haver to pay extra, up to another £2000.
You have to finish the course within 2-3 years otherwise you will incur penalties, e.g. you pay 5% of the current fees per quarter, so can be expensive.

Your course material is sent out to you so that you can work at your own pace, if you have any queries you can contact them either by phone or email, email is best you can describe your problems, and get a good answer to help explain why you are not understanding it, so that it helps you to help yourself.

there are normally 5 stages, stage 1 is IT fundamentals, e.g. how a computer works.
Stage 2 is starting you off in your chosen field, in my case Pascal to teach me programming
Stage 3 is the start of your chosen field, in my case Java
Stage 4 is more in depth of your chosen field.
Stage 5 is added extras, in my case HTML, Javascript & CSS

you have to go to the computeach head office for exams, which can be expensive, because it is in Dudley, in the west midlands.

if you fail an exam, you pay for another exam, but then you verify with receipts that you did the exam and they will re-emburse you.

I found that they help very well when you understand it, but if you really cannot get something they tend to not help as much. with teh exception of my last stage the tutor for Javascript & Css was brill, and at the 5 day course, I got a new lease of life for it.

I would only recommend it if you are seriously needing to get taught, if you can teach yourself then you can do the courses for much cheapness (as in free) from the net, and buy your exams yourself, you could save yourself lots of money, but if you want an institution to tech you then I would recommend them.

once you have goot to stage 4 you have the opportunaty to speak to Software profesionals, who end up helping you get a job, they are not a job agency but close to one, they do a CV for you, help you prepare for interviews etc.

I have finished my course, and to be honest I am glad to see the back of it, but I would learn something again, but I want to play with what I have learned and make up a portfolio, so I am currently re-doing my clubs website.

if I could afford to leave work and start afresh I would go to normal uni, but I can't.

ik

copied from my post a while back

Sorry Shaun should you already, thanks dude

Re: computeach
 

;) thank you all reps in post ;)

Re: computeach
 

:tu:

Re: computeach
 

When I phoned them for information they were very hard sell, ie they wanted a credit card number there and then...

Re: computeach
 

did you?

normally they send someone round for to speak to you and then give you the hard sell

and if anyone does get a sales guy in, ask for a day or two to think about it, with the documentation.

note some of the promises they tell you, as most of them are lies, and most CT students have complained endlessly about. CT said they would review their sales technique

ik

Re: computeach
 

If I £3,500 to spend on courses I would get a four course passport at Learning Tree. We used them when I was at experian - their courses are good.

Re: computeach
 

I would endorse the view that they are poor and should be avoided. In a former life as a training advisor I regularly saved people thousands by getting them to avoid computeach.

Local colleges haver lots of programmes including distance learning. Check with your local college, or the Learning and skills council or this national website

http://www.learndirect-advice.co.uk/

Re: computeach
 

i phoned them today befor i set this thread and they are sending some out to chat about what they have to offer/sell me .

ps reps in post .

Re: computeach
 

See if "Learning direct" can fix you up with a scheme - if you qualify, you may be able to get a course for free, or a lot cheaper than compuleech

Re: computeach
 

I presume you mean learn direct?

Re: computeach
 

Daz send me a pm with the course your interested in and i'll see if theres a Learn Direct course that matches it.

Re: computeach
 

I havent used them but am studying at University in a course which includes web design. I get annoyed at the computeach adverts that make it seem you can be a IT Professional/Games Programmer and so on. Its hard enough for University graduates to get jobs in the industry at the moment, i do not know how people with a computeach do it

Like I said i am not sure on there teaching or anything and I am not sure how they are seen in the industry if you looking for a good job out of it.

Re: computeach
 

take everything they say with a pinch of salt.

they will tell you you have to visit CT incentre at points in your studies, you actually stay in accommodation they send you, you pay about £25 per night, and CT pay you £20 per night back, but this is done as a cheque. so your out of pocket there.

you have to make your own way there, your money, if you stay far enough away, belfast, scotland or not england, then they pay for extra nights accomodation. rememebr £20 you get back.

you are not staying at CT, but a B&B mainly.

remember it is a salesman you will be speaking to, not an impartial advisor.

they will want about £700-£1000 just as a deposit if you sign up, then they will push for you to take out a career development loan from Barclays, they get comission on this.

think about what you would want to do, programming, web design, databases, networking.

I know one guy from CT got a job, but he got a job with CT teaching java, and he done the same course as I did, he doesn't talk to me now.

let me know what happens and what they say, remember thtey may push for you to sign there and then, as I got told I could not think about it, and they would not come back.

ik

Re: computeach
 

I remember when I almost signed up to a IT training scheme a few years back, basically get a mcse and then get given a job at the end of it, I signed up but then cancelled during the period before I paid the 1st payment. The women who came round to sell it to me was touching my legs and all sorts of stuff to get me to sign, I think they play on people who are desperate and the success of these schemes is exaggerated.

Re: computeach
 

Colleges and Universitys do part time courses. I highly recommend these? Especially if you just want to increase your knowledge

What is the teaching quality like at computeach? Its not a case of learning microsoft office like same places is it?

Re: computeach
 

I found I learned more about java at incentre courses, and online with javaranch than with the course material.

plus, you learn a whole lot more when you actually do a program for yourself than what they tell you to do.

a bit unhelpful lot I found, some tutors are better than others, and help you in different ways, and show you where you went wrong so that you know, they don't just tell you the answer

ik

Re: computeach
 

i am thinking more and more about uni now there are two near me . that do part time courses .

Re: computeach
 

Tis a good idea! They would be worth more and if the uni is like mine the teaching and content is good

Re: computeach
 

hi any one know any thing about ECDL more here ,i think i will have to do this then the ECDL.

Re: computeach
 

If you can post on a forum I think you'll be ok doing a ECDL, I have a book here and I'm confident i could pass with out doing the book.

Re: computeach
 

Yeah...

You can become a programmer - "£30k and a company car"...

Since when do programmers have a salary of £30k AND a car!!:Yikes:


Prgrammers are generally in one place and as such their job dosn't require them to have a company car as they are not field based!

Re: computeach
 

*Cough* experience *Cough* thats Why it took me 3 years to get a proper computer job after university (did Computer science) a simple course will not get you a job in computers

Have you looked at the Open University or do you need to just go for the basics ?

From what I've seen (because I've only looked at the postgrad stuff) they do modules and you could pick and choose what interests you and then you can also get a degree after a few years (i.e. once you've gained enough credits) it works out at a round £100 a month for the post grade stuff and they can sort out student loans for you if you can't pay up front.

Re: computeach
 

They are a bunch of expensive wasters. Half of the so called qualifications they offer are there own certificates and are not recognised by the industry.

Contact your local uni or polytech, You will get honest help and it will cost you loads less. Sometimes its free !!!

Re: computeach
 

I know the java one is not, it is the Sun microsystems certificate.
same with the MSCE, but for things like CIW webdesign, javascript, html, dhtml, css, yes it is their own certificates.

ik

Re: computeach
 

I've done a few computer courses in the past mainly NVQ's GNVQ's, I started the ECDL but didnt finish it because another more challenging course I wanted to do was starting at a previous college I went to... ECDL is a doddle if you already know the basics, and seeing that this is a requirement now by most government departments you apply to work for, it does seem to be a good thing to have under your belt.

I found out a hell of a lot more about hardware and software/OS Sytems by studying the A+ - not the best of courses I know, but it is a world wide recognised qualification and a qualification that I felt I could pass, plus a lot of IT businesses pride themselves on there staff having it. I've seen a good few computer repair stores advertising the fact that their staff are A+ qualified technicians.

A+ Comptia Exam 220-301 A+ Core Hardware
A+ Comptia Exam 220-302 A+ Operating System Technologies

The only minus about this qualification and other more recognised, sort after qualifications like it, are that the exams are multiple choice meaning anyone with a good enough memory can walk away with a good qualification and know hardly nothing about what they've just passed! I know people who were on the same course as me that dont know sod all, but they have a certificate and card that says they are a A+ certified professional! At the end of the day it's down to the employer to make sure that this person is competent enough to do the job by maybe setting a couple of quick practical tests at the start of the interview.

Apart from that, I really enjoyed the 6 month course (3 months hardware and 3 months OS/software)

I do like the little CompTIA A+ Certified Professional card you get for your wallet its like being CORGI registered if u know what I mean? lol ;)

Oh... and from what I have been told, I can go back and finish the ECDL course I started nearly 3yrs ago at anywhere that teaches it, as long as its been less than 3 yrs, so I better get my skates on!

Re: computeach
 

Learndirect LOL

Re: computeach
 

pm sent , i still think that i will do the ECDL

Re: computeach
 

Sorry for the bump..........been looking at online & distance learning stuff & this thread popped up in a search.


I was phoned by Computeach a while back, in response to me filling in the form on their website (a site which seems to neglect actually giving any detail about what they teach, or how much anything costs, apart from "some of our courses cost as little as £20 per week!").


The woman on the phone tried giving me the hard sell, saying that they had a rep in my area the next day & would I like to have a chat with them about my needs etc.

I said I was at work the next day, so could not have a chat with anyone, & asked if they could just send me some info, about their courses & costs.

"Oh, no sir, sorry, we don't send out information anymore - you have to talk to one of our sales executives".

"Ah, OK. No thanks then."

Re: computeach
 

hi .all the information i was sent was a question book with 3 questions ,
(a) do you want to work and learn ?
(b) do you have a pc ?
(c) are you looking for a new job ?

then ring us back the get a sales executive to come around to see you .i never did ring them back .

Re: computeach
 

I've done the ECDL "basic" set of exams, and as Dodger says they are quite easy, but useful to have on your CV. The ECDL advanced word processing was much more challenging, but in a practical way, not pointless questions but real practical examples to work through.

I'm currently doing the CIW as home study (no lectures, and relatively cheap). This is another recognised qualification (I hope!) unlike Learning Tree (they produce their own certificates).

One thing I've learned is that you can never sit still when it comes to IT, keep learning and adding to the CV. Even if you think your job is secure today, tomorrow is another day.

Re: computeach
 

Would not and Barge pole come to mind. There is another as well just as bad Scheidegger, They are like Double Glazing salesman. I had a friend who let one in his house it took him 5 hours to get him out.