Terry Xiao Blog

In a nutshell, ‘Green Energy’ utilises natural resources such as sunlight, wind, tides and geothermal heat to provide our daily energy requirement. When ‘Green’, they are all thought to be replenishable and natural. Often, by going back in time, we can see the value of wind power and windmills as modern energy sources. Regardless of this, we are mainly talking about using modern techniques to offer planet friendly and eco-efficient solutions.

The range of renewable energy technologies utilised within the home environment includes both Solar Thermal, and Solar Water Heating Collectors. It is equipment such as Photovoltaic Panels (PV’s) that develop electricity through suitable roof-panels. Then there are Stoves that burn Bio-Pellets – which make up the subject commonly known as Biomass Energy. Then we have the ancient energy of the Sun and the heat that comes from it – now called Ground Source Heat Pumps. Lastly, there are two of the more historical forms of energy production – namely Wind Turbines and Hydropower.  Read more...

For many people, an interesting and varied choice often means a career within the electrical industry. Whilst the original term is ‘Electro-Mechanical Engineering’ we will simply refer to the subject as the Electrical Industry. As there are a wide variety of global standards, we will focus on those from the UK and in particular those relating to the domestic and commercial markets. As this is such a wide ranging subject matter we’ll begin by sticking to the main area first and come back to the ‘add-ons’ later.

Essentially, we see two distinct forms of entry into the electrical market. To being with we have the older apprentice course and then secondly we have the option for those who wish to make a career change to join the industry. To clarify, we’ll label each of them as the ‘Mature Entrants’ and the ‘Junior Entrants’.

Primarily, those who join the industry later on, (the Mature Entrants,) generally do so with the aim of becoming self-employed at some point, or to work on their own building projects etc. without having to pay wages to external electricians. On the other hand, to gain further credentials and experience ‘Junior Entrants’ tend to work for a recognised electrical firm. This could be a young apprentice’s first position since leaving school, so it will be necessary to pick up supplementary working skills.  Read more...

These days, many workplaces couldn’t function properly if it weren’t for support workers fixing networks and computers, while advising users on a day to day basis. Because of the multifaceted levels of technology, growing numbers of trained staff are required to specialise in the various different areas we rely on.

A lot of training providers will only provide basic 9am till 6pm support (maybe a little earlier or later on certain days); not many go late into the evening (after 8-9pm) or cover weekends properly.

Locate training schools with help available at any time you choose (even if it’s early hours on Sunday morning!) Make sure it’s always 24×7 direct access to mentors and instructors, and not simply some messaging service that means you’re parked in a queue of others waiting to be called back – probably during office hours.

If you look properly, you’ll find the top providers which provide their students direct-access support 24×7 – even in the middle of the night.

Never make do with a lower level of service. Direct-access 24×7 support is the only kind that ever makes the grade with technical training. Perhaps you don’t intend to study during the evenings; but for most of us, we’re working when traditional support if offered.  Read more...

Should you be interested in training in Cisco, a CCNA is in all probability what you’ll need. Training in Cisco is intended for individuals who want to learn about routers and network switches. Routers are what connect computer networks to different computer networks over the internet or dedicated lines.

Because routers are linked to networks, look for a course that includes basic networking skills – perhaps Network+ and A+, before you start a CCNA. It’s essential to have a basic grasp of networks before you commence any Cisco training or the chances are you’ll fall behind. Once qualified and looking for work, employers will be looking for networking skills in addition to the CCNA.

The CCNA qualification is where you need to be aiming – you’re not ready for your CCNP straight away. Once you’ve got a few years experience behind you, you’ll know if this next level is for you. If so, you’ll have significantly improved your chances of success – as your working knowledge will put everything into perspective.

Don’t get hung-up, as can often be the case, on the accreditation program. Your training isn’t about getting a plaque on your wall; you should be geared towards the actual job at the end of it. You need to remain focused on where you want to go.  Read more...

As you’re considering studying for the MCSE certificate, it’s likely you’ll come into one of two categories. You could be about to enter the computer sector, and you’ve found the industry has many opportunities for qualified people. Or you could be already a professional attempting to consolidate your skill-set with a qualification such as MCSE.

As you discover more about training colleges, don’t use any that short-change you by not upgrading their courses to the latest version from Microsoft. Overall, this will cost the student a great deal more due to the fact that they’ve been educated in an out-of-date syllabus which will have to be revised very quickly.

Watch out for training colleges who are just trying to sell you something. Always remember that purchasing a course to qualify for an MCSE is much like purchasing a vehicle. They’re not all the same; some are comfortable and reliable, whilst some will be completely unreliable. A conscientious organisation will spend time understanding your needs to be sure the course will work for you. When providers are proud of their courses, they’ll show you examples of it prior to registering.  Read more...

Anybody thinking about training for the computer industry will notice the number of diverse options on offer. Before embarking on a course, find a company with industry experts, so you can get information on the job roles your training program is designed for. Maybe you’ll find jobs you didn’t know about.

The courses range from Microsoft User Skills up to Web Design, Databases, Programming and Networking. There’s a lot to choose from and so the chances are you’ll want to talk through your options with an industry expert prior to making your choice: it would be awful to start the wrong training for an area that you don’t enjoy!

You’ll now see several user-friendly and sensibly priced options available that furnish you with all you require.

Many people question why qualifications from colleges and universities are being overtaken by more qualifications from the commercial sector?

With the costs of academic degree’s climbing ever higher, plus the IT sector’s general opinion that accreditation-based training often has more relevance in the commercial field, we’ve seen a great increase in Microsoft, CompTIA, CISCO and Adobe certified training courses that provide key skills to an employee for much less time and money.  Read more...

Are you toying with the idea of doing an MCSE? It’s very possible then that it’s likely you’ll come into one of two categories: You’re currently an IT professional and you’d like to gain accreditation with the Microsoft qualification. Alternatively you might be just about to enter the IT environment, and you’ve found that there are many opportunities for certified networking professionals.

When researching MCSE’s, you’ll hit upon training companies that lower their out-goings by failing to provide the latest version from Microsoft. Avoid such training providers as you will face problems at exam time. If you are studying the wrong version, it will make it very difficult to pass.

Don’t get bullied into a course without the right advice. Find a training provider that will make sure that you’re on an appropriate training track for your requirements.

Be watchful that any certifications you’re studying for are recognised by industry and are current. ‘In-house’ exams and the certificates they come with are generally useless.

You’ll find that only recognised certification from companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Adobe and CompTIA will open the doors to employers.  Read more...

Should you fancy a web design career, then it’s critical to study Adobe Dreamweaver.

The full Adobe Web Creative Suite ought also to be studied in-depth. Doing this will familiarise you in Action Script and Flash, amongst others, and means you’ll be in a position to take your Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) or Adobe Certified Professional (ACP) accreditation.

In order to become a well-rounded web professional however, there is much more to consider. You’ll need to study various programming essentials like HTML, PHP and database engines like MySQL. An excellent grasp of E-Commerce and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) will help when talking to employers.

It’s not uncommon for companies to offer inclusive exam guarantees – inevitably that means paying for the exams at the very beginning of your studies. However, prior to embracing a course with such a promise, why not think about this:

You’ll be charged for it somehow. One thing’s for sure – it isn’t free – it’s simply been shoe-horned into the price as a whole.

Passing first time is everyone’s goal. Going for exams one at a time and paying for them just before taking them has a marked effect on pass-rates – you put the effort in and think carefully about the costs.  Read more...

Anybody thinking about training for the IT industry will soon realise that there are a huge amount of choices available to them. Before starting a training program, look for a training provider that has advisors, so you can be fully informed on the type of work your new knowledge will help you to get. You could uncover job roles you hadn’t considered before.

There are so many directions you can go in. Some people need User Skills from Microsoft, others want career skills such as courses on Networking, Programming, Databases or Web Design – and all can be catered for. But don’t rush into it, don’t just guess. It’s much better to talk to a company who has experience of the IT economy, and can help you arrive at the right destination.

Because there are such a lot of well priced, user-friendly courses and support, you should inevitably find something that should take you where you want to go.

One interesting way that colleges make more money is by adding exam fees upfront to the cost of a course and presenting it as a guarantee for your exams. This sounds impressive, but is it really:  Read more...

Four separate areas of study make up a full CompTIA A+; you’re thought of as competent at A+ when you’ve gained exams for 2 out of 4 subjects. For this reason, the majority of training establishments offer only two of the training courses. In reality it’s necessary to have the teaching in all areas as many jobs will ask for an awareness of the whole A+ program. It isn’t necessary to qualify in them all, although it would seem prudent that you at least have a working knowledge of every area.

A+ computer training courses cover fault-finding and diagnostics – both remote access and hands-on, alongside building and fixing and understanding antistatic conditions.

Should you decide to add Network+ training to your A+, you will additionally be able to look after networks, giving you the facility to command a higher salary.

We need to make this very clear: You have to get round-the-clock 24×7 instructor and mentor support. We can tell you that you’ll strongly regret it if you don’t follow this rule rigidly.  Read more...