Rapid advances in Information Technology (IT) may revolutionize ways in gaining knowledge and acceptance in IT professional world. Shift in mind-set, education curriculum should be made in a short time, as one may radically left behind. Rapid advances in the technology open up huge IT job opportunities. Those who wish to find IT jobs in Indonesia, one simply subscribes to various lowongan mailing lists in Yahoogroups or lowongan.net to be flooded by 10–20 IT lowongan opportunities daily. Not to mention, the daily huge ads in the various newspapers in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia are seeking for IT professionals. Thus, there are too many IT job opportunities with unfortunately very little supply of qualified human resource to fill it.
Unfortunately, most computer science teachers as well as the national curriculum seem to be gentle in responding these rapid advances in IT world. By simple check list, is there any formal education for those who wish to learn on PHP? JavaScript? WML? C++? SQL? ASP? BGP Routing? The answer would unfortunately be NO. An awful condition, simply due to lack of motivation within the educational institutions to keep up with the new advances in Information Technology as well as constrains by the Indonesian Ministry of Education to follow the ancient national IT curriculum else received lower accreditation levels. Thus, to be frank, no one may rely on the formal scheme in gaining knowledge and acceptance in IT community and to survive in IT real world. In other words, one may unfortunately gain nothing from the expensive formal IT education. It forces one to seek the knowledge from other sources to survive. In reality, most of IT knowledge is informally obtained among IT practitioners thru either discussions, open source CD-ROMs or various types of Internet delivery media.
Having IT knowledge would open up a gateway into a vast poll of job and opportunities. It is common in various web sites to place a link on job opportunity available in their companies. Professional C++, web, SQL programmers and network security expert (also known as hacker) may be the most wanted professionals in IT world. Sadly, none of their knowledge was gain in formal schools.
Those professionals are mostly mobile with laptop at hand and other electronic gadgets would receive monthly earnings of at least US$500–1000. An income level that can be reached by those who strive to their best in specialized IT skill in 2–4 years time, based on my observation of my students. The real pro may get away with a couple of US$ tenth thousand project based fee.
Those students who seek for high marks in their class would not gain much in reality world. The successful ones are those who strive to unlock IT knowledge beyond their university/Indonesian national IT curriculum; beyond the understanding of their Indonesian IT professors. IT and Internet really help in open up the gateway towards vast pool of applicable new knowledge; those who manages to learn these knowledge during their school years would easily past the US$75 monthly salary set for the fresh graduate.
GNU Public License (GPL) at gnu.org is the key in IT knowledge dissemination in the world today. GNU type licensing enable ones to put the whole source code in public and let other learns how other do the art of computing. Copyleft movement is characterized by these sort of movement; rather than relying on the copyright scheme. Linux is one of the best examples on impact of open source and open knowledge towards the advances of IT development by IT communities worldwide. Open source and open knowledge enables one to tap the state of the art development of the code as well as learn how the coding done in real time. All the code can be downloaded from various sites, such as, www.redhat.com, www.mandrake.com, www.freshmeat.org and many other sites.
Knowledge on open source is written and openly put in public Internet network, such as, www.linuxdoc.org, http://pandu.dhs.org, to enable others to tap to the state of the arts knowledge on Linux and open source. Open lecture and distance learning seems to be much more open in IT world, a real example is the MIT’s lecture note at http://web.mit.edu/afs/athena.mit.edu/org/a/acs/www/acaduces2.html or the OpenCourseware initiative at http://web.mit.edu/ocw/. One who wishes updates on various e-courses via e-mail can be obtained from http://virtual.net.uy/netfree.html. In addition to the openly distributed explicit IT knowledge in e-papers and e-books form, one may gain knowledge by actively engage in various open IT discussion groups in the Internet. Yahoogroups might be the highest hit mailing list server on the Internet, one can freely participate in vast pool of e-mail discussion groups to discuss and solve problems with other experts in distances. The Indonesian Linux community groups can be easily found in various mailing lists hosted by linux.or.id machine and can be seen at http://www.linux.or.id. Tacit knowledge is distributed through these mailing list discussion groups. Thus, having these knowledge easily accessible at hand, it is only be a question of time to see one becoming an expert in IT world for those persist in reading and working on the code.
Getting an IT knowledge is not enough to survive. In the old days, university certificate and degree from prestigious schools would assure one to gain public acceptance and consequently good jobs. Having an aged national IT curriculum at hand, one should go thru a harder way and is an art in itself to get community acknowledgement and acceptance. In other words, one needs to prove to the community regarding one’s specialty skill. One of the expensive ways to gain public acceptance is thru industrial certificates such as Microsoft’s MCP, MCSE, MCT; Cisco CCNA. Some IT industrial grade certificates can be obtained online at, http://www.brainbench.com, http://www.cert21.com, http://www.examsimulators.com. Normally, a US$100 is needed to get one of these certificates. Well, it is a good investment considering a couple of thousand US$ monthly income is at hand.
Fortunately, there are alternative inexpensive ways to gain acknowledgement and acceptance from the communities. One of the easiest ways is actively answer questions raise in various open Internet mailing lists. Only those who have the knowledge could persistently answer many of these questions. Ability to answer questions should be complemented by actively writing in various IT magazine and if possible published books. Gradually, one would receive the acknowledgement from their community. The larger the dissemination of their answers, articles and books, the larger community acceptance will be received. A consensus among the community is build regarding one’s expertise. At that point, one need not to worry on seeking for jobs as jobs will find itself to the best of the best.
It seems easy to be performed. In a rapid advances information technology, getting the knowledge and acceptance from the community is an art of processes in itself. Unfortunately, in the actual real life, it may take years (at least 3–4 years), consistently sitting in front of the computer connected to the Internet and actively engaged in various Internet based activities and virtual discussions. Ones who persistence and have huge self-determination in a long period of time would gain the knowledge and in the end survive. However, survive is not enough, only those who produce and give knowledge to others will sit in higher places. Fortunately, IT, Internet and other electronic means will enable anyone to efficiently share their knowledge at low cost to others based on copyleft movement. A snowball effect which in turn rapidly speeds up knowledge cycle.
In all, old and ancient paradigm in knowledge cycle based on aged national curriculum will be replaced by the more efficient knowledge cycle based on copyleft movement driven by the existence of IT, Internet and other electronics means. Community acknowledgement will replace the old university degree and certificate. Only those able to produce and share knowledge will sit in the highest place in the knowledge-based society. A society that should be ideally put together for our next generations.
I followed Mr. Onno’s presentation someday in the IT conference in Singapore or Taiwan (I forgot which one)and I think he is an inspiring Internet advocate for Indonesian people. Thanks for AsiaBlogging.com who published his column here. I am a big fan on him.
Omno S Purbo… I like your books!
[...] least, as his deal with us, it will happen in the next short time — he is agree and allows us to start republish a few of example of his works. I myself offer him to feel, to keep in touch, with blogosphere. Many people out there have tried [...]
Welcome Pak Onno. I’ve heard a lot about you, but haven’t gotten the chance to say ‘hi.’ Keep up your exemplary works. It’s good to have you as a neighbor here at ABN.
Nice article, Pak Onno. Its a pity many Indonesian students are not getting the opportunity to enter the world IT market. India and China (and now Easter Europe) are still getting the bulk of outsource IT and code-development work. Salam Kenal [TH]
welcome to kang onno, btw congratulation to new book :)
very well written! Not only in the IT field, this phenomena also happens in other fields where the university cant keep up to the pace of new technology.
I beg to differ. I’d hire a fresh graduate with a basic but strong programming skill, an ability to apply best practice software development methodologies, a good communication skill, and a good attitude. New technologies pop out everyday but the foundation stays put. New technologies can be taught on an on-the-job training or short courses but that is definitely not a responsibility of top universities.
I agree on the argument that all IT professionals should keep up with latest technological developments. That goes without saying …
mas onno, thank for your new book, much brilliant ideas inside… & thank to asianblogging.com too ofc
tahniah
[...] satu tulisan menarik dari Onno W. Purbo di AsiaBlogging yang menjadi perhatian saya (baca: Practical Guide To Gain Knowledge and Acceptance in IT Community), berikut kutipannya: Unfortunately, most computer science teachers as well as the national [...]
When I was in BiNus I was still studying RPG, Pascal, AS400 while the off campus world was playing with the WWW, HTML, and off course Java, Javascripts & Linux! Unfortunately, I did not finish my study so I couldn’t say what happen then. Flying around the world fascinated me more than the IT :(
But here is what I want to say. It seems that BiNus’s changing fast! I don’t know what is taught in class, but based on my own experience, those RPG, Pascal and all the ancient things of IT world are helping me a lot in self studying PHP, MySQL, Javascripts, APACHE…
So, forget the schools. Thank them whatever they’ve given you. But surely you need more than that. You need YOU to dig deeper. To go farther, to spread wider, to fly higher…
Go read Jennie’s book. Go listen OWP!!
Thanks Pak Onno
@Indra, thank you. :) I like your words, “You need YOU to dig deeper. To go farther, to spread wider, to fly higher.” For those inspiring words, I thank you.
Interesting Writing once again from Mr.Onno.
I exactly couldn’t agree more with your opinion that to succeed in IT world you should “go out” to see it with your own eyes, experiences it with your own hand and develop it with your brain.
Formal education, especially in Indonesia doesn’t give anything more than a fringe step to introduce the technology despite the quality of the lecturer and the facility support it.
[..] Pak Onno menulis artikel menarik mengenai “Practical Guide To Gain Knowledge and Acceptance in IT Community”. Ini merupakan sentilan yang bagus bagi sistem pendidikan S1 ilmu komputer/ informatika. [...]
Kang Onno .. is Indonesian IT Master
Onno’s journey is inspiring. Thanks Pak Onno. Keep up with your best performence.
[...] tulisan Pak Onno Purbo dalam AsiaBlogging yang menjelaskan rasa “ke-frustrasi-an” multidimensi sehingga melahirkan [...]
Musuh besar TELKOM ya bapak Onno… gara-gara isu VOIP muka “mereka” jadi merah padam.
Ya itulah bapak Onno yang santai dan lucu ketika berbicara dihadapan publik….
“Anjir lelet pisan” itulah kata2 spontasitas yang pernah saya dengar ketika dia sedang memberikan seminar hacking linux. Ingat ga pa? maklumlah pa lalulintas jaringan yang sibuk & bandwith kecil :)
i already join his seminar two years ago, about wireless connectivity, i really enjoy join that seminar. at that time i just want to know a little bit about wireless.
and who knows right now i working for Wireless company.
it’s awesome.
http://www.jouledoc.com
Ngomong-ngomong Kang Onno, buku “Teknologi Warung Internet“-nya sudah sempat terbit belum yah?
Thanks mr Onno for your spectacular writing, I am absolutely sure that most Indonesians programmer have hidden aptnesses on IT, I bet Indonesian can compete with their rivals from India or China.
The problem is how to reveal those hidden aptnesses? whereas there’s no solid supports from the government nor from our IT community (CMIIW).
I feel it’s not about technical ability, it’s about something i don’t know.
NIce Mr. Onno W Purbo
The obstacle then occur “when our curriculum can be mature to face the reality?”.Meanwhile,our government has just done proudly with their very little progress…hope there is any little change for this situation
Ask Why?
Good work Pak Onno. Way to go. You’re the real IT father in Indonesia, not the “you know who”…
I agree with most of the ideas that you have presented here. But I’d like to make a little defense from an educator’s point of view.
In my humble opinion, an educator should teach students how to think, how to solve problems and how to find information. I agree that the IT world of knowledge is ever changing, ever evolving. One skill a student might learn in the classroom today, might be extinct the minute he/she steps out of the classroom. Because of this phenomenon it is important that educators give students the foundations they need to survive. And again, that is how to think, how to solve problems and how to find information. That may mean that we cannot cram every single skill and knowledge in the short amount of time we have during their undergrad studies. But with those basic foundations, they should be able to keep up. But again, that would depend on the person. The responsibility cannot be placed wholly on the educational institution.
Yes, I agree with you that a graduate may not be fully equipped to face the “real world” once he/she is bestowed his/her degree. I agree that our education system needs improvement. But the improvement needs to be in the way we teach. Not only what we teach.
(Sorry it’s so long :-))
wah, bung onno ini sering mampir ke lampung … semoga tulisan beliau terus mengalir seperti air
how if “create something” vs “wrote something”
In that case, wrote is easier, lol.
I’m mostly in agreement with pak ono. but one thing that most teachers tend to forget is the practicality of IT in real world. i worked with many programmers whom more concerned with coding rather than focusing on finding solutions rather. coding is just a vehicle, one must know how to get to a destination before stepping on the gas. this is what i think most universities are still lacking.
exactly black claw,
there’s no “just do write” but “just do it”
he..he (apa artinya ya?)
Saya setuju dengan umumnya apa yang sampaikain boss Onno diatas. Sekarang bagaimana kalau kita lihat dari kacamata praktisi IT (baca: cari makan di bidang IT).
Hampir bisa di pastikan universitas atau umumnya model pendidikan kita tidak akan bisa mengikuti kecepatan pertumbuhan “ilmu pengetahuan” IT, bahkan bila hanya sekedar mengikuti “main stream” saja masih sangat sulit. Pernyataan ini menjadi benar bila yang di maksud mengikuti adalah selalu diajarkan yang “up to date” semisal teknologi baru, bahasa pemrograman baru, Window Vista, Kernel, microcontroller baru, GSM, CDMA WI-FI, WI-MAX, WI-Wik..(yang terakhir bukan :)
Tapi saya yakin, algoritma, logika, flowchart, atau istilah-istilah nested loop, conditional branch, iterasi dll masih sangat relevan ada di dalam kurikulum dan menurut saya gak ada yang salah dengan kurikulum, tapi pengajarnya aja kali…:P, kalo ini rasanya bener kali ya bermasalah, sorry bagi para “educator’s”.
IT bukan perang Robinhood, or David vs Goliath (baca: Linux vs Microsoft). IT harusnya dan sudah menjadi sarana seleksi alam bagi manusia bermutu. Sebab tidak semua orang punya kemampuan dan kesempatan mengikuti pendidikan di lembaga pendidikan yang di sebut “baik”.
Yang di butuhkan orang-orang IT adalah Ilmu dasar yang baik, logika yang baik dan itu tidak susah kok, gak perlu ganti kurikulum k, nanti bakalan jadi project dan obyekan aja.
Sama yang terakhir adalah kesempatan yang seluas-luasnya buat yang memang mampu, “please ini untuk boss-boss it” tanpa melihat uni nya apa? institut nya apa?
IT harus bisa membuat hidup yang lebih baik buat pemakai maupun pelaku nya.
Yang terakhir buat boss Onno, orang IT perlu contoh nyata nih, mungkin khususnya saya, saya pengen boss Onno bikin perusahaan IT, yang notabene opensource terus perusahaan tadi jadi yang terbesar di Asia Tenggara, terus boss Onno tulis dong tips and trick nya.. biar kita-kita bisa nyusul jadi besar…please ya boss
“Aged Indonesia IT curriculum”? Well, actually the fact in the field is a little bit different. Education & training institutions here have a huge flexibility in tweaking around with the curriculum they use. I don’t know why these institutions fail to provide what the market need.
It is really possible that Indonesia could be like India in supplying the needs of IT experts for the world.
But again, where’s the missing link? Maybe, it is because the IT education and training institutions do not have adequate capabilities in coping with international standards. Most of top IT talents in Indonesia don’t go to education, they are busy making money elsewhere…
Back ten years ago, before Google on, I have been thinking by using IT based to penetrate my core biz ,that is travel business, on the market place (online travel services).I believe there are so many business opportunity for IT community in Indonesia to earn money ( make a living from it)
[...] saja membaca tulisannya Kang Onno di Asiablogging, di tengah-tengah persiapan ujian, sangat menyejukkan sekali. Sebuah refleksi diri yang cukup [...]