RE: RPG TALENT--Global issue

[Eric <Eric@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Perhaps but that was not the case here in Northern California.  There used 
to be 3 AS/400 classes offered at our local community college.  They were 
Operations, RPG I and RPG II.  Due to a lack in interest, after two 
semesters the Operations class was dropped and the RPG I and RPG II classes 
were combined.  The program was eliminated on the fourth semester.
        The AS/400 classes failed for a couple of reasons.  One, most of the 
students had never heard of the AS/400, much less RPG, so they took the 
microcomputer route and two, those students (who had no previous midrange 
experience) who braved the RPG classes failed.  Why did they fail?  Those 
with C++ backgrounds were completely confused (where are the pointers?) and 
those with no experience were lost because the class did not include an 
introduction to the AS/400, its terminology, or its core toolset because of 
time limitations.  Obviously the classes failed at conception but if 
students were not willing to jump in the programming courses, I wonder if 
they would be willing to go into AS/400 101.  Given the impatience of 
youth, I doubt that students are will to learn CL, take 2 RPG courses 
(basic and advanced), and DDS.  It is substantially simpler for them to 
learn C given that they probably already know how to work a minicomputer 
and they know DOS.  They take one C class or three AS/400 classes in order 
to produce anything. Which would you take?

AS/400 - dead by 2010?
My two cents.   

Eric Kempter
Director of MIS
Commair Mechanical Services

-----Original Message-----
From:   Rick Baird [SMTP:rbbaird@Premsys.com]
Sent:   Wednesday, May 27, 1998 8:11 AM
To:     MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject:        RPG TALENT--Global issue

All,

The local city college (indianapolis univ) has been teaching RPG for a few 
years now.  I know because one of our project managers
teaches the classes.

It only takes about 10 hours a week of her time, and as an added bonus, we 
have the chance to hire the best students.

My guess is the reason colleges don't teach it more could have as much to 
do with the lack of instructors as hardware.

Regards,

Rick
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