CAM Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 What's the best way to get experience with CMIS? I've been seeing a fair few jobs cropping up round here for CMIS admins but can't really apply for them if I don't know how to use it. If learning SIMS is anything to go by... That and specialising in just one MIS package feels like it'd narrow my options, I'd like to branch out a bit more with my knowledge.
LosOjos Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 Don't let lack of experience put you off applying; I'd never even heard of SIMS before I applied for my current job as a data manager! Also, googling returned nothing but page upon page of psycho fan sites of the game! 1
CAM Posted May 19, 2011 Author Posted May 19, 2011 Yeah if you look for SIMS on Google you have to add the .net bit
LosOjos Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 Yeah if you look for SIMS on Google you have to add the .net bit I know that now lol, but in the week running up to my interview it was a nightmare! OT: Do you know anybody working in a CMIS school where you could go and use it for a couple of hours? 1
john Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 Are you coming up to the North Conference? If you are I am happy to give you a talk on it as I'm a CMIS user of now eer hidious numbers of years (were heading for double figures!! Although, I would say that as much as I admire your urge to learn, the life of CMIS will start fading over the next 5 - 7 years as Progresso takes over as its replacement as that will be the replacement for it and its a completely different kettle of fish.
michael2k6 Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 Hi There, Nice to see people taking an interest. John's the man. Mic Sanderson Serco Learning
john Posted May 19, 2011 Posted May 19, 2011 (edited) Hi There, Nice to see people taking an interest. John's the man. Mic Sanderson Serco Learning Aww thanks Mic and when I'm not the man he is But always happy to discuss with people and show it off, I did @Soulfish a demo at BETT hotel one night of my Demo Database on my netbook and he can vouch that its worth seeing, and will agree its different to Sims in both good and bad ways from a Sims users view, just like I was at a Sims school and felt that Sims was very backwards compared to Serco Edited May 19, 2011 by john clarfied my database was my dummy one not my actual real live one! 1
CAM Posted May 20, 2011 Author Posted May 20, 2011 Will be at the conference, netbook in hand (though that runs Linux now) Thanks John!
pcstru Posted May 20, 2011 Posted May 20, 2011 What's the best way to get experience with CMIS? I've been seeing a fair few jobs cropping up round here for CMIS admins but can't really apply for them if I don't know how to use it. If learning SIMS is anything to go by... The *BEST* way is hands on in the school you are going to work for :-). They do have a support site which if you could get access to, would be illuminating to read through. If someone was applying here (we use CMIS) I'd certainly rank someone with SIMS experience over no experience at all. The core concepts are much the same and in the most important aspect - getting information from the data, each school operates in individual ways that will need to be learned on the job regardless of whether someone knows the MIS itself. 1
JPS Posted May 20, 2011 Posted May 20, 2011 Get a job with Serco, on their support team. They hire people who dont necessarily know the software to begin with but they soon learn. Thats how I picked up *most* my knowledge. Now I'm in my third Data Manager job. By the way when I interviewed for this job just over a year ago, 9 candidates were called for interview, only myself and one other were experienced CMIS users and there was only 3 of us I believe who had worked in a school before! 1
CAM Posted May 20, 2011 Author Posted May 20, 2011 I met our new headteacher today who is starting next term. Turns out she comes from a Facility school and I think she likes it. Could be some interesting convos next term.
john Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 You don't need your Netbook Its all installed on mine (you will have to remind me closer to the time to make sure i've got the latest release on it and the right database as i must have about 10 different ones now!) Will be at the conference, netbook in hand (though that runs Linux now) Thanks John! 1
CAM Posted May 22, 2011 Author Posted May 22, 2011 It's for note taking and runs an out of date copy of Linux (blasted thing won't update from the repository). Hook it up to SkyDrive and type away, annoyingly I can't fit a satellite SIMS install on there with the test database.
vikpaw Posted May 22, 2011 Posted May 22, 2011 As has been said, experience is the best way to learn, but failing that you have to know data, know MIS; and SIMS is as good a place as any. A while back a few old friends kept recommending CMIS jobs to me, saying it would be so easy to learn as i had a good grounding with SIMS. Picking up a new interface / way of working should be nothing special for someone like yourself, you know schools, you know teachers, management, data requirements, how assessments work these are the key things that joe bloggs on the street wont understand. Clicking here instead of there will be easy to learn, the same way we cope with changes from one version of Office to the next. One thing that i think would strongly help you, and you might already have tried if you're into tinkering with SIMS [Test server of course! ] is SQL, as i understand you have a lot more access to the back end in CMIS, and to get the reports you want, having a grounding in SQL basics would be useful. You can do this now by just tinkering with a test server. By John a few glasses of wine, for the inside edge, plus just browse through for CMIS tagged threads and you can see the issues people come up against too. 1
CAM Posted May 24, 2011 Author Posted May 24, 2011 I was running through W3Schools' SQL tutorials and decided why not, fired up SQL Server Management Studio and had a crack on my test server. I have no idea how the databases are related to try the JOIN command yet, but I managed to extract student details. SQL is pretty easy! I daren't try to write back though or I'll brick it.
vikpaw Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 (edited) I have a really good, crib sheet i wrote on SQL i can send you if you like, it's just a scan of some hand written notes i made yonks ago, but it is pretty good and covers the basics, including the various joins and select filters you can use. EDIT: It's generic for SQL, not for SIMS or anything. I do have some scripts i use for SIMS if you want them for various tasks, like looking at who is running SIMS, which updates have been applied, not sure if many use joins though. I'd post it here but i'm embarassed of my handwriting, i should type it up i suppose. A bit of confidence with SQL will surely hold you in good stead for any future DB role, but certainly with CMIS. The SIMS layout is all over the place and a nightmare to understand. Edited May 24, 2011 by vikpaw addition 1
CAM Posted May 24, 2011 Author Posted May 24, 2011 Was tempted to post some sample SQL scripts on here that I knocked together with the Green Abbey database, but not sure if I might attract Phil's wrath if I do...
john Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 The Serco Squirrels are an interesting breed, think of them as a cross between the red and the grey and then you will be fine I'm sure @michael2k6 will agree with me the Hybrid-Serco-Squirrel is an interesting character
vikpaw Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Was tempted to post some sample SQL scripts on here that I knocked together with the Green Abbey database, but not sure if I might attract Phil's wrath if I do... Best not to give too much dangerous stuff out unless it's asked for, to stop people messing.
michael2k6 Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Serco Squirrell what now? John what are you on? Cross breeding squirells? What now?
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