[NTLUG:Discuss] LAMP courses at North Lake College this fall

[brian@pongonova.net]

All--

Just a quick reminder that North Lake College will again offer LAMP
courses this Fall.  Registration is open through this Saturday, and
the courses are offered both as credit and CE (some employers will
only pay for CE).

All four semester-length courses can be taken by the truly motivated
in one semester.  Here is the lineup for this fall:

1st Session (Aug. 29 to Oct 21)
ITSC 1391-7700 Linux Installation and Configuration MW 5:45-9:25
ITSC 1391-7701 Databases Using MySQL TR 5:45-9:25
Open Lab: Friday 5:45-7:35

2nd Session (Oct. 24 to Dec. 15)
IMED 1391-7700 Apache Installation and Configuration MW 5:45-9:25
ITSC 1391-7700 Programming Using PHP TR 5:45-9:25
Open Lab: Friday 5:45-7:35

(The complete LAMP schedule can be found here: 
http://www.northlakecollege.edu/schedules/2005Fa/cITLAMP.pdf)

I've spoken with Dave @ NerdBooks, and he's going to try to do his
best to accomodate book requests for these courses.  Please consider
that North Lake College is currently the *ONLY* college in the state
offering LAMP courses, and is one of the few colleges dedicated to
promoting the principles of open source.  

I am in the final stages of wrapping up the state's first Open Source
Technology certificate with a grant underwritten by the Texas Skills
Standards Board (http://www.tssb.org/wwwpages/2a_feb04incentive.htm).
I traveled to Austin a few weeks ago to present our program to a
number of individuals from various state agencies (including
representatives from the Governor's office and the Texas Higher Ed.
Coordinating Board).  In effect, the state will be promoting open
source to industry through the TSSB grant.  I've incorporated LAMP
into the Open Source Tech. curriculum, and plan to offer "Principles
of Open Source" in Spring of 2006.

Some of you might already be aware that the state has been quietly
promoting open source as an integral part of the IT procurement
policy for all state agencies and public institutions of higher ed
(http://www.dir.state.tx.us/standards/srrpub09.htm).  Right now, it's
just a recommendation, but it's certainly a start. 

Feel free to contact me for more info.  My number is 972.273.3461.

  --Brian Koontz
    Computer Science Coordinator
    North Lake College