Mission Statement

SYS-ED information technology courses and training programs offer an alternative to those provided by the commercial software companies and purveyors of open source software: quality, subject matter, client-specific requirements, value, and service.

Distance- and web-based learning is used to increase access for client organizations: reduce travel costs and flexible scheduling. New York State Department of Education course work, standards, and guidelines are being applied to teaching models: performance learning, guiding learning, and personalized instruction.

SYS-ED websites provide an advertisement free environment to evaluate information technology training: technology assessments, submission of information technology questions, subject matter delivery, and courseware chapter sequencing. There are online forms for qualified organizations to request additional information.

Specialized Software Education

SYS-ED’s founder, Robert Blumfeld, did pioneering work with the initial releases of IBM CICS: Customer Information Control Systems at the New York Times. This work included the structured analysis and design methodologies of Ed Yourdon. In the 1970's, Mr. Blumfeld played a significant role in developing classroom instruction at On-line Software International. He also helped to launch the data processing training business for VIP: Verhoef Information Packages. Mr. Blumfeld was an expert system analyst, programmer, and system programmer with a masters degree in computer science. Curriculum, outlines, student handouts, machine exercises, and case studies were developed based on a combination of the On-line Software classroom instruction and ASI: Applied System International multi-medium presentation frameworks. Micheal Haupt, a mainframe programmer with a CDP: Certified Data Processor credential, wrote the programming skills course manuals and taught the initial courses.

David Silverberg and David Shapiro have been developing a technology driven information technology training service based upon the open source Moodle framework and academic business theory. There now is a more comprehensive course design applied to teaching categories of software across hardware platforms. SYS-ED websites were developed to provide a course search engine and software specifc training information; they also demonstrate how to code combinations of open source and commercial software. Few software or consulting companies have the library of sample programs, exercises, and training aids. SYS-ED has been called upon by software companies to train their developers and clients on their own software!

IBM Mainframe Platform - First

The SYS-ED business model was developed to provide a foundation of quality: student course handouts, sample programs, machine workshops, case studies, and client support services. This training service applied to the IBM mainframe environment. SYS-ED instructors were involved in the design, coding, and debugging of IBM system software and programming languages at Fortune 1000 companies, government municipalities, and healthcare facilities. The SYS-ED training service was extended to teach proprietary software from Apple, Microsoft, Oracle, SAS Institute, Compuware, Computer Associates, Sun Microsystems, and Micro Focus. SYS-ED staff has used and taught each successive generation of software technology: microcomputer, client/server, internet programming, and mobile device. And equally as important, categorized and developed structured content for information processing course instruction.

Open Source Software

SYS-ED uses and teaches open source software: Linux-variant operating systems, web servers, scripting/programming languages, development platforms, and tools. This includes internetworking and hybrid integration with commercial software: IBM Rational, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat. The course search engine allows client organizations to review industry standard courses and specialized training requirements. Experts agree that the documentation available for supporting open source software does not provide an equivalent degree of clarity and completeness in relation to its commercial counterparts. SYS-ED teaching models and courseware address this shortcoming. The public cloud computing platforms use open source software: AWS: Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, and IBM Cloud. The SYS-ED course engine is being updated to reflect this: categorization, course titles, and subject matter. It also will include the software development methodologies - object oriented programming, agile, DevOps, microservices, and low code.

Textbooks and Academic Standard Courseware

SYS-ED courses are conducted using a combination of textbooks and student handouts. Textbooks are organized into a sequential presentation with performance objectives, presentation slides, workshop objectives, and integrated exercises. New and up to date sample programs in hybrid areas of information technology are developed. The derivative courseware and training aids reflect the changes and advancements in the software industry: co-existence and interoperability with established and new development methodologies, software as a service, open source software, cloud computing, big data, and IOT: Internet of Things.

In areas where there is a scarcity of industry standard textbooks, SYS-ED develops its own courseware. In conjunction with teaching integrated two to ten week training programs, courseware is organized into a learning center format.

Licensing and Source Certification

The company board of directors is researching how the commercial software companies and open source software purveyors adhere to the licensing requirements of the New York State Department of Education - Bureau of Proprietary School Supervision. They will decide whether and when SYS-ED should resubmit its license to operate a computer training facility in the state of New York.  SYS-ED continues to invest resources in its web-based infrastructure: qualifying client/students, course catalogs, transparency required for consumer protection, and tuition assessment.  SYS-ED curriculum were submitted in 2002 - 2006 and would have to be updated and resubmitted. The status of the licensing process is listed on SYS-ED websites. The long term strategy includes meeting the criteria for procuring and teaching source commercial and open source software certification curriculum. A reporting system for assessing mastery of subject matter by independent accredited third parties is under development.