Acronym Hell

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Hello all,
One thing I remember well from my A+ days, and see all the time in the people I help learn it, is the attack of the acronyms.

"When connecting your PCIe AMD HD GPU to the MOBO be sure to use ESD protection, or you may end up with a BSoD or a bricked rig."
Can be like an alien language! One my guys sometimes struggle with is ROM, RAM, SRAM, DRAM and SDRAM. And DDR SDRAM. And RDRAM. Which of course comes packaged in SIMMs, DIMMs, RIMMs (with CRIMMs), SoDIMMS or Micro-DIMMs (next time I face that lesson, I'll finish off with PIMMs!)

I made a thread a while ago on one technique of memorising all these using a technique called phased repetition and an open-source tool called Mnemosyne. Is anyone struggling with all this? Is this still a problem? Is it still worth learning all this?

In a nutshell, is it worth reviving this for the new objectives? (2009/2012)
And what about the Network+ (for, say, acronyms and port numbers)
Any thoughts?

 

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compTIA provide a list of acronym's in with the course objectives that may be used across the certification requirements.

 

I used that for my A+ and, after adding lists of things to it (such as screen resolutions, min and recommended specs for OSs etc) it became an invaluable study tool. I would never have learned all those little facts without it, and I could probably still recite most of the info that was on them because the way you learn is conducive to turning short-term memory into long-term memory.


I also used it for the Network +. There's not so much information that's brute memory in the N+, but there are enough to justify using Mnemosyne. Ports numbers, OSI layers, max segment lengths for the innumerable amount of different cable technologies etc.

 

I'd really appreciate one for the N10-005

Did you just use, as suggested, the ones provided by CompTIA for the old A+ post you did?

 

Thank you The Zig.

Just downloaded it to my iPad will come really handy.

 

Picked up your previous thread from just browsing through the forum and as I am just getting started on my journey thought that it would definetly be something I would be looking at using so I would be very greatful as any help for me is appreciated.

You lot rock, all the help and advice you give .... really gonna help me

 

shadowwebs - Yeah, that's where I got the last list from. Think it was the 601/602 era list. Will see if I can get the 2012 list, as I've heard they'll be updating to this soon. I'll try to get a properly formatted list together for that and post it. Should help people get on top of this.

soundian - I remember discussing this all with you way back when - we had some good ideas before I got a free-time-swallowing job and vanished for four years! Sorry about that...

BB88 - Yes, the list was the *exact* list provided by CompTIA - even down to their typos (I remember they had BNC as "British Navel [as in belly-button] Connector" on their official list). I'll get working on one for the N+ list as I've got the objectives. Would do it tonight, but I've just found out I've got a project that has to be done for tomorrow to do with a Health and Safety qualification. What fun...

Kopite_21 - Damn! I didn't know it was on iPad! I gotta get that and get back into my Japanese kanji study. My Japanese reading is SO bad now.

Robyn - No problem! As this is useful, I'll get some updated stuff together in the next few days.

 

Apart from the acronym list, is there anything else flashcards might be useful for?

Also mnemonics are another tool I use where I can. As a trainer I've picked up a few that tend to stick.
I'm no magician and I can't magic knowledge into your head, but I've picked up a few tricks.

Is there anything people are really struggling to remember?

 

I struggle to remember anything I read, do you have any tricks for that?

 

Ha! Hmmm.... tricky one.
Although some stuff reckons everyone has a favoured mode of learning. Like some people learn best by seeing, some by hearing, some by kinaesthetic. Maybe you ain't the visual type. Where I worked before they had some videos which I ripped to mp3 and put on a CD for the car. Figured I was losing about 2-3 hours a day in the car, so may as well put the time to use. It did get a bit boring, driving along to discussion of VPN tunnels. Better than Fearne Cotton tho...

Anyone know any mp3s or audio for A+?

 

Well there we go Zig, you can retire ..... make mp3s or audio for A+

 

Hi all. I've done it now...

Please find attached a text file formatted to be turned into A+ cards, and a .pdf guide on how you can get started with Mnemosyne.
This uses the complete CompTIA A+ 2008, 701/702 acronym list, exactly as it appears on their objectives (still including a few mistake IMO, as I'm 95% sure WPA is "Wifi Protected Access" not "Wireless Protected Access"; though the "British Navel Connector" thing's been fixed!)

The PDF guide >>> View attachment 2674
The A+ flash cards >>> View attachment CompTIA A+ Acronym List.txt

Be aware, there are also apps for Mnemosyne for Android and iOS now. And from the looks of it, they're making it easier to sync across devices. I'd be tempted to put this on something mobile, so I could review things in those little loose minutes you spend on a train, or waiting for a lift, or sitting on the throne!

Should be 281 cards for the A+.
If there are any I've missed or lined up wrong, please let me know.
Any others that'd be useful, either make and share them yourself, or we can discuss ideas here.

There are also Network+ cards on this thread if anyone wants them...