For engineers aiming to advance their careers in the IT industry, obtaining IT certifications is extremely important. Many certifications exist, such as the IT Passport, Fundamental Information Technology Engineer Examination, and Applied Information Technology Engineer Examination, and a study method that is attracting attention is using “cut books” for jisui (digitizing books yourself). This article introduces the merits of cut books and how to utilize them.
What are Cut Books?
Cut books refer to the process of cutting paper books with a cutting machine and scanning them to convert them into electronic data. This allows you to convert paper books into e-books that can be read anytime, anywhere on smartphones, tablets, and PCs.
How to Obtain Books
IT certification reference books can be purchased at bookstores or online shops, but some are out of print or difficult to obtain. You can obtain them through methods such as:
Mercari / Mercari Shops
On Mercari and Mercari Shops, you can purchase used reference books listed by individuals. You may find books that are out of print, so check regularly.
PayPay Flea Market (Yahoo Flea Market)
PayPay Flea Market is also a convenient platform for purchasing used books. If you can’t find the book you want, it’s worth trying here too.
Amazon
Amazon handles not only new books but also used books. In particular, the marketplace has many used books listed by individuals, so search around.
Merits of Cut Books
1. Easy to Carry
By converting cut books into electronic data, you no longer need to carry heavy reference books. If you save the data on your smartphone or tablet, you can easily study anywhere, such as during commute time or at cafes.
2. Search Function Available
By converting to e-books, you can instantly search for specific keywords or phrases. This allows you to quickly find the information you need and enables efficient studying.
3. Rich Marker and Note Functions
Many e-book readers have marker and note functions. You can highlight important parts or make notes on points you want to remember, enabling efficient learning.
How to Make Cut Books
1. Prepare a Cutting Machine
First, prepare a cutting machine to cut the books. Cutting machines can be purchased at stationery stores or online shops. If you don’t have space at home, there are also stores that provide cutting services.
2. Cut the Book
Using the cutting machine, cut off the book’s spine and separate the pages. This makes scanning easier.
3. Scan with a Scanner
Scan the cut pages with a scanner and convert them into electronic data such as PDF. A document scanner is convenient, but you can also use your smartphone’s camera.
4. Save to E-book Reader
Save the scanned data to an e-book reader app on your smartphone or tablet. Now you can study anytime, anywhere.
Summary
For engineers aiming to obtain IT certifications, using cut books for jisui is a very efficient study method. There are many merits such as ease of carrying, search function, and marker function. Prepare a cutting machine and scanner, create your own electronic reference books, and set up an environment where you can study anytime, anywhere. Don’t forget to use Mercari, PayPay Flea Market, and Amazon to obtain the books you need. Good luck with your certification acquisition!