CompuServe Messages

Hey Guys….. Gosh It seems like Its been a long time since "I let my fingers do the talking". The current thread on Instructor Certification seems right on course. We do need ways to evaluate the Instructor's teaching ability… and has already been pointed out we already have some of that in place. Are those evaluations being used to their fullest. The ATC's get a report card on their effectiveness over the year at the ATC Manager's meeting. Mabye something should be done regarding the Teacher's feedback. Sort of an annual report Card from Autodesk…. Let you know overall how you're doing. I went over my evals last week and It always feels good to read the good comments and makes you think when there is a bad one…. That's another thing if it could be somehow promoted to write in more comments these are usually the most useful.. Next… along with Instructor Certification I seem to remember that Instructor Development was also an issue to be discussed prioritised ??? Now I know that you all may go and say… first things first… but I don't feel that way these two things should be done in tandum…. not one thing then another the other may just get forgotten…. The current craze over testing IMHO.. is overlooking an important point that is Human Resource Development.. Certification and testing seems to put the entire onus on the individual to get themselves up to speed without any help from employers and institutions. In fact the certification procedure becomes a condition of employment…. I can see how the certification process will work at our ATC. With over 20 part time teachers probably. All of them except a few will be required to put the money for the test and where will these tests be held ? at all ATC centers ??? or will they have to travel to get there ??? And then well If ya don't do it well….. we just can't give you any more courses……Ok Ok so I'm really getting negative here…. I believe that certification should really start at a higher level on a limited basis. (we should certify the ETS group before anyone else) (mud pies away <g>). Wordperfect has a certification program for instructors. Do they have a development program ?? good question ?? Now what It seems to me that what Ken went through at ArCAD wasn't just certification but development as well. It seemed to me like a good ideal to aim for but to also remember how diverse AutoCAD is and how do you certify an instructor of AutoCAD for a specific desclipline with examples from another ?? If they can't explain GRIPS does that proclude them from being a good instructor ?? IMHO we at Vanier lost last year one of the best teachers we had because he did not pass a R11 technical multiple choice exam. A one hour exam and that was it… This guy had one of the best teaching approaches in our institute and was really into it (he owned his own laptop and color LCD overhead device).. He always taught at the intro level and was darn good at it. Now ? we don't hear from the guy… That's a shame.. not something I like to see have happen on an official basis from Autodesk…. Last, semester one of my advanced students asked me how to get into teaching specifically at our center… And I really didn't have an answer for him besides.. "try to get some teaching experience" unfortunately they won't hire anyone without it…But how do you get the experience ?? Ya all know that old catch 22…. Tapped out… Roger C@V