CompuServe Messages

Dear Dennis: I've thought about it, and I just can't agree that all AutoCAD teachers can teach all AutoCAD students equally well, not even at the 'Fundamentals' level. I just have to believe that a teacher with a background in Architecture, or Mechanical Engineering, or NC is probably a better teacher for users in those disciplines. It seems to me that we are not talking about licensing operators here. We're talking about accrediting instructors. To be worth its 'weight' the credential must give users, atcs and other employeers some idea of the person's ability to teach AutoCAD. That means it probably ought to be more than: How many circle options are there? Can you draw an arc if you know only the start point and radius? How can you create an arc with a known start point, radius and perimeter measurement? Which surface command requires four end point to end point curves. What autolisp command do you use to grab all the information in the database about a given entity. If the credential doesn't do more than this, I don't see how it will be more than the normal 'user' certification exam already in existence. Why do we need two tests then? Why not just make a certain score on the current test required for Autodesk approved instructors? Wouldn't it be easier to accredit curriculum rather than instructors and then to test the students after a class to measure retention? It is easy for Autodesk to control curriculum quality and to enforce a feedback loop. And this seems to acheive their objective more directly – Educated Students which can pass the certification exam. Besides, curriculum for Autodesk classes is complained about at every ATC managers meeting. Many teachers are compelled to use old curriculum, or haphazardly created curriculum, or curriculum that doesn't fit into the class time requirements. If Autodesk generates approved curriculum for a variety of disciplines they would be doing intructors a favor. And if they measure the delivery of that 'data' they would be doing students a favor.