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Hi all,<br>
<br>
I think the section about the certification resonates a conversation
that we had about 8 months ago.<br>
I am really delighted to see that it is back on the table.<br>
<br>
I am working for a company called TDM in UK (<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.tdm.info">www.tdm.info</a>).<br>
Our current position is the following:
<br>
• We are an Open Source software house, mainly focussing on LMSs
(Moodle, Mahara, Totara).
So mainly educational/distance learning tools.<br>
• We are also an IT professional academy, delivering
Apprenticeships centred around Professional IT qualifications.<br>
• We are the LPI Master Affiliate for UK and Ireland
<br>
Thanks to this particular position, we have actually gained an
interesting background in Professional Certifications around Open
Source Technologies.<br>
<br>
In a nutshell, and after discussion, we would think that we should
be creating an entity that will:
<br>
• Create and proctor certified exams
<br>
• Promote the use of Blender and 3D Open Source technologies
<br>
• Push for its adoption in education by tying it to national
certification frameworks (eg QCF, Ofqual) in UK and other countries.
<br>
• Helping to setup more "local"/"regional" certification bodies
- in Europe and rest of the world
<br>
<br>
This is an existing model that works quite well for some Open Source
projects/technologies and allows to channel funding into promoting
the certification and also have a more consistent approach.<br>
<br>
My main worries concerning an all-volunteer based approach ( but I
might be wrong, and there should be a mid-way) are that:<br>
<ul>
<li>The provision might be inconsistent and this is key to the
success/failure of a certification</li>
<li>Exams have to be carefully thought/built/updated. Who will do
it on a regular basis ?<br>
</li>
<li>Exams, unless practical exams, as cannot be Open Sourced as
they will loose their "meaningfulness".</li>
<ul>
<li>There should be several levels:</li>
<ul>
<li>Level 1: Multiple choice questions</li>
<li>Level 2+: mix between practical and Multiple choice
questions.</li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Certification needs marketing. Who will do that ?<br>
</li>
<li>The certification should be comparable to other types of
certifications in the same domain. If we want the backing from
Educational institutions, we will need to go through the hoops.
It takes time and it is better when it is coming from one single
entity than several individuals.</li>
</ul>
I do not want to come across as diminishing the importance of
voluntary work here. I acknowledge that impressive and extremely
high standard work has been done by hard working, committed and
dedicated people on a volunteer basis. But... planning, funding and
resourcing is a major part of tackling the problem of consistency
and availability.<br>
My previous attempt, suffered from the issues I just mentioned as
although this was still pretty much in my mind, I did not find the
time necessary to produce anything meaningful.<br>
<br>
I will be happy to dedicate a bit of time in developing that on
behalf of TDM. <br>
<br>
What do you think ?<br>
<br>
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