[Bf-education] A Six point Tentative Plan for Blender 3D Certification Concept

Ton Roosendaal ton at blender.org
Sun Jun 10 10:40:30 CEST 2007


Hi Venurao,

Thanks for the elaborate proposal.

I would suggest you use the online archives for this mailing list to  
check on all past discussions on certification. It is still pretty well  
summarized here;
http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Bf-education/certification

Your proposal more sounds like a plan for when there's a real company  
involved with the training business. We don't have this (yet), and  
still want to make a first step.

(Note to all, can we keep the wiki page updated?)

-Ton-


On 7 Jun, 2007, at 0:10, venu rao wrote:

>  
> Respected Sir Ton Roosendaal and All,
>
> Certification should be a strong concept to achieve Blender Foundation  
> goal to market and promote the use of Free Open Source Blender 3D at  
> micro and macro levels as a popular option for Animation, Filmaking &  
> Gaming Tool for all around the world. For this I wish to propose  
> a brief six point tentative certification plan as under -
>
> 1. QUALITY CERTIFICATION : Blender 3D Certification should aim to gain  
> confidence of Production Industries at all levels,  
> convincing that Candidates with Quality Certification are available at  
> ease with specialization to supplement the Production Maturity for any  
> organisation which goes to production with Blender as a strong option.
>
> 2. AUTHORISED TESTING : Blender Foundation should delegate the process  
> and provide licencing on term contract to appoint Authorised Testing  
> Centres all over locations, which should be accredited to operate on  
> same guidelines as Sylvan Prometric Testing Centres do to build the  
> confidence of Industry into its overall certification process to  
> support its principal software support executives.
>
> 3. CERTIFICATION ROADMAP : Scope of certification should be on  
> assessing and awarding Conceptual Levels of an individual in using  
> Blender as an effective Animation, Filmaking and Gaming Tool.
> For Example: If in the year 2007  Blender Certification should be  
> done, then it should provide with different modules for certifications  
> accordingly:
> (A)Passing all the Gaming modules be awarded the Blender 3D Gaming  
> Certification'07
> (B)Passing all the Filmaking modules be awarded the Blender 3D  
> Filmaking Certification'07
> (C)Passing all the Animation modules Be awarded the Blender3D  
>  Animation Certification'07
> (D)Passing all the Modeling modules awarded the Blender 3D ModelingPro  
> Certification'07
> (E)Passing all the Above modules Be awarded the Blender 3D Star  
> Trainer Certification'07
>
> 4. EXAMINATION PROCESS : The examination should be online where the  
> examination pattern should be in a simulated online format, minimum  
> requirements to certification should be 80% score. Instant online  
> marksheet printout can be given to the passout at the ATC (Authorised  
> Training Center. Certificate should be sent by Blender Education Board  
> by Post along with certification logo for printing on passouts  
> visiting cards and a metal moulded tiepin.
>
> 5. ACTIVE EDUCATION BOARD : For this the Yearly Blender Education  
> Board should be setup to have an active and paid committee to devote  
> time professionaly to delegate process and come out each year with a  
> Standard Syllabus on a specific date regularly. Course Material be  
> made available at Blender Foundation e-shop. To sustain the process of  
> providing certification Blender Education Board should charge a  
> upfront and deposit fee to appoint an Authorised Training Centres as  
> per annual contract terms. The Authorised Training Centre should  
> charge minimum fee to lifetime registration to an examinee with  
> Blender Foundation, Thereafter Per exam Per attempt fee to be charged  
> separately by the Authorised Training Centre a part of which goes to  
> Blender Education Board to sustain the ovearall process of providing  
> quality certification.
>
> 6. POST-CERTIFICATION SUPPORT : Database of all Passouts should be  
> available online at the Blender Education Board site for Placement  
> support. Certified Students be provided with a authorised  
> certification logo for different certification to be displayed on  
> their Visiting Cards & Letter Heads. Even Logo Tie pins can be given  
> with the Certification From the Blender Education Board.Certification  
> should be renewed at every product update year by the passout by  
> appearing the exam.
>
> Much more comprehensive and concrete Plan can be envisaged if thing  
> are taken logically to make Blender 3D a serious preposition world  
> over. I would love to justify the above pitch contents towards any  
> valuable queries from all quadrants. I feel I can provide a complete  
> white paper on this content if further needed.
>
> Best Wishes from a Die-hard Blender Supporter
>
> Mr. Venurao Dindi
> Founder & Director
> JGFX ANIMATION WORLD,
> Vaibhav Laxmi Apts.,
> Mohan Nagar,
> Nagpur (INDIA) 440001
> Having worked as Production Manager on International Animation  
> Co-productions of Studios like - Alfanim (FRANCE), Rainbow (ITALY),  
> Amberwood (CANADA), Mike Young Productions (Hollywood), PASI Manila  
> (PHILLIPINES), etc.
>
> www.jgfxworld.com
>
>
> --- bf-education-request at blender.org wrote:
>
> From: bf-education-request at blender.org
> To: bf-education at blender.org
> Subject: Bf-education Digest, Vol 27, Issue 2
> Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:00:03 +0200
>
> Send Bf-education mailing list submissions to
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>
> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: Blender Certification - Pushing Forward (Jason van Gumster)
>   2. Re: Blender Certification - Pushing Forward (macouno)
>   3. Re: Blender Certification - Pushing Forward (Ton Roosendaal)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2007 19:44:41 -0400
> From: Jason van Gumster <jason at handturkeystudios.com>
> Subject: Re: [Bf-education] Blender Certification - Pushing Forward
> To: bf-education at blender.org
> Message-ID: <20070605194441.3befb157 at phlegm.misaligned.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
>
> Hi Willem,
>
> > Would it be ok when filling in the form for aplication to post the
> > aplicants tutorial video on a ftp link on our site, or do we need to
> > upload it. Must it be a video and is a video, what format and what
> > will the size limit be..
>
> I had a conversation with Rui about this and we're trying to figure out
> the best way to handle this.  On the one hand, we'd like to keep as
> much of the process open as possible, so it would be nice to host
> submitted tutorials (written and video) on the wiki for all to see.
> This gives exposure to the trainer and adds to the "education pool"
> for all Blender users.  Of course, this is assuming that the storage
> space and bandwidth exists for us to do that.  If we go that route,
> standardizing on a format for video submissions would definitely be
> wise.
>
> Of course, on the other hand, I'm definitely aware of people that are
> looking for certification who actually wish to make money by selling
> their tutorials.  While the certification team should definitely  
> require
> a sample to verify the applicant's ability to teach, I'm not sure that
> we should require that those submissions be made public.  If that's
> the case, then we'd need something other than a wiki for submitted data
> (FTP maybe? or an off-site link?).
>
> Rui was leaning toward the former scenario (everything in the open),
> while I lean slightly the other way.  Frankly, though, we could do it
> either way (or some hybrid perhaps?).
>
> So, here's a question to the whole list: do we require that submitted
> materials be made public or should that be an option that the trainer
> chooses once he or she is certified?
>
> > In a way i believe that paying up front will be much more viable for
> > the foundation seeing that you would like to hire somoene on a late
> > stage.
>
> I agree with this... and it seems to be consistent with the way many
> other certification programs operate.  Yes, it may be disappointing for
> some people who might pay money and not become certified, but hopefully
> there won't be too many of those. :)
>
> > So to me the flow will be like this.
> >
> > a: Apply by filling in the form. with links to turorial.
> > b: Wair for confermation of reciept of material.
> > c: Pay on e-shop.
> > d: Blender post outcome and if positive send trainer sertificate.Ton:
> > May I get my graphics disigner to design the certificate template for
> > you. It will be a hounor to us.
>
> Paying after submitting the form might be an option, but I still think
> that going through the e-shop first and getting a confirmation email
> directing the user to the submission form would be better and would
> make it most clear that it's a required application fee.  I could be
> wrong, though.
>
> Regarding a designed certificate... I was pretty sure we'd opted not to
> go that direction.  The 'certificate' is having your name listed as a
> certified trainer on blender.org.  Besides, if we can avoid the cost of
> printing, signing, and mailing certificates, I think that would be a
> good thing.  Granted, it's nice to have that piece of paper in your
> hand, but perhaps that's a topic we can re-visit in a year after we get
> this off of the ground.
>
> As always, any input you guys can provide would be helpful.
>
>   -Jason
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 00:48:14 -0700
> From: macouno <info at macouno.com>
> Subject: Re: [Bf-education] Blender Certification - Pushing Forward
> To: Blender Education and Training projects <bf-education at blender.org>
> Message-ID: <4a30662054994428399fbabdd1efe2b8 at 87.215.195.250>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> "So, here's a question to the whole list: do we require that submitted
> materials be made public or should that be an option that the trainer
> chooses once he or she is certified?"
>
> Personally I think making everything public would be more trouble than  
> it's
> worth. I imagine lots of different types of materials to be submitted,  
> which
> would subsequently make the wiki a mess. But I would 'reserve the  
> right to
> publish submitted materials', just in case... that way you can judge  
> it on a
> case by case basis, or change your mind. I would not emphasize  
> publication
> though. Its easy enough for someone to publish their things online  
> already,
> that does not need to be the job of the education board.
>
> BTW, I sense somehow that people consider the certification process to  
> be
> rather fast. As if people who register/pay, would have the materials
> pre-made and ready to submit. I expect that some enthusiastic people  
> would
> register, and then realise they have to submit something... educators  
> are
> like everyone else and don't read websites any better either. I would  
> build
> in a 1 month buffer between registration & submission of materials, so  
> that
> those that don't have it ready get some time to make something.
>
> Dolf
>
> ________________________________________________
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 10:53:21 +0200
> From: Ton Roosendaal <ton at blender.org>
> Subject: Re: [Bf-education] Blender Certification - Pushing Forward
> To: Blender Education and Training projects <bf-education at blender.org>
> Message-ID: <75316432aa3f79436494f63c7f6bde61 at blender.org>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm all in for freedom of choice here. It's not a core value for a 
> trainer/training support program to demand all members to submit open 
> content. We should encourage it though, and definitely *only* accept 
> free/open content in our own wiki and download or hosting service.
>
> How about that?
>
> -Ton-
>
>
> On 6 Jun, 2007, at 9:48, macouno wrote:
>
> > "So, here's a question to the whole list: do we require that  
> submitted
> > materials be made public or should that be an option that the trainer
> > chooses once he or she is certified?"
> >
> > Personally I think making everything public would be more trouble  
> than 
> > it's
> > worth. I imagine lots of different types of materials to be  
> submitted, 
> > which
> > would subsequently make the wiki a mess. But I would 'reserve the 
> > right to
> > publish submitted materials', just in case... that way you can judge 
> > it on a
> > case by case basis, or change your mind. I would not emphasize 
> > publication
> > though. Its easy enough for someone to publish their things online 
> > already,
> > that does not need to be the job of the education board.
> >
> > BTW, I sense somehow that people consider the certification process  
> to 
> > be
> > rather fast. As if people who register/pay, would have the materials
> > pre-made and ready to submit. I expect that some enthusiastic people 
> > would
> > register, and then realise they have to submit something...  
> educators 
> > are
> > like everyone else and don't read websites any better either. I  
> would 
> > build
> > in a 1 month buffer between registration & submission of materials,  
> so 
> > that
> > those that don't have it ready get some time to make something.
> >
> > Dolf
> >
> > ________________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Bf-education mailing list
> > Bf-education at blender.org
> > http://lists.blender.org/mailman/listinfo/bf-education
> >
> >
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
> -
> --
> Ton Roosendaal  Blender Foundation ton at blender.org 
> http://www.blender.org
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
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--
Ton Roosendaal  Blender Foundation ton at blender.org  
http://www.blender.org




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