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Re: Certification--a new concept. Discuss.

Subject: Re: Certification--a new concept. Discuss.
From: Dick Margulis <margulisd -at- comcast -dot- net>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 06:20:13 -0400




Gene Kim-Eng wrote:


I'm still trying to figure out what's new about it.

Gene Kim-Eng



Okay, once more with feeling. In the past iterations of the topic, where people seem to have gotten hung up is on trying to come up with a comprehensive set of criteria to assures expertise in every aspect of technical communication in every conceivable industry, with the goal of producing a certificate that guarantees qualification for every job and that only three people in the world could ever obtain. Complaints that "you left out my pet metier" have devolved into cat fights, digging in of heels, etc.

What I'm proposing that is different is to view a certificate not as a license to practice, without which you are chopped liver, but as an indication that _in addition to_ being the charming and talented fellow you are, with all your individual, pertinent talents, you also have broad exposure to and some knowledge of the general principles of technical communication and you went out of your way to study and pass a test to prove it.

This would be, in other words, an adjunct to your basic degree. You're an EE? Great. The certificate says you're an EE (so you're down with the design details on our gizmo) who also knows something about tech comm. Your degree is in computer science? Great. The certificate says that you not only know how the SDLC works but you also can write decent doc. Your an experienced aircraft assembler? Cool. The certificate says that you not only know how an airplane goes together but you also are likely to be able to write decent maintenance manuals. It does not say that an EE can write aircraft maintenance manuals or that a programmer can write test protocols for electrical devices or that an aircraft assembler can write software design specs.

That's what's different.

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Follow-Ups:

References:
Re: Certification--a new concept. Discuss.: From: Mike O.
Re: Certification--a new concept. Discuss.: From: Dick Margulis
Re: Certification--a new concept. Discuss.: From: Gene Kim-Eng

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