Re: SAGE, certification, and you

[Michael Rogero Brown <brownmic@plhp002.comm.mot.com>]

> 
> > I think
> > with the 'Merit Badge' scheme tossed around, that the tests would not cover
> > large, broad topics like 'Unix Administration',
> 
> But is it possible to cover a broad topic like that in a single
> certification? I don't believe so, which is one of my reasons for
> objecting to what (I think) the Board is proposing.
> 
> Well, maybe they'll clarify what they had in mind. :-) Certainly
> from Hal's and Elizabeth's responses, I got the impression that
> they were thinking along the same lines I am, but I've been wrong
> before ...
> 

Well, one way of looking at it is how others do certification.  Can't speak
on CNE, but am familar with MCSE (M$ Certified Support Engineer) and IBM.

With MCSE, you pass 4 core test plus 2 electives.  For NT, there are 3 core
tests you pass: NT Workstation, NT Server, and NT Server in the Enterprise.
So basically 3 tests cover the OS.

Now IBM has 4 levels of AIX certified admins.  As I recall off the top of my
head, they are 'AIX Admin', 'AIX Support Engineer', 'Advanced AIX Admin', and
'Advanced AIX Support Engineer'.  Each level is 'higher' then the other, and
requires that you learn more at each level, BUT each level takes only one test.

As I see it, you have about a half dozen 'major' versions of Unix out there,
each with their little differences, plus a couple dozen others.  While I can
expect a basic certification test to cover basic Unix, because of these many
versions, one would have to hope that these would be covered in the various
'elective' merit badge test.

Now, I'm a scout leader, so am a bit familiar with the advancement requirements
of the BSA and how they use merit badges in that.  As I'd see it, you'd have 
to require certain basic tests be passed, and allow for some variety there.
So you might have (to use MS's MCSE scheme), 4 core test to pass, maybe
'Basic Unix', 'Advanced Unix', and 'Unix in the Enterprise', and a Network
Basics test.  But for variety, instead of one 'Basic Unix' test, you'd be able
to choose between several, like 'Basic Linux', 'Basic HP-UX', 'Basic AIX', and
so forth.

Then your 'merit badge' tests would be your electives, where you are expected
to pass a certain number.  These could be in specific technologies/apps, such
as 'sendmail', 'perl', 'apache Administration', and the like.

And as with the MCSE test, how an admin would prepare for these is up to 
themselves.  What topics each test would covered would be available (along
with sample questions), and a recommended list of books, articles, and classes
could be given, to help point them in the right direction.

You could also be a little more creative with the certification, again here
I'm following the BSA advancement model.  If instead of just having one basic
certification, but have levels, you could add in to the certification 
requirements for the higher levels things beyond just passing tests, such as
specific amount of time in the industry and the like.  For instance, the the
higher BSA advancement awards, the scout has to hold a leadership position for
an amount of time and be involded in service projects.  Maybe something along
the lines of being an admin for a resonable amount of time and be involved
in largest admin projects.  But I have to admin this is a bit sticky to 
control something like this, so I don't expect others to accept this idea.

Michael R. Brown






--
Michael Rogero Brown                  |  Disclaimer: I speak only for myself.  
Unix/NT Systems Support               |   Any opinions expressed are my own
Motorola, LMPS                        |   and do not reflect the opinions of
email: emb021@email.mot.com           |   Motorola.