Re: Certification value (was Bitwise operators)

["Scott P. Smith" <ssmith@scott-smith.com>]

I never said it was easy to pass all the various certifications tests.  I
did not mean to imply that.  I probably wouldn't pass any one of them today.
I would have to prepare for it a few weeks.  If I passed, does it make me a
better software engineer?

I was commenting on the coloration between on the job performance and being
certified.

Has the correlation ever been experimentally measured?  A test is not valid
unless it is objectively correlated with the criteria it is attempting to
measure.  We take SATs to enter collage because the score on the SAT
correlates highly with performance in collage.  (Of course it's not
perfect.)

What you are tested for when you take the SCJP is performance on the SCJP.
Extrapolating that to above average work performance is not necessarily
valid.  Maybe it is.  I have a subjective opinion that I can't back up with
proof.  Unless it's backed up be evidence, It's a matter of faith.  Either
you believe in it or you don't.  Maybe there is proof.  But don't quote a
study paid for by Sun.  They are not objective.  Is Gosling certified?  I
have no idea.  If he is, did he actually sit down and take the tests.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Curt Smith" <chsmith@speakeasy.net>
To: <ajug-members@www.ajug.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2003 5:30 PM
Subject: Re: Certification value (was Bitwise operators)


> My incompetence at subtle sarcasm in my post below caused at least a few
> folks to misunderstand that I was actually attempting (poorly) to advocate
> certification.   SCJP though would not be my suggested end point, rather
> SCWCD plus SCEA.   After passing both and many others, I found the
> design of SCWCD to be an excellent test of ones knowledge of JSP, Servlet,
> taglib, web.xml etc.  Modern trick question design of multiple choice
_can_
> be tough and rigorous.  Take the SCWCD if you think it's so easy and of no
> value.  :)
>
> Appologies,  curt
>
> Curt Smith wrote:
>
> >>
> >>> I will probably offend many people by saying this, but I place no
> >>> value in
> >>> being certified.
> >>
> >>
> > I agree regarding SCJP.   Referring to beyond SCJP, analogously I'm
> > glad the
> > American Medical Assoc. doesn't feel that getting a BS in biology is
> > sufficient
> > to be an effective brain surgeon, there is also more to learn and is
> > of essential
> > value including and even beyond SCWCD, SCEA, IBM XML , , ,
> >
> > curt
> >
> >>>
> >
>
> --
>
> Curt Smith
> chsmith@speakeasy.net
> (h) 404-294-6686
> (w) 404-463-0973
>
>
>
>
>
>