Re: Certification: Ernest and Scribbler

Subject: Re: Certification: Ernest and Scribbler
From: Wade Courtney <wade -dot- courtney -at- gmail -dot- com>
To: Pro TechWriter <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com>
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:56:38 -0700

The UPA doesn't have any certification as far as I can tell, it's not nearly
as expensive to join, and I think they offer more to the membership than the
STC does. That may have changed over the last year or so, but that's my
feeling.

------------------------------
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On Mon, Jul 19, 2010 at 2:39 PM, Pro TechWriter <pro -dot- techwriter -at- gmail -dot- com>wrote:

> **Disclaimer: I do not speak for the Society for Technical Communication as
> a whole, but am offering my opinion only based on my service with STC. The
> views expressed here are my opinion only. **
>
> I'd like to address one point here in the second paragraph. As a STC local
> chapter board member (2008-2009 and 2009-2010 terms) for membership and
> outreach in a medium-size metropolitan area, I have seen our chapter
> membership drop from nearly 200 members to about 80 because of the
> large increase in dues and unemployment of many of our members. We barely
> have any members left, let alone any "riff-raff" hanging out at the local
> STC Chapter. :-)
>
> I think that the rationale for certification is to make STC membership more
> attractive by providing a certification path as a benefit. I do not believe
> that it is intended to penalize people who do not want to get
> certification.
> Many organizations today provide certification to their members and the STC
> wants to be "on par" with other organizations such as the IIBA and PMI.
>
> With the economy being what it is and has been the last few years,
> organizations are competing for membership dollars and must provide proof
> that they are relevant to their members' careers. Certification is one way
> that many organizations do this.
>
> Personally, I am not sure whether I would "go" for certification or not. It
> would depend on the cost and the perceived value in my local job market.
>
> Take what you like and leave the rest :-)
>
> PT
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 3:38 PM, Rick Stone <rstone75 -at- kc -dot- rr -dot- com> wrote:
>
> > What purpose does certification hold for STC? A tool to prevent
> > "uncertified" folks from being promoted? Something to beat folks over
> > the head with until they acquiesce and agree that they must become
> > certified and therefore "pay their dues"?
> >
> > Is this certification a hurdle that STC is building so it becomes more
> > difficult to join STC? In other words, STC is seeing too many "riff
> > raff" or "unqualified" folks applying for membership, so they need to
> > stem the flow?
> >
> > So much of what I see with your Goofus and Gallant (Sorry, Ernest and
> > Scribbler) examples is too subjective. Perhaps a project manager really
> > wants a Scribbler that turns work around fast because Ernest is too
> > worried about trying to work perfectly so the work cannot be produced in
> > a timely manner. Perhaps Ernest avoids screenshots like the plague and
> > they might actually, I dunno... Be helpful or something! (gasp)
> >
> > Like Bill, I too see pros and cons for each.
> >
> > Cheers... Rick :)
> >
> > Steven Jong wrote:
> > > [What follows is at heart a request for comments on one aspect of
> > certification of technical communicators. I hope it entertains you and
> that
> > you respond, but at the same time I really want feedback, and really will
> > incorporate it into what we're doing. So it's fun with a purpose --
> Steve]
> > >
> > > As STC works on implementing certification, it's helpful to keep in
> mind
> > the profile of a practitioner who should get certified and one who
> > shouldn't. Doc managers can tell you who sits atop their ladder and who
> > languishes at the bottom. There are characteristics of hIgh and low
> > performers. We want to certify on attributes associated with high
> > performers. But what are they?
> > >
> > > Remember Goofus and Gallant, the characters from _Highlights for
> > Children_ ? 60 years ago they set examples of good and bad behavior. I'm
> > trying to imagine a pair of writers, Ernest and Scribbler, and see if
> they
> > can show us the way. Here are some examples that come to mind. Do you
> have
> > any others?
> > >
> > > -- Steve
> > >
> > > Ernest:
> > >
> > > Takes extra time to use variables for product and company names; keeps
> > source files clean; uses styles or templates
> > > Copyedits (at least) all input
> > > Works to a plan
> > > Follows the style guide even if it's not very good
> > > Reports status
> > > Selects, captures, and crops screens wherever appropriate
> > > Explains what every menu selection does
> > > Takes time off for professional development
> > >
> > > Scribbler:
> > >
> > > Gets the work done fast and minimally; doesn't waste time fondling
> fonts
> > > Copies and pastes input--why monkey with what the SME said?
> > > Gets work done and turned around ASAP
> > > Improves on the style guide
> > > Is too busy writing to tell people about it
> > > Throws in screenshots wherever possible
> > > Shows where every menu selection goes
> > > Is good at the job and doesn't need to change
> > > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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References:
Certification: Ernest and Scribbler: From: Steven Jong
Re: Certification: Ernest and Scribbler: From: Rick Stone
Re: Certification: Ernest and Scribbler: From: Pro TechWriter

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