AC certification

[Petros Ioannou]

Does Graphisoft has an official standard for qualifying users with Archicad knowledge? And if so is there a sort of test or anything else to prove that a student has attended AC lessons or seminars?
I am asking this because a lot of students and professionals who came to the drafting/drawing school where I am teaching usually ask for some sort of verification for their training.
IMHO the best way to verify this is your everyday performance in a practice but people usually need some sort of papers to prove this.
....or sometimes because they just like to collect diplomas!

Petros

[Steve Jepson]

We need something like this in the USA too.

Stefan, have you seen this?
Is there anything like this where you teach?

http://www.archicadaccreditation.com/

[Steve Jepson]

check this out. we need more programs like this world wide.

http://www.archicadaccreditation.com/

[Karl Ottenstein]

Steve wrote:
check this out. we need more programs like this world wide.

http://www.archicadaccreditation.com/

I agree that a program is needed, and the goals (listed as "Method" in the above page) are good, but the implementation doesn't make sense IMHO.

Testing someone's competence at using AC by means of a submitted model, layouts, views, listing and screen snapshots (the current criteria at:
http://www.archicadaccreditation.com/applicantguide.html
hardly accomplishes the goals IMHO. If someone took 1 hour to create a model and someone else fumbled around and took 20 hours to create the same model, evaluating them based on the model would lead to the conclusion that their skills were equal.

Look at the criteria evaluation form at:
http://www.archicadaccreditation.com/criteria.html
and imagine how it could be filled out in any way that meaningfully assesses anyone's competency. Among other things, the evaluation includes some categories based on the use of modules. Does this mean that the applicant should artificially introduce modules into the model just so that they can have high scores ("Used lots of modules!") in those categories, even if the use was inappropriate?

Further, only by an oral type exam can you throw exceptional conditions at someone and see if they know how to deal with them - either by workaround or telling you that it cannot be done.

Finally, the goals ("Method") on the original URL include these items:

• -Establishment of Competency Standards for teachers
  -Develop the understanding of the Building Simulation concept
  -Set criteria for accrediting existing teachers

Standards can be developed, of course, but teachers cannot be evaluated without personal observation and interviews by an accreditation team.

All of this could all be an expensive proposition, but I think it is needed worldwide, perhaps with uniform methods and criteria established by GS.

My 2 cents,
Karl

[Karl Ottenstein]

.

[Erika Epstein]

Karl,
How do other programs handle education?

[Djordje]

Topics merged.

Please, Talkers - first read, then post. It is VERY likely that the thread you want already exists, maybe with different wording, but the same subject.

Thanks,

Your horrible moderator

[Erika Epstein]

Djordje,
You are a great moderator
Keep cracking that whip!

[Djordje]

Erika wrote:
Djordje, You are a great moderator
Keep cracking that whip!

More into gentle sunsets than black leather 😉

Thanks

[Karl Ottenstein]

Erika wrote:
Karl,
How do other programs handle education?

I'm not that familiar with software or technical certification ... my only experience has been in evaluating university faculty for hire, tenure and reappointment.

Microsoft's is the only certification program that I've heard of:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/default.asp
and it is quite extensive in the areas that are covered. I see that they have a Microsoft Certified Trainer certification
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mct/guide/

and that most of the technical certifications require exams. All of this has fees attached. Wonder if this is a profit center or a service for Microsoft.

Googling on 'autocad certification' shows that there is such a thing there. I don't find anything for Revit. But, interestingly, Graphisoft's own ArchiFM has a certification process:
http://www.graphisoft.com/products/archifm/cert/

Karl