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| Subject: | Re: GISList: ArcView/ArcInfo competency test |
| Date: |
08/06/2002 02:08:00 PM |
| From: |
My-Yen_Quach .. hc-sc.gc.ca |
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|
I had gone through a simple test for a GIS position before.
I don't recall the exact questions, but one of them had to do with knowing the
ArcView menu bar. For example: where do you go to join datasets? The user
would basically have to tell you where and what buttons and functions to use.
The questions sound easy however, I was not impress or liked it at all. As an
application user, many times, it comes naturally when you see the screen to know
where to go. Having to memorize buttons and function name is not what most
advance user would do.
For example, if someone had ask you a question on how to compose an email in
Lotus Notes. Sounds simple, just hit compose in the notes section, however,
where is the compose button, in the menu bar or any where else and is it really
call compose or is it call New Memo?? The person would basically have to
memorize the exact button name or function name or else it would seem like the
weren't sure...but that is not true.
This is actually a valid and a good question to ask, however, this questions and
all others should of been a hands-on exams on software application.
My suggestion in testing people with software applications (e.g. ArcView) is to
have a hands-on exam as well as a time limit. Yes, this person may cheat and
look at the 'Help' menu or guest, but that's alright. A couple of things you
could get out of this hands-on exam is that the person knows the software well
enough to finish the exam on time (e.g. it doesn't matter how they did it, but
whether they did it right or wrong - end results) as well, if a person cheated
using the 'help' menu, that's okay because it shows how well they can come up
with an answer with a time limit. I believe knowing the software well enough to
pass the test without looking at the menu for help is the best, but passing the
testing with some help of the menu is not too bad at all given, the time
constraint.
Hope that helps.
____________________
Regards,
My-Yen
GIS Analyst
Health Canada
130 Colonnade Rd., AL 6503C
Ottawa, Ontario K1A-0K9
Phone (613) 941-7447
Fax (613) 957-6218
"Glenn Letham (GeoCommunity)" <editor@geocomm.com> on 2002-08-06 12:34:18 PM
To: "GIS List (Geocomm)" <gislist@geocomm.com>
cc: (bcc: My-Yen Quach/HC-SC/GC/CA)
Subject: Re: GISList: ArcView/ArcInfo competency test
This is a very interesting subject and something I have often thought of.
Has anyone actually had to perform a hands-on test of their skills to get a
job. I'm sure most of us have been aked if we have certain skills and then
have backed up our response by producing a certificate from a course etc...
but what about actually proving that the knowledge exists.
For example, years ago I was a user of SPANS, PAMAP, and PCIs geoimaging
products. For me to come in to a job interview and boast that I have skills
with these products would likely be considered stretching the truth. sure I
used them a number of years ago, however, if I was to site down at a
terminal and have to go through a test with them I would likely turn red in
the face!
Has anyone had to go through any tests or have any of you managers tested a
potential employee?
I'd be interested in hearing from some of you.
Taking this one step further, what questions or tests would you want to see
people perform?
Obviously it depends on the position at hand (ie. GIs tech, analyst,
programmer, etc...)
Cheers
Glenn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Glenn Letham, Managing Editor
ThinkBurst Media, Inc
ph: 850-897-6778
fx: 850-897-1001
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig von Hagen" <craig.vonhagen@africover.org>
To: "GIS List (Geocomm)" <gislist@geocomm.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 06, 2002 5:56 AM
Subject: GISList: ArcView/ArcInfo competency test
>
> Hi,
>
> Has any body prepared a competency test for ArcView and ArcInfo? Mainly
just
> to test the basic knowledge of people before hiring them. I multiple
choice
> test would be ideal. I would like to know if there is anything existing or
> if I'll have to set up my own.
>
> Thanks
> Craig
>
> Craig von Hagen
> FAO Africover - East Africa
> PO Box 30470
> 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
>
> Tel: +254-(0)2-4440985 or 4443331
> or 4443715 or 4441106
> Fax: +254-(0)2-4441993
>
> web site: www.africover.org
>
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe, write to gislist-unsubscribe@geocomm.com
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Setup a GeoCommu
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