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by ajsgarage
3725 days ago
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This is an interesting approach to a genuine issue; I've got a background in Curriculum Design and can agree that an outside, "third party" type certification system could have market potential for both graduates and employers. One of the sticking points in my studies looking into a similar concept was balancing the cost to the student with the expected utility of receiving the certification. So, unless at the debut of the certification there is a large, verified list of employers willing to pay a premium for certified graduates, this concept doesn't make a market value connection in my opinion. On another fundamental note, the system as described would be effective in long-term retention knowledge testing, true. Yet this model doesn't seem to incorporate 'continuing education' into the remedial approach. Thus, the certified prior knowledge can be tested and maintained, but there's no inclusion of 'new' studies and knowledge that promote long-term growth on top of the knowledge base. As I've experienced in several industries, there are already licensing ('cerification') bodies which have deployed a Continuing Education (CE) credit model (e.g. insurance, finance). This proposed model may benefit from comparison and distinction from these existing, regulated approaches, in addition to the above note regarding expected market value. Cheers for taking on a genuine issue and working towards a better environment! |
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One of the sticking points in my studies looking into a similar concept was balancing the cost to the student with the expected utility of receiving the certification. So, unless at the debut of the certification there is a large, verified list of employers willing to pay a premium for certified graduates, this concept doesn't make a market value connection in my opinion.
I agree that traditional certification suffers from this problem, but my idea gets around this. Traditional certification requires a large investment in time from the candidate (study) where as mine requires no study. This lowers the barrier to entry to sitting for the certification. With investor backing the tests can initially be made low cost or free further lowering the barrier to entry. I can see it appealing to people with skills but not a tradition education who want to demonstrate they have these skills.
The employers need to value the certification (this is one of the difficulties I listed in my follow-on post). The best way of achieving this is to start in a very narrow industry/skill set, achieve critical mass, and then expand. This solves the typical chicken and the egg problem that you need credibility to be widely used and you need to be widely used be credible.
On another fundamental note, the system as described would be effective in long-term retention knowledge testing, true. Yet this model doesn't seem to incorporate 'continuing education' into the remedial approach. Thus, the certified prior knowledge can be tested and maintained, but there's no inclusion of 'new' studies and knowledge that promote long-term growth on top of the knowledge base.
There is no reason why the system is incompatible with continuing education - you just test the effectiveness of the new education in the same way. In many ways my idea complements continuing education since continued education is one of the ways to keep the knowledge the candidate can draw on in the test fresh in their mind.
As I've experienced in several industries, there are already licensing ('cerification') bodies which have deployed a Continuing Education (CE) credit model (e.g. insurance, finance). This proposed model may benefit from comparison and distinction from these existing, regulated approaches, in addition to the above note regarding expected market value.
If successful I would see a symbiotic relationship developing between the providers of continuing education and the business running my idea. They could use my approach to ensure that their education is making a lasting impact on the participants and is not just a "checklist" requirement done and forgotten.
The think I feel most positive about this idea is it can catalyse a change in education towards long term retention of skills and knowledge. Education providers who use the approach will change the way they teach and move us all away from the current cram and forget model.