Geeky test publishers conference

OK, I’m not actually going to Disneyland, but I’ve always wanted to say that. I’m going to a super-geeky Association of Test Publishers (ATP) conference in Orlando with some of my esteemed colleagues from the Certification Development Team.  Taj Heniser and I will be presenting about how we have been using the blog and other online tools to help put a face on certification for our customers. Hopefully we’ll also learn some good stuff that we can use to make our exams even better.

We need pithy quotes

Over the last year, the Certification Development Team has been making an effort to be more transparent about our exam development process and schedule. (Hopefully you’ve noticed!) We’ve set up a SME profile system to help you get involved. We’ve posted on this blog and presented at events such as the bus tour and the MCT Virtual Summit. As Ken mentioned the other day, Liberty even has a Live Meeting coming up entitled “The Truth About Certification.”

I believe that our efforts to show you what’s behind the curtain have had an impact on your satisfaction with MCP exams. But quite frankly, I need some quotes from customers to add to our presentation—either to confirm or deny said belief. Yesterday I looked through the comments for many of the posts we’ve done in the last year, looking for some pithy quotes. I found some hilarious ones, not the least of which was Wayne Anderson’s “Mmmmmm. Rasch. Sounds like a country dish with pork and corn!” However, I was hoping for some comments that more directly address the impact of this transparency.

What’s the impact

So here I am, shamelessly asking for you to send us some comments describing the impact that our efforts to be more transparent about the exam development process have had on you. For example:

• Has your opinion about exams changed?
• Are you more satisfied with the MCP program now that you know more about the process?
• Are you frustrated that we can tell you some things and can’t tell you others?
• Or are you still mad at me because you didn’t get into that beta?

What’s in it for you? Your quote, on a rollercoaster

My kids won’t be going with me to the conference, so I’m saving the trip to Disneyworld for next time. However, Stephanie Jordan, one of our awesome Project Managers, will be going to Disneyworld after the conference. She has offered to carry a printout of your quotes on a rollercoaster ride, and document said ride with a (likely very blurry but doubtless funny) picture.

Bring ‘em on

You can submit your comments on this post, or send them directly to mslcd@microsoft.com. Taj and I will look at all the comments, and select a sampling to highlight in our presentation.