I think the problem here is with language.<br><br>Certification only means that you have a certificate that say you completed something. In that sense it's as good as what you completed and if someone goes to the effort of building a course or test that demonstrates knowledge, I don't see what harm there is in them marketing that certificate and people using it to demonstrate they have the skills it takes to complete it. <br>
<br>The problem is that "Certification" has an official ring to it -- like it's declared by the government, or the DA or by God -- and that's where it starts to get sticky. <br><br>I developed an online course for a nonprofit client (using Drupal of Course) and we stayed away from the word "certification" but did offer a "certificate of completion" at the end. Same thing, but the language matters. <br>
<br>Sam<br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 11:39 AM, Laura <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:pinglaura@gmail.com">pinglaura@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div class="im">On Aug 7, 2009, at Fri 8/7/09 9:09am, Greg Knaddison wrote:<br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
On Fri, Aug 7, 2009 at 8:29 AM, Alex Urevick-Ackelsberg<<a href="mailto:Alex@zivtech.com" target="_blank">Alex@zivtech.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
But still, what about a Drupal Developers/Shops Guild?<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
3-4 years ago folks started down this path. It died fairly quickly.<br>
I don't think it would actually be helpful at solving the problems it<br>
sets out to solve, though maybe the market is different enough now in<br>
some way that it would be helpful.<br>
</blockquote>
<br></div>
I'm fairly skeptical of this, for a number of reasons:<br>
<br>
1 - It's a way of making money off of developers, instead of helping clients.<br>
2 - It injects politics.<br>
3 - It creates barriers to entry, especially for those who are bootstrapping their way into a profession. #2 again.<br>
4 - There's no real way to enforce it internationally. #2 again.<br>
5 - It risks running into antitrust laws. #2 again.<br>
6 - It ultimately carries little meaning in relation to capability, credibility, integrity, reliability - the things that matter. #2 again.<br>
7 - Who controls it? #2 again.<div class="im"><br>
<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
I'll maintain my previous stance: the best "certification program" we<br>
have is the <a href="http://drupal.org" target="_blank">drupal.org</a> user profile.<br>
</blockquote>
<br></div>
I agree. Open Source already opens up information that is usually hidden, information that certifications, club membership, etc. are ostensibly intended to reveal indirectly.<br>
<br>
I do see a value, however, if someone were to offer affordable training programs, especially since Drupal is generally not taught in schools.<br><font color="#888888">
<br>
Laura</font><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
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