I really have a hard time seeing how this is going to work in the real world. Personally, I used an online resource to get an idea of what kind of questions would be on the CCA exam I took a couple of years back. However, I don't believe it was the reason I scored so highly or why I was able to finish the exam in under 15 minutes. I took advantage of 15 different online courses the company I worked for purchased in preparation for our upgrade from Metaframe XPe to Presentation Server. After completing those online courses, I realized I only needed to pass a single exam to obtain a CCA.
I directly supported Metaframe 1.8 for several years and I've been in an environment, while not being directly responsible for support, has used Metaframe XPe to Presentation Server 4.5. While a good majority of the practice questions I read through were very close to the actual exam questions, I believe it was the hours I put into completing those online courses that enabled me to do so well. If the forensic techniques involve judging the amount of time it takes to complete a test, how long you spent on each question, and whether or not you reviewed your answers, then the system is flawed. If the certification 'masters' want to ensure their certs maintain credibility, then the tests need to force the test taker to think and work through each question rather than giving them mulitple choices to choose from. I believe Microsoft has tried this approach, but like someone else mentioned, a lot of times the "right" answer doesn't accurately match the process that might be followed in the real word. - Sean On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 12:21 PM, TJ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Cynical? Wake up. This world is SO corrupt with fraud that it isnt funny > anymore. And, with all these people on the Internet exposing them - you'd > think they'd stop, but they dont. I dont know what is more sad - the fact > that more and ore people keep trying to cheat the systems in place or the > fact that they dont know they're going to get caught! Or maybe they do and > dont care! > > > On 8/27/08, John Hornbuckle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> You're so cynical! :-) Maybe they just want to make sure people are >> actually learning the content rather than memorizing brain dumps. I know >> that GMAC--the organization behind the GMAT assessment that's required for >> entry into business school--has made similar moves, cracking down on people >> it found participating in forums on brain dump sites. Thankfully, the only >> forum I participated in when studying made it very clear that verbatim >> posting of questions would not be tolerated. >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Tim Evans [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 2:03 PM >> To: NT System Admin Issues >> Subject: RE: Can you say "lawsuit"? I knew you could... >> >> The way I see it, their goal is to ensure that you (quoting from the >> article) "Use the study materials recommended by the owner of the exam. >> Never buy or use sample questions and answers from unauthorized sources..." >> >> Sounds like FUD to make sure that they get their cut from any preparation >> materials used. >> >> ...Tim >> >> >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: John Hornbuckle [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 10:53 AM >> > To: NT System Admin Issues >> > Subject: RE: Can you say "lawsuit"? I knew you could... >> > >> > The certifying entities have nothing to gain and much to lose by >> > incorrectly labeling a test-taker as a cheater. Maybe I'm being naïve, >> > but I would assume that they would feel pretty confident in a >> > technology like this before making use of it. >> > >> > Of course, as Tim perhaps was implying, maybe their goal is just to >> > shake people up. I just read the article twice, and unless I missed it, >> > no one actually said they were going to be doing this--they only said >> > they *could* do it. >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > John Hornbuckle >> > MIS Department >> > Taylor County School District >> > 318 North Clark Street >> > Perry, FL 32347 >> > >> > www.taylor.k12.fl.us >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > -----Original Message----- >> > From: Kurt Buff [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > Sent: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 12:58 PM >> > To: NT System Admin Issues >> > Subject: Can you say "lawsuit"? I knew you could... >> > >> > I wonder just exactly how valid these supposed forensics are. I'm >> > willing to bet that their methods are, uh, a bit unsound. >> > >> > Mind you, I haven't taken a certification exam for nearly 15 years, >> > and don't really think I will any time soon, but the approach taken >> > here seems likely to cause real problems. >> > >> > >> > http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2008/082608musthaler.html >> > >> > "...the companies that create and own the tests have a virtually >> > foolproof way to know whether you've used illegal materials when you >> > take an exam..." >> > >> > and >> > >> > "Every time an individual takes a certification exam online, there are >> > digital "fingerprints" that identify how long that person took to >> > answer each question, whether he went back and changed any answers, >> > and so on. Using data-forensics techniques, this digital evidence is >> > analyzed for every exam taken. With incredible accuracy, the forensics >> > reveal patterns that identify cheaters. Even inadvertent cheaters -- >> > those who didn't know they used illegal preparatory materials -- can >> > be caught, but they are not distinguished from people who cheat >> > intentionally." >> > >> > >> > Kurt >> > >> > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ >> > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ >> > >> > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ >> > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ >> >> ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ >> ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ >> >> ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ >> ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ >> > > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
