At 11:02 PM 8/20/00, Howard C. Berkowitz wrote:
>If you know that a specific test asks for offsets, then I suppose you must
>memorize them. A test that asks for them, IMNSHO, demonstrates more a lazy
>test writer than it does understanding of the topic. Flashing back to my
>clinical laboratory days, we were expected to use checklists in performing
>life-critical tests, not to trust to memory. While physicians usually do
>know the dosages of drugs they use every day, it's malpractice not to look
>up something of which you aren't 100% sure.
I'm totally in agreement here and I would like to mention one thing that
really bugs me. When I was developing classes for Cisco system engineers, I
put the gory details in sections that I called Job Aids. The idea was that
the system engineer would print this stuff and use it if necessary. The Job
Aids included packet formats, figuring out how much bandwidth distance
vector routing protocols use, figuring out how much bandwidth a new station
booting uses, etc. Unfortunately, this job aid concept got lost and the
test developers actually ask questions on this stuff! It's silly!
On the other hand, I find it definitely helps when troubleshooting to know,
in general terms, what are in the headers. But knowing offsets isn't
usually necessary.
Priscilla
>Indeed, many of the incentives underway to reduce health care errors focus
>on computer-assisted prescribing systems that will check dosages before
>the prescription is issued, rather than hoping a doctor's handwriting is clear.
>
>All this being said, I do find that there is a recent rash of questions
>asking specifics that are reasonably easily found online. People may have
>noticed that I'm often answering a question with a question, suggesting
>sources for study.
>
>To me, the idea of knowing that a protocol offset will be in an RFC, and
>how to retrieve RFCs, is a pretty basic skill. Checking on CCO is both
>easier and a more essential skill for anyone who expects to progress in
>certification.
>
>But I do like the idea of cow milking candidates. As a kid, my theory was
>that you got the different milk products from separate output interfaces
>on the cow. No cow had more than four ports. If you needed additional
>products, you got a cow of a different color, which was hard-wired for
>other products. Brown cows, of course, provided chocolate milk.
________________________
Priscilla Oppenheimer
http://www.priscilla.com
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