Priscilla, Speaking of long-delayed Cisco course projects: have you seen any word on when we can expect a major rewrite to BCMSN?
-Bob Sinclair CCIE #10427 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Priscilla Oppenheimer" To: Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 2:42 PM Subject: RE: Brief Review - Parkhurst's OSPF Book [7:60093] > The Long and Winding Road wrote: > > > > Howard attempted to get a discussion going earlier this week > > about practice > > lab design assumptions, something that has so far drawn little > > attention ( > > as opposed to the CCIE versus college degree thread that just > > won't die ) > > I'd kinda like to see a discussion of book writing / training > > material > > writing design as well. I personally believe the Parkhurst > > method, while > > maybe not the be all and end all of study materials, packs a > > lot more into > > it's pages than most others I have read. I wish there were more > > like the two > > Parkhurst books. > > Thanks for the book review. I can comment on book writing and course > development. In fact I did before too. My number one axiom is that an > untested lab will not work. The reason Parkhurst's books are so good is > because he obviously tested everything he discusses. > > Just like with networks and software, the most important phases in book and > course development are at the beginning and end of the project: design and > testing. The worst books and courses are those that were thrown together > without much analysis up front. > > The process can be quite complicated. Masters degrees and even PhDs are > awarded in the instructional design field. But the process can be > streamlined also, and I think that Howard would agree, that sometimes the > instructional designer, education major types cause more problems than they > solve. At one point Cisco's training department consisted mostly of these > types. You wouldn't believe how many projects can stuck in the analysis > phase and never got produced. The training department was infamous for > starting and never finishing projects. > > However, that aside, I still stick to my original statement that the design > and testing are the most important aspects. A streamlined design process > consists of these steps: > > Learner analysis: who are they, what do they know already? > Context analysis: where will the training take places, how does it fit into > operational/business goals? > Task analysis: This is the most important step. In this step, the course > developer talks to experts and people who have already mastered the material > and skills and figures out the tasks and subtasks that they do on the job. > The developer determines the tasks and subtasks that the learner must master > to move from current to desired levels of performance. > Performance objectives: express what the learners will be able to do in > verifiable terms as a result of the training > Criterion tests: create test items that verity the leaner has learned > Prototypes: design a prototype > Expert verification: get it reviewed > Learner verification: Very important step that verifies the course or book > works for the learner; always required for courses, usually ignored for > books unfortunately! ;-) > Final production > > > Back to Parkhurst: I belive his books work for you because he analyzed the > tasks required to pass CCIE and that's exactly what he covers. He also did a > good job analyzing the learners needs and knowledge level and those fit your > needs and knowledge level well, it sounds like. And, he tested his examples. > His books might not work so well if they were given to someone who doesn't > fit his model of a learner or who isn't on the CCIE path. > > Also, as an aside, you like his book because it's not just a reiteration of > Cisco documentation, I'm guessing. That could take me into an entire new > tangent. I value creativity and uniqueness more than just about anything. > Some books really are just a copy and paste of others work. I find that > abhorrent. Some copying is OK. For example, Parkhust probably copied some > info about what each argument for each command means. But he added his own > analysis to it, and of more importance, he had a unique vision for his books > as ones that show how the commands really affect your network. > > OK, that's all for now! > > _______________________________ > > Priscilla Oppenheimer > www.troubleshootingnetworks.com > www.priscilla.com > > > > > Chuck > > > > -- > > TANSTAAFL > > "there ain't no such thing as a free lunch" Message Posted at: http://www.groupstudy.com/form/read.php?f=7&i=60123&t=60093 -------------------------------------------------- FAQ, list archives, and subscription info: http://www.groupstudy.com/list/cisco.html Report misconduct and Nondisclosure violations to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
