[Bf-education] Terminating the Certified Trainer program...

[Ton Roosendaal]

Hi everyone,

The certified trainer program is dwindling and doesn't get much 
attention nor enthusiasm from trainers really.
This email is to open the discussion on stopping with the certification 
program, and to provide an alternative.

https://www.blender.org/certification/

We installed the certification program in 2007 on popular request, 
provided that:

- there would be a clear process in place to validate trainers
- it would be managed well, preferably by trainers themselves.

I always had mixed feelings about providing official certification. A 
certificate's value is fully determined by the quality of the validation 
procedure and to have a decent examination process. The process we had 
in place for validating trainers was very minimal.

Yet we accepted to do this, because in 2007 many trainers said it would 
help them to get in business. Their clients or universities demanded 
that. Unfortunately that has been true for very few people only.

Currently there are only 12 active certifications.

I propose to stop with certification now. Not only because of lack of 
interest, lack of quality in the program, but especially because it does 
not support the Blender Foundation's goal - which is about supporting 
projects on blender.org related to making Blender.

What I then rather do instead is to re-activate this mailing list, and 
discuss with educators what Blender Foundation can do to help everyone 
here better. For example with a section on blender.org where educators 
and trainers can meet and exchange useful information and share or 
download training material. The Blender Foundation could add also add 
staff efforts to coordinate this.

I know this mailing list hasn't been very active. Hope the mail arrives, 
and I'm curious to read your reactions.

Thanks,

-Ton-
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Ton Roosendaal - ton at blender.org - www.blender.org
Chairman Blender Foundation, Director Blender Institute
Buikslotermeerplein 161, 1025 ET Amsterdam, the Netherlands


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