|
Walter & Group...
Jeff Wagner, as most of you know, is a Master instructor and expert competition distance caster. At the same time, he a member of the BOG and is representative of the tackle industry. That makes his comments particularly interesting in light of Guy Manning's message. This from Jeff :
Gordy, I have read the comments about the testing at the conclave and assisted with the testing for the MCI. I also just got back from giving a test at the IFTD show as well as giving written exams. In both instances the candidates were not prepared and did little research. Also in both instances we spent 2-4 hours with the candidate going over the exam materials so their next attempt would be more successful.
It is imperative that candidates review the material and make it a point to understand it. At the same time, the FFF has an opportunity to market the website and the testing materials to a larger audience to make sure candidates review this material before signing up for the testing.
On an additional note I see both tests as a product we sell. While we (dedicated fly casting instructors) would like to qualify all of those that pass to be sure they are of like mind, this is not possible, nor would with be good for the program. The certification has taken on a dual purpose as both a more generalized roll as a way to understand casting, communicate about the sport and teach, no matter how sporadic that may be as well as a tool to help instructors to become more successful.
As with most programs what you put into it is directly related to what you get out of it. Anyone that that takes the test and passes is qualified to pass. However, those that wish to push the program further and not just pass the test but master the program (eventually taking the MCI) will surely separate themselves from others. This only legitimizes the quality and reputation of the program. Also, part of continuing education committees job is to help keep people informed and possibly determine a method to differentiate between those that are active and those that are not.
As a side note, I have also talked to candidates that don't feel that they should teach UNTIL they are certified.
Either way the more people that take the test and pay the more the program grows and the FFF raises funds for additional growth of the sport and other causes. As long as those that teach regularly stay current and are involved it should not impact their earning potential. Its also a great reason for those that are CCI to become MCI, this will help further your cause as an instructor.
Thanks,
Jeff
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>From Jim Bass :
Gordy,
I am in agreement with Guy. Most folks do not get enough teaching. They think they can show a person how to cast and that is all there is to teaching.
Gary and I are both from the Al Crise's Hawk Ridge School. Most of us went through the school the second time and then we were considered candidates.
The first day of Al's classes dealt with basics and we started with the Essentials. The second day was dedicated to CCI. I did not realize but most of the instructors other than Al and two more were candidates teaching and learning. I attended seven clinics and taught in five of then before I was ready to pass the exam. I also think that along with continuing education we should have a way to report on the number of teaching opportunities we take advantage of. That would be hard to administer but we might have a way to accomplish that.
I am afraid that we don't emphasize that if you explain you must demonstrate the same as you explained.
Well that is enough for one evening.
The best to you and yours,
Jim
Jim Bass
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[GH] Jim,
Your comment on CE (Continued Education) is timely. After David Diaz presented his CE Committee report and Jim Valle his Recertification Committee report at the BOG meeting at W. Yellowstone, productive discussion followed. My unofficial distillation of this is as follows :
It was agreed that eventually, recertification of instructors would be the goal.
This would be started as a voluntary program with the intent of making it mandatory for new CCI's and MCI's at a date to be determined in the future.
Current instructors would be encouraged to keep their own records or notebook on their activities such as teaching sessions, lessons given, courses hosted and attended, workshops given and attended, articles written for FFF publications including the LOOP and the FLYFISHER, participation in certification exams, etc., etc.
A simple point system has been suggested with points awarded for each of these activities.
This was felt to me a mechanism whereby active instructors at all levels would find it no burden at all to remain competent and current.
Details are to be worked out as these two committees work together, the idea being that recertification would be largely accomplished on the basis of continued education; something that all good instructors do anyway.
Gordy
|