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Walter & Group...
>From Harry Boyd :
Gordy,
I'm not a Master Certified Instructor, and likely will never be. Other things equally as fun occupy too much of my time. I do teach rod making classes several times per year. If a large percentage of my students failed to complete a rod in their courses, I would look hard at myself as instructor. What in my methodology, lesson plan, etc is causing these students to fail.
Is it fair to think that since such a large percentage of MCI candidates fail it is only the fault of the candidates themselves? If the system produces more failures than successes, then perhaps the system needs some serious refinements.
Harry Boyd
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[GH] Harry,
Right you are . That is why we are airing this here as well as among BOD's on both CCI and MCI Testing committees. I have little doubt that we'll solve this issue.
The way I see it, is to first take steps to be certain that our candidates at all levels are informed as to what is recommended, early in the game.
We are busy drafting this right now.
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>From Rick Whorwood :
Hi Gordy
You and I had a conversation the other day about candidates not fully understanding what the CI, MCI, and THCI is all about i.e. teaching, casting etc. prior to testing. Wouldn't the problem be simply solved by having the candidate fill out an application to test, submitted to the FFF six months prior to testing, the application could out-line everything that is expected of the candidate.
Rick Whorwood
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[GH] Rick,
We are discussing that approach, now.
Having candidates "register" well in advance may well be a good idea. At the very least, I think it is well to provide them with information as to what is expected of them in no uncertain terms.
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Paul Arden send this message from Hungary :
Hi Gordy,
I managed to get myself into a bit of hot water on SL earlier this year when I suggested that an MCI should have taught 1000 pupils minimum. A lot of people disagreed with me! Anyway at some point during the discussion I realised that knowledge can be gained from others and you could do it with a lot less. But I suppose it depends on where we put the level as MCI, after all it is a peer examination - we set the standards and decide what is appropriate.
Personally I've always considered the certifications to be professional qualifications and as such the benchmark should reflect this. There are a few full time instructors teaching 40hrs per week (not many, but they exist). Personally I think we should raise the MCI level, make the CI an entry qualification and slot in an Advanced level. I don't think a year of teaching is sufficient for a MCI level in any teaching qualification, I think ten years is more appropriate. If MCI can be obtained in one or two seasons of teaching, then we're not setting the bar high enough IMO. An Advanced level would fit in nicely here.
Another question that comes up frequently is should an instructor, CI or MCI, be an expert angler and if so how is this examined? Many years ago when I took the what was then Association of Professional Game Angling Instructors (without getting too much involved in politics, what I now consider AAPGAI - since the teaching core left GAIA to become independent again) part of the process was to prove your fishing experience, ie document your history, angling experience, magazine article publications etc, and while this is always going to be hard to assess, it was at least part of the examination requirements. The AAPGAI sets out to be a fishing teaching qualification, not only casting.
Me I'm in two minds about this. But it would be interesting to hear what others think.
Incidentally it's usually very easy to assess whether someone has teaching experience during examinations. Unfortunately I know of quite a few MCIs who have very little, so somewhere we're not doing this properly and therefore I agree that submissions of documented experience are necessary.
Cheers from a VERY wet Hungary. Lucky for me I live on a hill!
Paul
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[GH] Paul,
You have always been good at coming up with controversial points of view on almost any subject ! I thought i'd done that already on this subject a few messages ago, but you have out shined me in that department.
If that makes our blood boil and stirs the pot, then GOOD...... because, win, lose or draw, it makes us think.
We'll likely get some impassioned feedback on this one, so I'll withhold my opinion for the moment.
for about 3 - 4 weeks. (I'll be spending a week fishing Nantucket followed by two weeks chasing salty critters off Long Island, N.Y. )
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