Charlotte Foust
cfoust at infostatsystems.com
Tue Feb 25 19:15:50 CST 2003
When you do, it's called "earn while you learn", John. <vbg> Been there, done that in at least 3 different industries not related to computers at all. Charlotte Foust > -----Original Message----- > From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of John > W. Colby > Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 10:11 AM > To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com > Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA > > >To me, an equal score without taking the test also suggests an > intuitive learner with great comprehension skills and/or breadth of > real-world experience. > > Yep. Wouldn't you love to hire "an intuitive learner with great > comprehension skills and/or breadth of real-world experience"? > Particularly if it were "AND breadth of real-world experience"? > > John W. Colby > Colby Consulting > www.ColbyConsulting.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com] > Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 1:01 PM > To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com > Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA > > John, the tests can ONLY measure one's current knowledge of the > limited material in question. To me, an equal score without taking > the test also suggests an intuitive learner with great comprehension > skills and/or breadth of real-world experience. Perhaps an added > point system for non-course takers is needed (not to be confused with > a handicap or Affirmative Action)? > > Ron Moore > Sr. Database Administrator > Comtech PST Corp. > Melville, NY > www.comtechpst.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com] > Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 12:44 PM > To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com > Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA > > I hear what you are saying, but what that implies is that the tests > don't measure what a person knows. > > If a person knows enough to pass the test, whether or not he took a > class, then he knows as much as the person who took the class and got > the same score (more or less). > > Or the tests suck and can't measure what they are supposed to so we > will force everybody to take a class since that's the only way to > ensure they know the stuff. In which case, why the test? > > John W. Colby > Colby Consulting > www.ColbyConsulting.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of > Francisco > H Tapia > Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 12:37 PM > To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com > Subject: Re: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA > > > FWIW, IMNSHO SQL Server is leaps and bounds over typical Access > Database > administration. There are DBA's I email with that can script out > procedures > to take care of a full restore plans in case of a catastrophe. So > besides > server A going down or HDD 3 of the Log Raid, is down, They often > manage a > Farm of SQL Servers that take care of mountains of data. It's one > thing to > know "how" to do something and I have great respect for these DBA's as > they > always seem to have a minute or two to answer any of my "dumb" > questions > :oD. I belive the same thing holds true for System Admins... We have > a > "good" System Admin here at my current job, but he is by no means > GREAT... > there are many mistakes he makes and many more things he doesn't know. > If > for example he were a certified CISCO engineer, perhaps he'd be able > to have > a better idea of subnetting our entire large collision domain network. > This > is true for our own in-house Sql Server DBA, poor guy tries his > damndest, > but still comes up short on many DBA specific duties... he is not too > familiar for example with SQL backup and restore process... or even > SQL > Server Agent Alerts... ouch!... I am a Programmer/Developer by title, > but I > dabble in everything, from software to hardware. > > -Francisco > http://rcm.netfirms.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John W. Colby" <jcolby at colbyconsulting.com> > To: <dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com> > Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 9:07 AM > Subject: RE: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA > > > : Steve, > : > : Whine away, I feel the same way. No, actually knowing how to DO > something > : is not enough! > : > : What a crock. > : John W. Colby > : Colby Consulting > : www.ColbyConsulting.com > : > : -----Original Message----- > : From: dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com > : [mailto:dba-sqlserver-admin at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Steven > W. > : Erbach > : Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 11:56 AM > : To: dba-sqlserver at databaseadvisors.com > : Subject: Re: [dba-SQLServer]MCDBA > : > : > : Allan, > : > : I can appreciate the structured learning bit. I was wondering > because I > : had a conversation with a good friend who, in the past, always kept > up the > : certifications that he had. He seems to be despairing of the cost > and > : bother. Unless one is focused very clearly on one skill these days, > : certification can become very expensive very quickly. Some--Cisco, > for > : example--require re-certification every two years. I just wonder > what that > : buys you once you get it. Continued advancement? Better-paying jobs? > : > : I looked up MCDBA certification classes in my area and found some > being > : offered by another old friend of mine in the Chicago area. The > certification > : tests apparently cannot be taken unless one also takes the courses. > I > found > : that a bit of a put-off. > : > : I was also curious that, on the Microsoft site, the MCDBA is > geared for > : those with big company experience and big servers and big databases. > Somehow > : I doubt that these required courses offer anything in the way of > simulation > : of huge databases or multiple platform connections...or do they? > : > : I've worked with PCs since 1982 and on mainframes for a bit before > that, > : back to 1975. It seems demeaning somehow that I cannot take a > certification > : test without going through an approved set of courses for which I > pay a > : large sum of money. I'm perfectly capable of learning SQL Server--or > : anything else, for that matter--just fine on my own or in connection > with > my > : client experiences. I guess I'm whining about having to take those > courses. > : If I do and if I get an MCDBA, what does it mean? > : > : Regards, > : > : Steve Erbach > : Scientific Marketing > : Neenah, WI > : > : "Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits." - Mark > Twain > : > : > : > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > ---- > -- > : ---- > : > : Is email taking over your day? Manage your time with eMailBoss. Try > it > free! > : http://www.eMailBoss.com > : > > > _______________________________________________ > dba-SQLServer mailing list > dba-SQLServer at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/dba-sqlserver > http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------- > Is email taking over your day? Manage your time with eMailBoss. > Try it free! http://www.eMailBoss.com > > ---------------------------------------------------- > Is email taking over your day? Manage your time with eMailBoss. > Try it free! http://www.eMailBoss.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://databaseadvisors.com/pipermail/dba-sqlserver/attachments/20030225/d6a35998/attachment.html>