Online MAI demo - improving the profession?

[John Cassevites]

1.) To see if the people who were as opposed to the SRA demo-alternative would have the same feelings about the MAI demo-alternative.

To different animals. the SRA demo alternative is a classroom based option versus an actual appraisal report. The MAI demo alternative is basically a process difference - on-line type interaction versus take home test

2.) To get Forum members' views on if an online version of the demo-alternative would offer any positive/negative attributes versus an in-class demo-alternative

As proposed, the on-line demo alternative is actually more difficult if you consider that an Associate would have to pass every section before moving onto the next. The traditional demo does not have this requirement; it is just score enough points overall to pass.

3.) To see if anyone would have a "lesser opinion" of the MAI designation if it was obtained through non-standard methods

I do not see this as an issue for the reasons stated above.

 

[Abester]

The minute a membership organization forgets that it needs to attract new members (and their fees) is the minute it starts dying a slow death.

It's like when she asks if the dress makes her look fat. No, it's the fat. As long as it's recognized for what it is, no amount of frilly lace is going to make it seem like something else.

 

[Michigander]

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[Scott Lanz]

Abester,

Do you hold the MAI designation, or are you in the program?

 

[Abester]

Do you hold the MAI designation, or are you in the program?

I'm curious why that matters. When I was in college and taking a class to teach me how to teach science to high schoolers, an entire section was devoted to teaching students (who had not yet learned how) to read. I explained to the instructor that the purpose of science class was not to learn to read but to learn science. Teaching reading was not part of my job description.

To me, the same is true of the demo. If one doesn't know how to write the demo, he or she should fail. If the standard requires a certain level of performance that cannot be met by a clown off the street, the bar should not be lowered to the clown's level. The clown should change to meet the program requirement - not the other way around.

 

[Scott Lanz]

So are you a clown or not?

 

[Abester]

I'm so low, I look up to clowns.

 

[Boonders]

If the alternative was harder, they wouldn't have done it (nobody mention the 3 report alternative, that was to placate some people, IMO). the whole point of the alternative way of completing the demo was to get more people to finish it...

 

[PL1957]

If the alternative was harder, they wouldn't have done it (nobody mention the 3 report alternative, that was to placate some people, IMO). the whole point of the alternative way of completing the demo was to get more people to finish it...

Getting more people to finish doesn't necessarily equate to making something easier. So far, based on what I've heard/read, it doesn't seem like the on-line demo will be any easier to finish from a pure appraisal/report writing standpoint. What might get more people to finish is the deadline as well as the on-going mentorship. That's something that was always available to some "candidates", usually the ones who worked in an office with other MAIs. It's now being made available to all.

 

[Abester]

It's now being made available to all.

Doing the demo should be a reflection of the appraiser's work - not a collaboration. Had I thought it was OK to cheat by getting input from others, I may have waited to do mine until now.