Re: When to use macros

From: Jay Vance (jay_at_vancedigitalDELETE.com)
Date: 02/26/05 

Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 15:01:33 -0700

I don't disagree with you, but here's the challenge: find a way to offer the
CMT exam on a large scale all over the country in a way that preserves the
integrity of the testing process but allows candidates to use references,
etc. Believe me, no one could possibly be more eager than I to put the CMT
exam online and let candidates use their macros and expanders and
references, etc., because I do believe that would be a more accurate measure
of proficiency. But the logistics of doing something like that while still
guarding against fraud has proven to be a huge obstacle. I haven't given up
hope that we'll figure out a way to do it, but for now what we have is what
we have. And I will say that the test as it exists now is indeed a test of
retained knowledge, which is what it's designed to be. If you can pass the
CMT exam, you will have proven that you have acquired a certain level of
expertise in the field, and in that sense it is a useful yardstick for
employers. It's not perfect, by any means, but it certainly has value.

Jay

"Barbara Carlson" <bbcarlson@snappydsl.net> wrote in message
news:I-ydncV1G_h5fL3fRVn-iA@snappydsl.net...
> Absolutely! Why should I memorize whether drugs are capitalized or not
when
> I can let my expander do it accurately. Why should I struggle over trying
> to remember spelling of those words I rarely use. My use of expanders is
so
> ingrained, I would have difficulty not using them. As far as I am
> concerned, the good MT turns out accurate work, and whatever she may use
to
> help her do that from expanders to word books, is her business and no one
> else's. Of course if I have to stop and research words I am not going to
> turn out work in a timely manner, so I need a thorough knowledge--at least
> of the specialties I work in as far as terms are concerned, but don't take
> away my expander. About a third of my work is produced with the use of
> expanders.
>
> Barb C.
> "Jeannie Wilson" <jwilson421@comcastspamkills.net> wrote in message
> news:Xns96098C3F8AE28jwilson421comcastnet@216.196.97.136...
> > "Jay Vance" <jay@vancedigitalDELETE.com> wrote here for all to
> > seenews:Kt6dne8KZbs2Xb3fRVn-1g@adelphia.com:
> >
> >> That is correct.
> >>
> >> Jay
> >
> > and I believe that is one huge reason why so many MTs are not CMTs.
>
>