[TowerTalk] Dumbing down?

[K8RI on Tower talk]

>I have seen answers to the Extra Class that are just plain wrong. No ifs, 
>ands or buts.
> That can be the trouble with a multiple choice exam, unless the people 
> setting it really know their >stuff................But a recent proposal 
> from some teachers in the UK is that no-one should be said to >fail 
> anything - just to have achieved 'deferred success'. Because if kids 
> 'fail', it discourages them. >Words fail me............

They did that here in the states, maybe 10 years ago... or so under the name 
of "Outcome Based Education".  The results were dismal, and the program was 
one of pure frustration for most of the teachers.  The program may have made 
some of the kids feel better in school, but the real world put those kids in 
a heap of hurt.  They'll feel great about themselves until the first job 
interview.  Better to expose them to realism up front than build their hopes 
only to have the props kicked out from under them.

I pretty much view the license testing at least in a similar manner, but 
with mixed feelings.
The multiple choice tests put out by both the FCC and FAA have a number of 
questions that to me, do not have a correct answer, or quite possibly they 
will have multiple answers that would be considered correct in the real 
world.  The official stance is to "just pick the one that is *most* 
correct".  That leaves the one taking the test guessing as to what the 
person who wrote the test expected.

When I took the Extra it had about two questions on just about any subject 
you could think of in Amateur Radio, but there were no problems on it I 
couldn't work out in my head..  If they did that now days the test would be 
hugh.  Still, the Extra is a "prestige" license.  You gain little except to 
prove you could pass a comprehensive test.  It that is the case then it 
*should* be tough.

Although this is drifitning OT a bit, I found the test to be quite easy when 
I took it.  I'd like to see a good comprehensive section on antennas and 
propagation theory added.  If they did I know it'd send me back to the 
books. <:-)) If applicants had to pass a test on accepted theory they might 
be a bit more skeptical and we'd see fewer "old wives tales" as far as 
antennas go. Besides, with a sound knowledge of antenna theory they probably 
could get out better and use less power.

Roger Halstead (K8RI and ARRL 40 year Life Member)
N833R - World's oldest Debonair CD-2
www.rogerhalstead.com

> 73
> Peter W7/G3RZP
>
>
>
>
>
> ========================================
> Message date : Jul 23 2005, 07:04 PM
>>From : "John Geiger"
> To : "Bill Aycock" , Towertalk at contesting.com
> Copy to :
> Subject : Re: [TowerTalk] Dumbing down?
> And some think the extra class license is still too tough.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Bill Aycock"
> To:
> Sent: Saturday, July 23, 2005 2:48 PM
> Subject: [TowerTalk] Dumbing down?
>
>
>> Speaking of basics- the following paragraph is from an Extra class, on
>> another reflector:
>>
>> >Not So! And RF signal consists of an electric field and a magnetic
>> >field. The magnetic field can be influenced by ferous materials
>> >outside of the coax and can induce current in them. The copper or
>> >aluminum shield cannot contain the magnetic field. This is why it
>> >is recommended to route coax AWAY from conduit and water pipes
>> >through the house. This is also why coiling coax is a no-no. You
>> >concentrate the magnetic field and the coil becomes a choke.
>> >Especially in VHF and up.
>>
>> ??
>> Bill
>>
>> Bill Aycock - W4BSG
>> Woodville, Alabama
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
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>
> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
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> questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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> _______________________________________________
>
> See: http://www.mscomputer.com  for "Self Supporting Towers", "Wireless 
> Weather Stations", and lot's more.  Call Toll Free, 1-800-333-9041 with 
> any questions and ask for Sherman, W2FLA.
>
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