[seul-edu] [Fwd: BOUNCE seul-edu@seul.org: Non-member submission from [EvanLeibovitch <evan@lpi.org>]]

[Doug Loss <drloss@suscom.net>]

Approced: seul-passrd
Date: Sat, 07 Jun 2003 03:48:26 -0400
From: Evan Leibovitch <evan@lpi.org>
Organization: Linux Professional Institute
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To: seul-edu@seul.org
Subject: Re: [seul-edu] Open Source Applications Certification
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> Hello everyone.
> 
> The Linux Professional Institute (LPI) is a non-profit, vendor-independent 
> organization which delivers Linux skills certification tests worldwide. We 
> pride ourselves in bringing together a broad volunteer community with a 
> core of professional expertise, giving the best of both worlds.
> 
> I'm interested in receiving input from people on this proposed new 
> initiative described in the attachment, that would add a desktop 
> certification component to our existing certifications for system 
> administration skills.
> 
> Any comments, suggestions, and (especially!) offers of help are greatly 
> appreciated.

I guess it would help if the text describing the program was actually 
readable ;-):

---------




OPEN SOURCE APPLICATIONS CERTIFICATION (OSAC)



THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LINUX:

The Linux Operating System, and the software development method known 
generally as "Open Source" have had an immense and permanent effect on the 
mainstream of Information Technology. Generally unknown less than a decade 
ago, Linux and Open Source Software (OSS) has proven itself worldwide as a 
credible and often preferred alternative to the products of conventional 
proprietary software companies. Its emphasis on community development, 
freedom from conventional software licensing, low cost, stability and 
flexibility has led to support from academia, vendors, governments and a 
growing list of end-user organizations of all sizes in every country.

While mainly known for its capabilities as a server platform, Linux is 
increasingly being considered as a stable, secure and extremely flexible 
desktop system. IDC predicts that by early 2004, Linux will have surpassed 
the Apple Macintosh as the second most popular computer desktop worldwide.

In regard to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Linux and OSS offers 
benefits and advantages that go far beyond simply the utility of the 
software itself. The freedom and flexibility of OSS allows any country to 
create its own computing support infrastructure, freed from the need to 
import software and talent from other countries. Projects such as Red Flag 
in China and ELX in India help demonstrate that OSS reduces external 
dependence, and offers opportunities for export rather than the current 
trend of reliance on foreign vendors and talent. Thanks to OSS, IT success 
depends on innovation and customer service, rather than sheer economic 
power alone.

LPI AND ITS ROLE:

The Linux Professional Institute (LPI) has been a significant element of 
the success of Linux in making the transition from the developer's lab to 
the commercial datacentre. LPI, a non-profit corporation created by and for 
the Linux community, is a blend of thousands of volunteer helpers and 
developers together with widespread vendor support and a staff of 
professionals and experts. LPI's stated goals of increasing the worldwide 
level of Linux professionalism has been realized through the development of 
a highly-respected and globally-recognized skills certification program. 
Developed and delivered in a strictly vendor-neutral fashion, the LPI 
program has attracted the support of user groups, public and government 
organizations, as well as widespread support by training organizations and 
other providers of exam preparation materials. As it has committed to not 
producing its own training materials, LPI has encouraged the broad support 
of third parties which are producing study materials in many forms and many 
languages.

A global organization, LPI offers its website in 13 languages. Its Board of 
Directors has spanned three continents and it has students and volunteer 
supporters in almost every country, Its exams are produced in multiple 
languages and can be paid for in dollars, yen or euros. LPI is in the 
process of establishing relationships with a network of international 
affiliate groups, in order to localize and decentralize promotional and 
administrative resources.

To date LPI's resources have concentrated on skills for Linux system 
administrators; systems of any kind need to be properly maintained before 
users can be expected to reliably run applications. As well, Linux's 
traditional strengths as a server system have placed more emphasis on 
administrative functions. However, within the last year a number of 
developments have rapidly advanced the suitability of Linux as a robust and 
productive desktop environment. The maturing of OSS windowing systems such 
as KDE and GNOME, as well as the release of fully functional office and 
messaging software suites, has made Linux suitable on the desktop as well 
as on the server.

CREATING OSAC:

Given LPI's existing respect and reputation as a worldwide body producing 
certifications that are accessible, high quality and relevant, it is 
perfectly positioned to respond to community needs for a desktop 
certification program. Using techniques developed for its previous 
programs, LPI can survey the Linux community to determine the desktop 
components for which skills are in greatest demand, producing high-quality 
certification objectives faster and far less expensively than programs 
which do not have the advantage of a large and active supporting community.

Using its professional psychometric processes and techniques, LPI produces 
exams which are challenging and completely responsive to the 
community-derived objectives. LPI will produce an OSAC roadmap, in 
co-ordination with groups producing training materials, to ensure that 
students have full access to a wide range of preparation methods that are 
well-matched to the exams. As always, LPI would maintain its strictly 
vendor-neutral posture, and will never limit vendor support to single 
"official" or "authorized" training programs.

LPI can take a number of approaches to the actual development and delivery 
of OSAC. Since they are less system-critical than the existing system 
adminsitration programs, OSAC exams could be made shorter (and thus offered 
less expensively). New technologies, such as the delivery of LPI desktop 
exams over a secured Internet channel, may be possible if security 
(prevention from cheating) can be ensured.

The design of the OSAC program itself can also be flexible. Similarly to 
the successfull Microsoft Office Specialist program, OSAC would provide 
different detailed exams for each major desktop application. Again, LPI 
would work together with its community to ensure that OSAC would be 
respected by prospective employers as well as be relevant to exam-takers.

One of the challenges that LPI -- or any certification body -- must deal 
with regarding the Linux desktop is the variety of applications and 
approaches to problem solving. The flexibility of Linux has resulted in a 
diverse range of applications, with no single application dominating its 
field in the manner that, for instance, Microsoft Office does in the 
Windows world.

There are a number of approaches that OSAC could take to deal with this 
issue of diversity:

1) Have a single certification test cover all major applications in a field

2) Simply choose one application or approach in each field and 
"standardize" on that

3) Create a program offering multiple options

In LPI's opinion, the third of these options is far preferable to the other 
two. As one possible example of how the OSAC program could operate, LPI 
could develop a number of platform and application specific exams, for 
instance:

Platform Exams:
- KDE
- GNOME

Application Exams:
- Mozilla (web)
- Konqueror (web)
- KMail/KOrganizer (communications)
- Evolution (communications)
- OpenOffice Writer (word processor)
- AbiWord (word processor)
- OpenOffice Calc (spreadsheet)
- Gnumeric (spreadsheet)

A common set of objectives for each application type (ie, word processor) 
would be developed, simplifying the task of creating exam items for 
particular implementations. Additional application types (such as 
presentation or drawing packages) could be added as community demand 
indicates. LPI would call upon its volunteer and professional resources to 
co-ordinate the production and worldwide delivery of these exams. As well, 
LPI's existing network of friends and affiliated international groups would 
ensure the exams' relevance for LDC use by managing translation and other 
accessibility issues. Depending on the chosen method of distribution, it 
may be possible to add a "hands-on" element to the exams, making them more 
effective and realistic, without seriously affecting security or price.

For the certification levels, a number of options are available. Here's one 
of many possibilities:

Core certification: One platform exam
Internet Specialist: One platform exam plus one web exam plus one 
communications exam
Office Specialist: One platform exam plus one word processor exam plus one 
spreadsheet exam

As well, suite-specific certification types could be developed that would 
extend the value of the OSAC program beyond the Linux environment. The 
platform exam may be made optional for these scenarios, to recognize that 
some applications (such as OpenOffice and Mozilla) are available on 
multiple operating systems.

LPI is uniquely positioned to bring together the expertise of a world of 
volunteers, together with paid experts in exam development, psychometrics 
and administration, towards the creation of OSAC. LPI has a proven track 
record of producing high quality, relevant and accessible certifications, 
as part of its long-term goal to increase the worldwide professional use of 
Linux. Combining a sustainable business model with community ethics and a 
strict vendor-neutrality, LPI is committed to producing the most effective 
  certification programs for Linux administrators and users alike.