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User Experience for a Better World

Art Zippel

CUA training - what would you have done differently

I am getting ready to sign-up for the Fast-track training, probably tomorrow (self-pay, ouch, but I know it will be worth it).

What suggestions would you have to optimize my learning. I think the most difficult question to ask is the one you don't know to ask until something is over. Is there anything you would have done differently about the Fast-Track training or the examination? Thank you for any input you can provide.

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Chris D'Arcy BeanPermalink Reply by Chris D'Arcy Bean on July 2, 2010 at 5:51am
Art,

Study the "reference sections" of each course, they are in the work books, they are in effect your bullet list of revision points.

Don't get put off by some of the content appearing outdated, as the core concepts have been around for 35 years now, and their validity still stands today.

Most of the training is straight forward, the guys taking the courses are very good, and re-enforce the fact its a good course to do. If you are genuinely interested, you need to remember that HFIs approach is a scientific one, remember the key fundamentals of science, research, hypothesis, data, summations and conclusions etc...

Good luck
Chris
Art ZippelPermalink Reply by Art Zippel on July 2, 2010 at 10:59am
Chris,

Great idea about the reference section. I completely agree about the difference between validity of concept and application. Thank you very much.

Art
Niranjan JahagirdarPermalink Reply by Niranjan Jahagirdar on July 2, 2010 at 10:54am
- revise
- make notes right in the slide binder
- ask questions all the time
Art ZippelPermalink Reply by Art Zippel on July 2, 2010 at 11:05am
Niranjan,

Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Art
Mary Jo Hlavaty ShapiroPermalink Reply by Mary Jo Hlavaty Shapiro on August 4, 2010 at 4:05pm
Art, I realize you started this thread a month ago--have you already had your training? I took the Fast-track training and passed the exam this year (self-pay, too, which focuses the mind remarkably). You're getting a lot of good advice here--by all means create an outline or improved TOC if you have time, and do watch your time on the test.

The quality of the trainer for each topic does matter, but you can get through without consistently exceptional teachers. In my training, I would say I had two superb trainers, one who was good, and one who was only ok. Oddly enough, that last trainer covered the section of the test that I truly aced. Go figure.

With the background you have, I'm sure you will do well. But I do suggest taking off the Monday before the test, so you'll have more time to study.

Let us know how things turn out for you!
Art ZippelPermalink Reply by Art Zippel on August 7, 2010 at 5:21pm
Mary Jo,

Thank you for your post. It was the best money and time I ever spent, as can be seen from my new email signature.

Art Zippel, CUA
Interaction Visual Designer & Certified Usability Analyst

:) I now use the attached graphic in all my email signatures.
Attachments:
Guy HarveyPermalink Reply by Guy Harvey on August 10, 2010 at 4:23pm
Hi Art,

I am the new moderator. I am sitting here with Diane, the old moderator, she is so excited about your CUA graduation.

Congratulations,
Guy
Art ZippelPermalink Reply by Art Zippel on August 10, 2010 at 6:38pm
Guy,

Great to meet you. I must say the smartest thing I ever did was take the course and certification. I just left a 3rd round job interview as a visual designer. What I pitch is that my visual design solutions are coming from the standpoint of a certified usability analyst, so I know why I make the decisions that I do. My certification is making all the difference in my job search. I am getting calls I never got before the CUA and my confidence in the interviews is10 times what it was before. CUA, it was the smartest thing I ever did...I can talk forever about the difference it is making for me.

I even made this cool graphic for my email signature.

Thanks,
Art
Attachments:
Guy HarveyPermalink Reply by Guy Harvey on September 8, 2010 at 1:03pm
Nice logo Art!. Hey if you want to talk all day about how great CUA training is, you should consider joining HFI Marketing department :-)

Guy
T.S.S.GanesanPermalink Reply by T.S.S.Ganesan on September 17, 2010 at 5:00am
Hi Art

I did not do anything different for clearing my CUA and will also not try to do anything different for future qualifications. I also see no shortcuts. Fundamentals should be in place, apply common sense, think analytically and put oneself in the situation. Practical experience does help immensely.

I cleared my CUA in the third attempt...though a open book. But that gave a good grounding to me on the subject. In my final attempt i did look into the book but very sparsely...mostly to confirm few answers.

In my opinion " A person should be qualified to hold a degree. Alphabets behind ones name does not qualify a person qualified"..

I suppose you will agree with me.

TSSG
Art ZippelPermalink Reply by Art Zippel on September 17, 2010 at 7:22pm
TSSG,

Congratulations on your certification! I agree there are no shortcuts. I took the FastTrack in July and passed the certification on my first attempt. For me, the courses "gelled" 10 years of practical experience with a larger overview of industry standard best practices. The courses confirmed what I already knew, exposed any faulty or outdated principles I was operating on, taught me some methodologies I wasn't using and gave me access to three amazing instructors.

The certification is an acknowledgment and validation of part of my skills. Not everyone passes the certification. My certification has opened doors for me, my experience and knowledge have secured positions for me. You need both, but, I have seen more benefits since being certified than just having the experience. The three initials I earned in July have provided more R.O.I. than I ever thought possible.

In hind sight the only thing I would have done differently regarding the courses and certification would have been to...DO IT SOONER! It was by far the best thing I have done for my career.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.

Art

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