Education question

I would suppose it would matter on how much education they had up to that point. i.e. your target audience. I will assume they at least finished high school. I've seen a couple of GED practice tests and therefore don't hold much credence in that "degree". That would also depend on how far in science and math their respective schools offered. In my case I started high school at one place and finished the last year and a half at another. The last one (I graduated from) didn't have nearly the high level stuff I was expecting to have at the former. The latter didn't offer any calculus, advanced chemistry or advanced physics. They really didn't offer me much I hadn't already taken and in their curriculum I was only 1 class credit shy of graduating a full year early.

Anyway, I would ask what sort of skills are required of these field techs. Do they need to be able to handle some advanced algebra or simple trig or geometry. Or do they need to be able to figure out software and operate it properly? i.e. CAD, data collectors, spreadsheets, et.al. Back in my day CAD or personal computers didn't exist but we could take mechanical drawing (which I did). I have a nephew (with a Masters) who is now teaching high school industrial arts (they call it something different now. I'm told they not only learn CAD but also 3D modelling and he managed to get funding for a 3D printer for his school. At least they do that in my nephew's class.

This could be a pretty open question. Good luck with it.
E.

The purpose of the assessment would help get you better feedback. Is this for hiring, certification or something else?

I interviewed a survey technician lacking formal education last week. He appears to be a loyal button pusher who can stand behind the instrument and stake out all day long.

When I asked him 'What is 20" in a hundred feet?' he was confused. So I asked him if the point is 100' away and you turn 20" off it, how far away are you? He did not know. So I gave him a calculator and he proceeded to input the angle and divide by 100, then asked if the answer was 0.02'.

I think he should take a course in geometry and trigonometry. Alternatively, he can read a book on the subject and hopefully learn what he apparently slept through in high school.

> The purpose of the assessment would help get you better feedback. Is this for hiring, certification or something else?

Certification mostly I think what these guys are considering.

I agree, pretty vague question. Let me do my home works and I will re-post at later time.

A good starting point for the assessment of a survey technician is whether he can pass the FS exam. Why do we want to perpetuate the gunner-for-life career path?

> I think he should take a course in geometry and trigonometry. Alternatively, he can read a book on the subject and hopefully learn what he apparently slept through in high school.

My experience with books and mathematics is that it's all fine and good but I don't "get it" until I see actual numbers put into the equations and see the output. Of course that's just me.

In my programming world I was tasked with a rather nasty intensely mathematical problem processing digital images. I found some algorithms that seemed relatable and was able to solve the problem. Afterwards I realized I was dealing with some serious math and decided to reverse engineer the algorithms and my program to what I would imagine the formula to be. Turned out being double integrals which I had never been taught. If I'd been given the equation(s) first I doubt I would have figured it out.
Color contrast adjustments turned out being little more than high level statistics starting with a histogram analysis of the image.

As an aside, my neighbor, 9th grade drop-out and drinkin buddy argues with me all the time about "there is no gravity on the moon and that's why them astronauts wore them magnetic boots on the moon". You all can only imagine how much fun that is discussing gravitational theory with a drunk feller who still counts on his fingers at age 58.

Sorry to get so long winded. You all are the only intellectual folks I talk with anymore.
E.

The best technician I ever knew never made it out of grade school.

His sister taught him the three Rs at home after his workday in the fields and was self taught at most everything else.

He drank more beer in one night than most do in a week and he drank every night. The same with smoking.

Sometimes dedication and determination is just as good and at times better than formal education.

He was from another era and an old dog, that never stopped him from learning new tricks as they came along.

FMPOV, who you hire depends upon what you expect from them and how far you believe you can expect them to go with your company.

I like working with creative people and have always looked for employees that want to work with me and be productive without being led around on a leash and told everything to do, over and over.

0.02

I would break it down a little further than basic problem solving. Lack of formal education usually shows itself in how a person communicates (both verbally and mathematically).
I quit high school in the 70's and joined the Army. I immediately took the GED. I enrolled in college at the base and got shipped to Panama. On return I re enrolled and was sent to North Africa and Southwest Asia. I tried one more time and was shipped to Korea. At that point I decided to hold off on my education for a while. Over the years I let circumstance continue to hold me back. I did however obtain and study numerous reference books (more than enough to be considered strange).
Eventually I pushed myself through enough classes to get a decent career going. The experience has left me with a greater than average willingness to look for talent in unique places.
I would encourage you to end your assessment with useful feedback to those you are evaluating. You never know what you might start...

I have a drinking buddy like that.