Dilip A. Shah - American Society for Quality

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MQD Page 8 THE LEARNING CURVE By Phil Painchaud This is the sixty-second in a contiguous series of quarterly columns, originally charted by our Founding Editor-in-Chief, as a vehicle for the exploration of the general subject of Metrology Education, and as a platform for the readers of this journal to express their own views on that subject. During the ensuing nearly two decades the dearth of publishable tracts opining reader views in response to this chartered subject have required this author aim some columns elsewhere, however this has allowed him the continuation of his nil admirari writing style. This format appears to please certain readers as well as our current Boss, the most esteemed Executive Editor of this periodic gazette as well. This time we are fortunate to be able to write somewhat on the subject of our mandate. So, following our long established custom, this Column will again be in the form of an open letter to him. Dear Boss: Well Boss it is now the middle of May. Yesterday you had to remind me via e-mail that this Column was due—a first ever lapse on my part. Alibi? None. Explanation: I have been a bit lethargic lately since my bout with the swine flu and pneumonia earlier this year. That conglomeration settled in my ears and I am at this time partially deaf. Two very expensive hearing aids don’t seem to help much. I was shocked as I had not given much thought to what I was to discuss in this Column 62. By a strange coincidence, in the same e-mail batch was a message from a nephew, a lawyer in Kansas City, sending me a copy of the examination that the State of Kansas required for an eighth grade graduation in 1898. I doubt that many PhD’s today could pass it. However that gave me an idea. As I have mentioned previously, the late Dr. Gene Watson, the father of the Metrology program at the California State University—Dominguez Hills, frequently worked on my patio developing the curricula for the classes. As he was less proficient at the keyboard than I, he would have me type his notes into a usable format. Besides, my extensive library was close at hand. As part of curricula, he would also develop the examinations, tests, and quizzes. The one that fascinated me the most was one that he had developed to “filter” out the dilettantes from the serious Metrology students early in the program. I don’t know if it was ever decided wither this examination was intended as the First Quarter Final or as the First Semester Final. Boss, this gave me one of my “brilliant” ideas. Remember a couple of years ago, I held a contest and offered a cash prize (of course I screwed up and was morally obligated to give three cash prizes). However it accomplished its purpose and got some reader reaction. So what I intend to do here is to present Dr. Watson’s examination as he dictated it to me, and offer a First, Second, and Third Cash Prize. First Prize will be $250 USD; the Second Prize will be $125 USD, and the Third Prize will be $75 USD (editor’s note: prize money to be paid by MQD). The examination rules will be as Dr. Watson originally specified: The Examination shall consist of 15 questions. Each question shall have a value of 10 points irrespective of the length or number of parts of the answer. (Continued on page 9) Vol. 24, No. 2 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality June 2010
MQD Page 9 (Continued from page 8) There shall be no partial credits for multi-part answers, all parts must be answered correctly for the answer to score. Correct answers shall receive a score of +10 points; non-answers shall have a score of zero; incorrect answers shall have a score -10 points. (Dr. Watson’s rational here was that a Metrologist is supposed to be correct in whatever he pronounces and if he is unable to do so he should plead nolo contendere and not try to answer.) Thus final scores could go negative. A perfect score would be +150, and a possible negative score could be -150. Now for my rules: This is an open book examination. Use any references you like, but when you do, cite your source each time. All answers must be typed on plain paper (editor’s note: not many typewriters are at hand, so a computer and printer will work just fine); no hand writing or paste-on. Each answer sheet must have a signed statement that the work on that sheet is your sole work and is not a collaboration with others. All answers must be MAILED to me via US Registered or Certified Mail. (Non US members may use whatever is equivalent in their nation’s mail service.) No e-mails, FAXs, or other electronic transmissions. While I intend to utilize Dr. Watson’s recorded answers to the questions, however should differences arise, I shall be the sole judge (editor’s note: MQD’s Chair, Chair-elect, Secretary and Treasurer are not eligible to participate). All answers must be in my hands by July 15, 2010. PROPOSED QUESTIONS FOR THE FIRST SEMESTER FINAL MEASUREMENT SCIENCE CURRICULUM—CSUDH Who was G.G. Stokes? For what is he famous? What unit of measurement is named for him? Define that unit. IEC versus ISO? Give the history of each and their purpose. What are their relationship, their authorities, and their limits? (An essay type answer is required here.) What is entropy? (An essay type answer is required here.) What is a Trough-to-Trough” voltage? How would you measure it? Who was René Antonio de Reaumur? What did he do of metrological importance, when? On the Rankine Thermodynamic scale 0°R=-459.67°F, BP=489.67°R. Where can you find it in use today? Who was Thomas Bugge? (Continued on page 10) Vol. 24, No. 2 The Newsletter of the Measurement Quality Division, American Society for Quality June 2010
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Dilip A. Shah - American Society for Quality

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