Dr Nate's 5 Day Workshop on IRT/CAT

From July 29 to Aug 1, 2009, IBPS organized 5 days workshop on IRT/CAT. This is what I wrote to Dr Weiss as a feedback. You can get information about other scheduled workshops at http://www.assess.com/

At 02:05 AM 8/3/2009
Dear Dr Weiss,I provide below part of what I spoke on the concluding session of the 5 day India workshop. A group picture is also attached to test if you can spot me there and see how much has my appearance changed after a decade! It was around 16 July 1999 when I got my first tutorial on IRT and CAT from you in your cabin in the Minnesota University. Dr Nate is bringing with him whole set of pictures taken here and his impressions about India.

A mother persuades her son to go to school. She says, “Darling, Are you not ready to go to school?” The son says, “Mummy nobody at school likes me.” “But darling, you must go to school”, says the mother. “But the teachers don’t like me at school”, says the son. “But sweetheart, you are 45 years old, and you are the principal of the school. You have to go to school” Well, had I been in Dr Nate’s place for this workshop, my mother would have persuaded me like that from the second day onwards and I would have told her that they have got a bunch of people together who understand the subject somewhat and another bunch who don’t at all. But Dr Nate didn’t need any that kind of prodding from any one. His enthusiasm on the 5th day also didn’t wane and the zeal was the same in the last session as it was in the first. He balanced very well the content for the novice and those who knew about the subject a bit. He handled the question posed at -3 Theta with equal aplomb as that of +3 Theta without losing his cool smile and without letting anyone feel that unrelated or very basic questions are not welcome. I fact when we were planning this program we secretly wished that Dr Weiss himself should be a part of the workshop and had sent him an email to consider our request . The way Dr Nate has conducted this workshop for a divergent group like ours is an indirect compliment to Dr Weiss also as Dr Nate happens to be his student. We wish Dr Weiss and Dr Nate visit India in 2010 and the 2011 GMAC CAT conference is also held in India.

Regards,

Vipin
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Vipin:

Thanks very much for the photo (you're the guy in the middle with the gray beard and the black sleveless vest). I also very much appreciate the comments on Nate's performance. Although he is young, as you indicated he is very knowledgeable as well as very personable. I'm pleased to hear that he did a good job!Where the next CAT conference is held is up to the people who sponsor it (GMAC). However, once the new CAT organization starts functioning, there is always the possibility that they could hold conferences in other locations in the years that GMAC doesn't sponsor a conference.

Dave

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David J. Weiss, PresidentAssessment Systems Corporation

2233 University Avenue, Suite 200St. Paul Minnesota 55114, U.S.A.

Email: dweiss@assess.comPhone: 651-647-9220 Fax: 651-647-0412

Worldwide Web: http://www.assess.com/

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