The New Members Blog Series is a collection of blogs for new members to help them better understand the element14 roadtest program.
I give you 60 days to complete your road-testing, write your review, and publish it on the element14 community.
The 60-day time period starts after your receive the kit I send you. I put a week buffer from the date I ship it to you and when the roadtest "clock" begins.
I think most people who complete their review find 60 days is an adequate period of time. However, stuff happens in Life and in a roadtest as well. By keeping in touch with me and telling me how you are doing, I will know if I need to give you an extension. Communicating is very important. You can email me directly, message me via e14 or leave a comment on the roadtest page.
As I have said in my previous blog, we roadtest a variety of products, from easy hobbyist stuff (e.g. micro:bit) to something complex (e.g., GAN-based gate drive for an electric vehicle's power plant drive).
When it comes to managing your time, I think it depends on:
- How much time you have for the roadtest
- How complex the product is
When you first begin as a roadtester, I'd suggest that you apply for easier products so you don't feel squeezed for time.
As you gain confidence and expertise, start applying for more complex products.
I require that you provide me your detailed testing plan in your roadtest application. I don't require this just to be difficult. I ask for your plan to help you. If you know what you are going to do BEFORE the road-test "clock" begins, you will not spend a couple of weeks trying to figure out what you will do.
Like any kind of project, you need to manage your time. Having a regular time or day to spend on the roadtest --- INSTEAD of cramming the whole roadtest in the last week of the 60 days will make the roadtest going smoothly.
If you are in school, and you are finishing projects and taking exams, maybe you should hold off on doing a roadtest.
If you are a field engineer and doing a lot of site work, maybe you should hold off on doing a roadtest.
If you are swamped with work, maybe you should hold off on doing a roadtest.
I encourage you to apply for a roadtest.
Right now I am running an easy one on Multimeter use. (enrolling until Feb 18 2022)
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.
Randall Scasny
RoadTest Program Manager
