Is There Interest in a Webinar on How To Write a Better RoadTest Application?

I would be quite interested in learning how to write a better RoadTest

application.

Yes great idea. Anytime I can learn something new, I'm all in.

Thanks Peter,

Also I think backgrounds change the way people do stuff, for example some write with intro/centre/summary, others can manage lab-style reports, and others are competent at close-up stuff to video, like teardowns and explanations.

I would have thought even newcomers to any particular technology are at a great advantage if they are keen to apply a new technology in a different way, especially if one is passionate or super-interested in the particular technology. It is nice seeing the genuine interest from people even in the comments section when a new RoadTest appears, as you say maybe some need a helping hand regarding expectations, or to even be aware that they can apply or that they should reach out if they need help, ask in discussion threads, etc.

Like always the quality of the presentation depends on the presenter. The webinar can be technical or inspiring. First type would be useful for newcomers, the other one will be useful for both the newcomers and old members.

only if your hosting it Randall!!!

and great idea would be more info for new people to review and learn so they can get on board producing a better application the first time.

A webinar on writing high quality Road Test applications gets my support.

I have written 18 Road Test applications since I joined Element14.  My success rate is about 38%.

The quality of the writing that appears in a Road Test application is likely only one factor considered by the reviewers as they cull the applicants to the group that will receive free product.

An ideal Road Test writing webinar should discuss the other important factors considered by reviewers. For example, the applicant needs to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the technology to make a meaningful assessment of the products capabilities.  Applicants also need to prove they have the equipment necessary to carry out an evaluation. These, and other factors, are spelled out in the Road Test application form.

There is also a "luck of the draw" factor that I think can play heavily into the outcome of any Road Test contest. I have written what I thought were stellar applications that hit upon each of the highlighted points in the application form, each point supported with proof of knowledge and photographs of my test and measurement equipment.

Some, but not all, of these applications have been successful. In some cases where I was not selected I realized why others were selected over me, once their reviews were published.  However, in other cases, I have been disappointed by the quality of reviews selected over mine, because I felt I would have done a better job.

On the other had some of my marginally adequate applications were, to my surprise, selected by reviewers.  Without direct feedback from reviewers I, and I'm sure other applicants, are left to speculate on why things turn out the way they do.  One of my working assumptions is that you can not know for sure who is applying to any given Road Test.  There will be top members, new members, novice applicants, and seasoned applicants.  This alone makes it difficult to predict your chances of being selected.  Add to this the unknowns in the review process like: who is reviewing the set of applications, have they done selections before, do they know the applicants by reputation, what outcomes are they looking to achieve by having their product reviewed?  The answer to each of these questions impacts the likelihood of making it through the application review process.

There may not be a way to answer all of these questions in a webinar, and there may be good reasons to not answer some of them at all.  I think though that a webinar on writing quality Road Test applications should go beyond the mechanics of writing to dwell on factors that will help applicants generate (well written) content that reviewers need to see to keep an application out of the "no" pile.

I'm not convinced that this would increase turnout on the actual reviews. It might lead to a higher level of longer and not-obvious-bad applications. But when someone but being able to properly test a device (or never intends to) he will not write a review, even if he now takes 15 instead of 5 minutes to write the application. From someone who is able to write a good road test I expect that she is able to also write a good application, without being taught how to (or getting ideas what to write there). And if someone cannot write at least a decent application, how can you expect a decent review?

It would be helpful, though, to get a webinar on how to write a road test review. Even after writing a number of them I'm pretty sure there is room for improvement. And when you teach people what a good review looks like, they probably learn also what they can write in their applications.

I have had reasonable success with my applications so far but I would say that this would be a great idea for members.

My only concern would be that we will still have the issue of noncompliance to actually posting the review or having reviews that are just a re statement of the manufacturer published information or less, So I would suggest to include what is expected out of the review so applicants are fully aware of the expectations upfront, perhaps select a few current reviews to showcase as examples (Shabaz always has excellent review so his would work as a best case scenario but no everyone could reach his level so some other good cases would be included

Just my thoughts

The recording of the webinar would be a good reference for future proposals even if you can't attend.

Even with successful proposals it is not clear what was important or why they prevailed, so the info would be useful for everyone who applies.

Thank you, I think this is good idea, especially for newcomers to RoadTest.