Poll: How Can I Get You More Active In The RoadTest Program?

Gordon,

You make some good points here. Pushing out the deadline can impact the schedules of people who previously had the time before the enrollment was extended.

At this point, I have only a temporary solution. Stick with the same enrollment period, and give out as many kits as I can. If I don't have the roadtesters, I will hold some of the kits and re-do the roadtest at a later date. Not an ideal situation. But I often get too many people that either do not complete the application or won't agree to our terms.

Randall

I'd like to make a general observation about students and roadtests. By students I generally mean undergraduate, not graduate or PhD.

I welcome students to apply. I would really like to have more students roadtest products that are geared to students. that is, STEM products.

The problem is when I ask them in the application if they can commit or are available to complete the review in 60 days, I often get "maybe" as an answer.

Those students whom I did use often did not write their reviews. Exams or vacation got in the way. Or, they wanted to do it during their vacation (3 to 4 weeks) and it wasn't enough time.

I also have had some students return my the product because they said they did not really understand the product well enough.

I have reflected on ways to include more students in roadtests. My boss and I discussed it at length during a recent meeting I had with her. We expect to receive a different kind of roadtest review from a student than we would from a seasoned engineer. We are okay with that. But we have been challenged by this sub-group of roadtesters.

Roadtests are very specific. They are driven by our suppliers. So, I have a limited flexibility. If students just want to do a project, then Prpject14 may be a better fit, or one of my giveaways.

I really do struggle with getting more students involved.

Randall

Nitin,

I can appreciate your point of view. And I'm sorry for your "bitter" experiences.

Just for the record, I am in Chicago. But the times on element14 are based on the UK. So sometimes I my time and UK time are not in sync.

But let me say, if you missed a roadtest deadline by a few hours, then go ahead and email me. I will open it again so you can apply.

Next point...

Most of the time we are planning for a roadtest up to 6 months ahead of time. And we require the kits to be shipped to me before I launch the roadtest. We do this to prevent the roadtesters waiting on getting their products shipped. However, sometimes there are changes during a roadtest enrollment. In these instances, there are delays. I had a couple of roadtests lately that this came up. My apologies.

Randall

That's not my wife! My goose is cooked.

colporteur

Identify theft! How did you get my photo album?

colporteur

I'm confused. I thought you were suppose to play through the pain or is drinking not a sport?

Sean

colporteur better booze == less hangover!

Awesome! Managed to keep my head out of the bowl. My grand daughters voice hurt my head this morning.