Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2009 - (Page 35)

Toronto Boston New York New York Toronto Boston Montreal Boston Washington New York SOUTHERN REGION: Green Roof Design 101: Introductory Course Green Roof Infrastructure: Design and Installation (201) Green Roof Infrastructure: Design and Installation (201) Green Roof Plants & Growing Media (401) Green Roof Plants & Growing Media (401) Green Roof Waterproofing and Drainage (301) Green Roof Design 101: Introductory Course Green Roof Design 101: Introductory Course Green Roof Design 101: Introductory Course Green Roof Design 101: Introductory Course Green Roof Design 101: Introductory Course Green Roof Infrastructure: Design and Installation (201) Green Roof Design 101: Introductory Course Green Roof Plants & Growing Media (401) July 8 July 15 August 5 September 16 September 16 September 23 September 30 October 7 October 14 October 21 April 15 May 6 May 25 October 7 Austin Austin Atlanta Atlanta Note that courses are subject to change. ACCREDITATION EXAM SUBJECT TO STRINGENT STANDARDS SPACES FILLING UP FOR SEATS TO WRITE THE INAUGURAL GREEN ROOF PROFESSIONAL (GRP) EXAM ON JUNE 5, 2009 IN ATLANTA DURING GRHC’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE By Hazel Farley A s the final touches are being put to the accredited Green Roof Professional (GRP) exam to be delivered for the first time at our annual conference (Atlanta, June 5, 2009), we are frequently asked exactly how the exam development process works. Our exam is based on a set of peer reviewed Occupational Standards developed by subject matter experts from across North America at an intensive three-day working session in January 2007. Those standards set the core areas of knowledge required of an accredited Green Roof Professional (GRP). Following the development of the Occupational Standards our next challenge was in understanding how to develop a multidisciplinary exam. To assist us in this process we retained the services of Prometric Inc., an international leader in the testing industry with extensive experience implementing new and evolving professional accreditation programs. With an established track record of more than eight million examinations delivered annually, Prometric Inc. provides the expertise and critical guidance required to ensure we create a legally defensible, psychometrically sound examination. The first step in the exam writing process required our subject matter experts to learn how to write appropriate questions. Armed with a three-hour web-based instructional session from Prometric, our experts came together in person at our annual conference last spring to formulate a bank of more than 300 questions. Over the summer months, Prometric undertook a rigorous editing exercise, discarding ambiguous or inappropriate questions as well as ensuring they conformed to set standards, guidelines and conventions. In addition, the language used in each question was scrutinized to ensure that no symbols, words, or phrases were sexist, racist, or otherwise potentially offensive, inappropriate or negative toward any group. In the final stages of actual exam assembly, Prometric uses pretest and operational test item data to anticipate statistical characteristics of the exam. This data is used to verify adequate exam functionality; expected pass rates, adequate reliability and ensures pass/fail decisions will be consistent. We are confident, therefore, that this proven and standardized approach will result in a top quality examination for Green Roof Professionals. As such, the public can be assured that the successful accredited Green Roof Professional will possess multidisciplinary knowledge of best practices associated with green roof designs, installation and maintenance. The actual exam questions fall into the following areas: pre-design, design, contract management, quality assurance support and maintenance. There are many advantages of becoming an accredited Green Roof Professional including: • GRP gives you a market advantage over non-accredited individuals. • GRP establishes a high-level of professionalism for you and your business. • GRP increases customer confidence in green roof technology. • GRP results in better green roof design and installation practices focusing on integrated design for maximum benefit for your client. • GRP protects the industry from bad practices. It is not too late to sign up for the inaugural Green Roof Professional exam, or plan on taking it at another time. Simply visit www.greenroofs.org for more details. D Hazel Farley is director, Training & Accreditation for Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR WINTER 2009 35 http://www.greenroofs.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2009

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2009
Contents
From the Founder: When is a Green Roof Really "Green"?
Strata - People, Products & Projects: Funding for the Green Infrastructure Foundation (GIF)
An Integrated Approach to Green Roofs
On the Roof with...
Project: A Green Wall for Wildlife
Research: Green Roofs and Local Temperature
Turning Your Roof into a Water-Saving "Living Oasis"
Feature: Water & Georgia
GRHC Update: GHRC Professional Development Calendar
Accreditation Exam Subject to Stringent Standards
Welcome New Corporate Members
On Spec: Change We Can Believe In

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2009