Born to Learn

New Kid on the Block!

David Bjurman-Birr (MSL/MCM) — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:30:23 GMT

Last week was my first week as the PM for the SQL MCM / MCA program. I am digging out from a large backlog of emails. Please be patient with me as I come up to speed. Watch for an announcement soon about the return of the MCM Community Calls. Till next time, boB Read More......(read more)

New book: Architecting Mobile Solutions for the Enterprise

Devon Musgrave — Tue, 29 May 2012 09:07:00 GMT

We’re happy to announce the availability of Architecting Mobile Solutions for the Enterprise , by the well-known and prolific author Dino Esposito. This book is an architectural guide to a paradigm shift. Paradigm shifts just happen—and mobile represents a big one. Mobile enables both new business scenarios and new ways of doing the same business, and the shift is affecting nearly everyone, meaning that writing mobile applications is a challenge that the vast majority of developers will face in the...(read more)

Free Jump Start training: Planning and Deploying Office 365 on May 30-Jun 1, 2012

Devon Musgrave — Sun, 27 May 2012 08:02:00 GMT

Microsoft Learning, MPN Capability Development, the Small Business Competency team and the Microsoft Office team bring you an exciting opportunity to learn to plan and deploy Office 365. As organizations recognize the benefits of providing users with anywhere-access to cloud-based email and scheduling, web conferencing, file sharing, collaboration and Office Web Apps at a low predictable monthly cost, demand for certified Office 365 expertise is climbing sharply in the enterprise and small business...(read more)

RTM’d today: CompTIA Network+ Training Kit (Exam N10-005)

Devon Musgrave — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:00:00 GMT

We’re very pleased to announce that Craig Zacker’s book, CompTIA Network+ Training Kit (Exam N10-005) has shipped to the printer! Ace your preparation for the CompTIA Network+ Exam N10-005 with this 2-in-1 Training Kit from Microsoft Press. Work at your own pace through a series of concepts, tasks, and practical exercises, and then assess your network service/support technician skills with the online practice test—featuring multiple, customizable testing options to meet your specific...(read more)

Office 365 Jump Start NEXT WEEK! Accelerated Cert Prep for TWO EXAMS!

Frank Gartland — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:11:00 GMT

Tailored for Microsoft Partners pursuing Office 365 Certification
Leveraging the popular “Jump Start” virtual classroom approach, two of Microsoft’s most gifted Office 365 experts will lead an accelerated, engaging and demo-rich learning experience designed to teach Microsoft Partners and IT Pros the concepts and technologies covered on Microsoft exam 70-321 Deploying Office 365 as well as the prerequisite exam 70-323 (Administering Office 365).

Office 365 Jump Start “2 for 1” Learning Event -- REGISTER NOW
May 30 – June 1, 2012 from 9:00am – 4:00pm Pacific Time via live virtual classroom (online from wherever you are); no hands-on labs.

(1) “Administering Office 365 Accelerated Jump Start” (FREE & recommended pre-requisite)

May 30: Accelerated, 1-day preparation for Exam 70-323 (Administering Office 365)
Audience: Tailored for IT professionals with core skills in configuration of all Office 365 technologies (Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Lync Online, Office 365 platform) looking to brush up on skills prior to taking 70-323.

(2) “Planning & Deploying Office 365 Jump Start” (FREE)

May 31-June 1: 2-day preparation for Exam 70-321 (Deploying Office 365)
Audience: Tailored for consultants and IT professionals who plan and implement Office 365, including migrations to Office 365 (simple and hybrid deployments).

REGISTER NOW

Next up in the Microsoft Jump Start Series:
Windows Server 2012: Preparing for the Datacenter Evolution! Don't miss this! Register now: http://aka.ms/WS2012-Jump

What’s a “Jump Start” Course?
Training specifically designed for experienced technologists whose jobs demand they know how to best leverage new, emerging Microsoft technologies. These advanced courses assume a certain level of expertise and domain knowledge, so they move quickly and cover topics in a fashion that enables teams to effectively map new skills to real-world situations.

“Geektivism” at TechEd

Mark Protus, Microsoft Learning — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:38:00 GMT

You’ve heard of slacktivism, but have you heard of geektivism? You’ll get to see it in action at TechEd!

If you’re headed to TechEd this June, think about volunteering. Thanks to a partnership with GeekGive (which was born at TechEd 2009) there will be a number of opportunities to give back to the community while you’re soaking up the conference…and the sun.

Here are the details:

Saturday, June 9, you can:

· Work with Habitat for Humanity to build a house in the Orlando area.

· Work with the Coalition for the Homeless to serve meals to those in need.

During TechEd, you can participate in the following onsite volunteer activities (no registration necessary):

In conjunction with the Foundation for Hospital Art, attendees can help create colorful paintings and murals that will be installed in a local Orlando hospital. No artistic experience necessary! Click here for more details about the Foundation for Hospital Art.
Attendees will also have opportunities to assemble care packages for pediatric in-patients in the Orlando area. We’ll be packaging toiletries, games, puzzles, books and more, as well as writing notes of encouragement to be delivered to Ronald McDonald House and local hospitals after the event. Help bring smiles to those that need it most.

Join fellow TechEd attendee’s in giving back while getting geeky!

From the MVPs: Windows Intune 101

Devon Musgrave — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:26:31 GMT

Here’s the 9th post in our series of guest posts by Microsoft Most Valued Professionals (MVPs). Since the early 1990s, Microsoft has recognized technology champions around the world with the MVP Award . MVPs freely share their deep knowledge, real-world experience, and impartial and objective feedback to help people enhance the way they use technology . Of more than 100 million users who participate in technology communities, around 4,000 are recognized as Microsoft MVPs. This post is by Akfash Ahamed...(read more)

New Jump Start! Windows Server 2012! Who's ready? REGISTER NOW!

Frank Gartland — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:11:00 GMT

Microsoft Learning and the Windows Server Product Marketing team are excited to bring you a new two-day Jump Start covering Windows Server 2012! Of course, the entire IT industry is excited about this new release and we believe this Jump Start will show you why. On June 21-22, from 9:00am – 4:00pm PDT, join Microsoft Senior Technical Evangelist Rick Claus and Microsoft Partner Corey Hynes as they walk you through their personal favorite feature sets and answer why and how each can improve your day-to-day IT environment.

Cloud-Optimize your IT with Windows Server 2012!

Course: “Windows Server 2012: Preparing for the Datacenter Evolution”
Date/Time: June 20-21, 2012 from 9:00am – 4:00pm PST
Where: Live virtual classroom (online from wherever you are)
Cost: FREE!
Instructors: Microsoft Technical Evangelist Rick Claus and Microsoft Partner Corey Hynes
Target audience: IT Professionals and IT Decision Makers
What: "Jump Start" courses are accelerated, engaging and demo-heavy sessions tailored for early adopters and experienced technologists. They are advanced and assume a certain level of expertise, so they move quickly and cover topics in a fashion that enables teams to effectively map new skills to real-world situations.

REGISTER NOW

COURSE OUTLINE (details)

Day One
Morning | Beyond Virtualization
• Game changers in the next release of the Hyper-V role on Windows Server 2012
• Massive scale increases, networking improvements, replication and disaster recovery is all in the box
Afternoon | Manageability
• Learn how you can manage a few systems up to a hundred – all from one console
• Server Core installs scaring you off? Learn about all your installation and management options
• Windows PowerShell automation and management at scale – all with built in tools
• Clustering—Cluster-aware updating
• Networking, Network Teaming, network configuration, SMB MultiChannel and RDMA

Day Two
Morning | Storage
• Learn how Continuous Availability of File Services improves workload reliability and performance
• Storage groups, disk provisioning, iSCSI and SAN integration
Afternoon | Remote Users
• Remote connectivity options for your workforce (DA)
• VDI and Remote Desktop Services deployment and changes

What’s a “Jump Start” Course?
Training specifically designed for experienced technologists whose jobs demand they know how to best leverage new, emerging Microsoft technologies. These advanced courses assume a certain level of expertise and domain knowledge, so they move quickly and cover topics in a fashion that enables teams to effectively map new skills to real-world situations.

REGISTER NOW

Seven Skilled @ SharePoint... Congratulations to our latest SharePoint MCMs!

David Bjurman-Birr (MSL/MCM) — Wed, 23 May 2012 04:24:55 GMT

We recently completed the first round of exams for our first "hybrid rotation" - our alternate delivery model where we do one week onsite in Redmond followed by ten weeks of Lync-based remote training delivery - and we've had outstanding results with the new model on many fronts. I'm very happy to say that these results extend to where it counts most to many of our candidates - certification. Please welcome the following new Masters from "R11": Hannes Gfrerer is a Senior...(read more)

New book: Working with Microsoft Office 365: Running Your Small Business in the Cloud

Devon Musgrave — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:51:40 GMT

We’re excited to announce the availability of Working with Microsoft Office 365: Running Your Small Business in the Cloud (ISBN: 9780735658998; 370 pages), by Brett Hill! As Brett makes clear in the book, the benefits of moving your business to the cloud are strong ones in terms of increased productivity and decreased operating costs. But small businesses rarely have on-site system administrators to make the move smooth and trouble-free. If that’s the case with your business, this book is a reference...(read more)