Born to Learn

21st Century Skills and the Workplace

Keith Loeber - IT Academy — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:54:00 GMT

A new Gallup study sponsored by Microsoft Partners in Learning and the Pearson Foundation provides clear evidence linking 21st century skills and student engagement in school with higher quality of work later in life.

Gallup explored the relationships between 21st century skills developed in the classroom, student aspiration in schools, and perceived quality of work later in life. Using a 21st century skills index to measure seven specific areas--collaboration, knowledge construction, skilled communication, global awareness, self-regulation, real-world problem-solving, and technology used in learning--Gallup polled 1,014 individuals aged 18-35 who were either employed or students.

21st Century Skills + Student Aspirations: The Formula for Work Success

The results confirmed that developing 21st century skills in the last year of school positively correlates with future work success. In fact the study found that those who have 21st century skill development are twice as likely to have higher work quality compared to those who had low 21st century skill development. In addition, 59% of those polled strongly agree or agree that they developed most of the skills they use in their current job outside of school.

The study also found that student aspirations play an important role in future success: Americans who have teachers who care about them and know their aspirations and dreams were much more likely to have developed the key 21st century skills.

The study validates Microsoft IT Academy’s mission to provide industry-leading technology skills to help bridge the skills gap and Microsoft’s overarching education message: 21st Century teaching and learning that provides students with real world problem solving and the right kind of technology experiences are what students of today need to prepare them for successful future life and work.

Snapshot of Findings:

The majority of respondents (59%) reported that they agree or strongly agree that they developed most of the skills they use in their current job outside of school. Only 15% disagree or strongly disagree, indicating they felt that they developed these skills in school.
Developing 21st century skills in the last year of school is positively correlated with higher perceived work quality later in life. In fact, those who have high 21st century skill development are twice as likely to have higher work quality compared to those who had low 21st century skill development.
Across the 21st century skills included in this study, real world problem-solving is the significant driver of higher work quality; however, less than two-thirds (63%) of respondents reported developing this skill often in the last year of school and that number drops to less than half (39%) for high school graduates.
In their last year of school, those who often used 21st century skills are more likely to have had greater student aspiration and engagement; and student aspiration and engagement is also positively correlated to work quality later in life.
Across the student aspiration conditions, good teacher-student relationships is a primary driver; students who feel their teachers care and support them are more likely to perceive themselves as successful and valued in their jobs later in life.
Although a wide majority (86%) of respondents says they used computers and technology to complete assignments or projects in their last year of school, only 14% report they used technology for collaboration, indicating that students are not developing the type of advanced technology skills that would be used later in the workplace.
Younger respondents, aged 18-22, report slightly higher levels of 21st century skill development and this may be an indicator that teaching strategies are changing in the U.S.; however, the largest opportunity may lie with high school graduates who report the lowest levels of overall 21st century skill development.

21st Century Skills and the Workplace (PDF)
Microsoft on the Issues blog: “New evidence to spark the national education conversation” by Anthony Salcito, VP, Worldwide Education, Microsoft

Psychomagician and Super Sigma Crack Their First Case: Tried and True Exam Prep Tips

Liberty Munson (Microsoft) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:12:00 GMT

First of all, a HUGE thank you to everyone who replied to the post: ‘Tried and True Exam Prep – Part 1: Practice, Practice, Practice.’ Psychomagician and Super Sigma could not have cracked the case without your help. Ultimately, your insights about how to prepare for an exam help the community, especially newbies to the world of Microsoft certification.

We’d like to announce Psychomagician’s #1 (psycho) fan! He was a key contributor to the investigation into exam preparation. A very special thank you goes out to Michael Corkery. THANK YOU MICHAEL! An official ACE Chronicles Fan Club t-shirt is coming your way! Want to know more about the ACE Chronicles Fan Club and how to join? Stay tuned! We're working out the details, but it's going to be legend...wait for it... dairy!

Okay, time to get back on track here. SO, WHAT DID WE LEARN ABOUT EXAM PREPARATION? You’re not getting off that easy! You have to do a little investigating on your own by watching the video to find out!

The Real Reason Developers Should Get Certified

Chris Gardner (Regional Lead - Eastern US) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:00:00 GMT

In my role as a MCT Regional Lead, I get asked a lot of questions. One of the rapidly recurring questions is "I'm a developer. Why should I get certified?" Most people expect me to respond with something about job security or income increases. However, this is not the typical answer I offer. The real reason you should get certified is to learn your framework.

The .NET framework has been in a state of rapid (r)evolution in recent years. More companies, including Microsoft, are moving to a rapid release schedule. As developers, we have a tendency to start a project with a given framework and a given set of tools. We use these frameworks and tools for months, even years, as the technological world marches forward. I started a project in the later parts of .NET 2.0. By the time the project ended, .NET 4.0 had been released. After 2 years on a project, I might as well have changed my name to Rip Van Winkle.

When a developer stays on top of his or her certifications, he or she keeps a mental inventory of tools that have become available. As developers, we are often not able to keep on top of every advancement in our field. However, the certification tests do two things. First, it proves to your employer or contracting official at you have knowledge of the current trends. I may not have written a Windows Store App that needed Semantic Zoom, but I now have proof that I am familiar with it.

Second, and more importantly, it gives you the tools to quickly merge into new areas. I have often joked that 2% of my brain lives in my head. That 2% is the index terms into the other 98% of my brain, which lives on the web. For example, I was recently working on a side project that required me to access a third-party RESTful service. All of my professional work has used WCF. Since I have stayed current on my certifications, I had an academic knowledge of what I needed to do. Using this knowledge, I was able to effectively find the information I needed to consume this service in a matter of minutes.

There are very few ways to quickly prove to yourself that you really have touched the breadth of knowledge in a specific area. Certification are a way to not only guide you through the roots of emerging technologies, they offer you a way to measure your understanding of these new technologies. As a professional that lives or dies by my ability to stay current, I find great value in spending a little time, money and effort keeping my certifications current. While it does benefit my professional endeavors, the satisfaction I get knowing I'm prepared for any challenge that may come with my next project is priceless.

Connect with Chris on Twitter @freestylecoder.

This Week at IT Academy | Week of 6/17

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:45:00 GMT

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members.

IT Academy News

Presenting the Walla Walla Wall of Fame: 354 MOS certificates!

Walla Walla High School (Walla Walla, Washington) created an impressive wall of fame for the 354 Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certificates earned by IT Academy students this year. Congratulations on your fantastic achievement, Walla Walla students!

(Please visit the site to view this video)

More Education News from Microsoft

A New Set of Skills for the 21^st Century Workforce

What will it take to succeed in business tomorrow, and how can we prepare next generation students today? On Partners in Learning’s “Hot Topics” blog, author James Lengel explores the set of discovery skills students will need to produce innovative ideas in an increasingly competitive global economy. Read the post >

Free eBook: Enabling and inspiring students and teachers with Windows 8

New to Windows 8? Microsoft UK presents a free eBook, “Enabling and inspiring students and teachers with Windows 8,” available for free download or viewing on SlideShare. Topics covered include:

tools and resources for Windows 8 devices that enhance learning technology skills
the value of adopting a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy
collaboration and sharing tools that enable access to learning materials outside the classroom
ways to secure devices and the school network
how to enable the mobile classroom with Windows 8 to Go technology
peer-to-peer networking and conversation technology for educators
a day in the life of the technology-equipped student and teacher

Browse or download the eBook >

Share Your Success Story

Do you have a success story about one of your IT Academy students? Have IT Academy resources enabled you to provide more in the classroom? Share your story and best practices in a brief email with photos and your contact information to ITASuccessStories@microsoft.com.

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What's it like to work as an intern at Xbox HQ?

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:21:00 GMT

As the academic year concludes in many regions, students are flocking to internships for real-world, hands-on experience with hopes of gaining a competitive edge in the job market. Over the next few weeks, we’ll provide a first-hand view of the intern experience at Microsoft through video testimonials you can share with your students.

With the newly-announced Xbox One on the minds of gamers around the world, we kick off the series with an insider’s tour of Microsoft Xbox, where business skills and cutting-edge technology abilities drive innovation to gamers around the globe—abilities that your IT Academy program foster every day.

We start the interns' tour with a behind-the-scenes look at the Xbox headquarters:

(Please visit the site to view this video)

With a sense of the work environment, we introduce you to Matthew, an intern working as a Software Development Engineer in Test (SDET) for Xbox.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Stay tuned next week for more insights from a Microsoft intern, and be sure to share this series with your students and staff.

This Week at IT Academy: Week of 6/10

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:36:00 GMT

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members.

IT Academy News

Preview the 2013-14 IT Academy Curriculum

For many schools, June/July kicks off planning sessions for the 2013-14 academic year. To help IT Academies prepare, we previewed the program roadmap for the coming year at the recent member webinar, now available on demand with your IT Academy ID. Watch the presentation to learn ways you can optimize your curriculum next year.

Last Chance for a Second Shot
If you have purchased a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) certification exam voucher using the Second Shot offer, be aware that the voucher expires on June 30, 2013. Both the initial exam and, if necessary, the free retake must be completed before that date. For more information, review the Second Shot details on the member site.

Technology Education in the News

Partners in Learning Hot Topics: Workforce Skills Development

Partners in Learning’s “Hot Topics” spotlights views from global educators on topics that are shaping the changing world of global education. This week, author James Lengel explores the educators' critical role in developing workforce skills by fostering technology-literate students who think critically about information readily available at their fingertips. Read the post >

Chip In: Crowdsourcing Contributions for Student PCs

Microsoft introduces Chip In, a new seasonal buying program to help students get the Windows PC or tablet they need for school. With Chip In, students crowdsource contributions from friends and family toward the purchase of a new Windows PC or tablet. Microsoft will chip in 10 percent of the purchase price on select PCs, and the first 10,000 students to fully fund their PC will also get a four-year subscription to Office 365 University. Learn more about the program at http://www.windowschipin.com/

TED Talks: “Every Kid Needs a Champion” with Rita Pierson

“American Graduate: Let’s Make It Happen” is a 60-minute television special featuring inspirational TED talks about education innovation and the dropout crisis in America. Anthony Salcito, VP of Worldwide Education, spotlighted one of the individual speakers from the special-- an inspiring talk from teacher Rita Pierson on the most important component of learning: relationships. “Every child deserves a champion,” says Pierson, ”an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection, and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.”
Watch the video at Daily Edventures >

Code.org: Anybody can Learn to Code

Code.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to growing computer programming education. Share the video below with your students to help them understand the value and opportunities that computer programming offers, as told by Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, will.i.am, and a host of technology luminaries.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Share Your Success Story

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Respondents Say…

Kerri Davis - MSL Anti-Piracy PM — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 16:00:00 GMT

A few months ago the IT Certifications Council, an industry group in which I participate, conducted a survey on “Attitudes Around Cheating.” This was not a Microsoft-specific survey, so the respondents were those who had taken all sorts of IT Certification exams. We got a pretty good response to our 15-question survey; the most surprising outcome was the sheer number of verbatim responses we got to some questions. Clearly our certification candidates across the board feel security is a vital part of a testing program. As a group, we will use these answers to help improve and strengthen our respective security programs.

Some of the positive outcomes that interested me most:

The majority of respondents agreed that cheating by any method is test fraud.
Most respondents are aware that the exams themselves are considered the property of the company issuing the exam—not the test provider. This means Microsoft owns all of our tests, not Prometric or Certiport.
The policies on cheating are clear to most respondents.
The majority agreed that certain methods, such as sharing answers, copying, taking notes into the exam, paying someone to take an exam, and using fake documents constitute cheating.
Most thought that cheaters should be harshly dealt with.
More than 80 percent felt that cheaters devalue one’s certification.
About two-thirds believed companies have effective programs to reduce cheating

Among the answers that surprised us:

A majority said they would report a cheater, but didn’t know how. We as a group clearly need to publicize that more effectively. (Have I mentioned mlsecure@microsoft.com?)
A vast majority did not feel discussing an exam should be in violation of an agreement. (See my earlier blog post on this subject). What I glean from this is that discussion and help amongst colleagues is a valuable part of the study experience and shouldn’t be discounted.

Let me clarify what we mean by “discussing an exam,” because I think the question, the way it had been worded, might have been confusing. I’ve said before that it’s one thing to study together before the exam; this is fine. It’s another to tell someone what’s actually on the exam. That is where candidates get into trouble. It’s the divulging of confidential exam information that is a violation, not group study. That’s one of the reasons we prohibit instructors from proctoring exams.

Last, we got more than 1000 verbatim responses to our question: “What other methods do you suggest to combat cheating?” I find that so encouraging that people have an interest in this. I will be pouring through all the responses for inspiration.

Got a tip for me? Let me know at mlsecure@microsoft.com.

TechEd North America 2013 - Rob

Pete Harris [MSL] — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:24:00 GMT

Not everyone who comes to TechEd is super-technical. Rob is a project manager for IT projects and was at TechEd to learn more about ALM and what's new and coming soon for Microsoft's application platform. He decided to take the MTA exam for Operating System fundamentals to begin using certification to establish his technical credibility even though he's not a developer. Are you a project manager who needs some credibility with your developers? Maybe MTA is for you too.

TechEd North America 2013 - Edward

Pete Harris [MSL] — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:13:36 GMT

I had a nice chat with Edward who told me about a cool project he got to work on. He got the gig because he had the certifications which showed he had the skills. Now he's working on his Windows Server MCSE: Server Infrastructure certification. What cool projects did you get to work on because of your certifications?

TechEd North America 2013 - Ron

Pete Harris [MSL] — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 22:51:00 GMT

We hear lots of different reasons why people pursue their certifications. In this case, Ron told us that in a consulting role, he changes industries a lot. His skills give him that flexibility, but his certifications help give clients the peace of mind that he knows his stuff and will be able to help them - even without direct industry experience. Are you looking for some consistency in your career? Maybe certification will give you something common you can share with your clients.

TechEd North America 2013 - Nate

Pete Harris [MSL] — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 23:01:00 GMT

I spoke with Nate, who is a long time certification guy, who currently has 5 MCSE certifications. But yesterday, he took his first MTA exam. If you have been thinking about certification, but aren't sure if you want to get started, or are feeling like you wish there was a way to dip your toe into the waters of certification before committing to something really hard (like getting your MCSE in one week), you should hear what Nate has to say.

TechEd North America 2013 - Clint

Pete Harris [MSL] — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:43:00 GMT

Last night I met Clint just outside the testing center here at TechEd North America. This was a great chat because although he's been in the industry for over 20 years, yesterday he took his first certification exams. Ever. More than that, he's working on going from zero to his MCSE: Messaging this week! He wanted to prove to his colleagues that he has the knowledge to get it done in five days. Seems like this is the week of taking exams with a bit of a challenge in mind. Do you have a certification challenge in mind for yourself?

TechEd North America 2013 - Heather

Pete Harris [MSL] — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:24:00 GMT

I chatted with Heather about her job working for NASCAR. Heather took her Office certifications to the next level three years ago when she decided to become an MCT. Now not only does she have the Office skills to help the NASCAR organization, but as a Microsoft Certified Trainer she helps others get the skills they need to grow their own careers. Are you the person in your office everyone comes to for help? Maybe MCT is the certification for you...

Washington State Milestone: 10,000 certifications in the 2012-13 Academic Year

Keith Loeber - IT Academy — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:57:00 GMT

Two years ago, Washington State deployed the largest statewide rollout of the Microsoft IT Academy program, with training and certification available to over 300,000 students and over 19,000 teachers in over 700 public high schools, skill centers and tribal schools across Washington State.

Today, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced a monumental milestone: more than 10,000 certifications achieved statewide in the 2012-13 academic year—more than double the number of certifications earned the previous year (4,049, to be exact).

We extend our congratulations to everyone involved in the state’s program; from the students who are building a foundation for career success and the educators who inspire and motivate students every day; to the staff and faculty who support technology learning and the IT Academy program.

Along with news of the milestone, OSPI shared inspiring stories from a few schools in the program. Take a few moments to learn about Morgan VanRiper of Kalama High School, who achieved a perfect score on the 2010 Word core exam—one of the top 5 placing students nationally. And find out more about the program at Anacortes High School, where the 10,000^th exam was passed.

OSPI press release: “OSPI-Microsoft IT Academy Passes 10,000 Technology Certifications Earned Statewide”

More information about Washington State and Microsoft IT Academy

Learn how IT Academy is making a difference in the lives and future careers of Washington State high school students:

Read the recent guest post by Randy Dorn, Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Washington: “Bridging the Skills Gap in Washington State with IT Academy”
Get more information at Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI); CTE at OSPI; Microsoft IT Academy in Washington State
Watch the video below for insight into why the program is important for the state:

(Please visit the site to view this video)

This Week at IT Academy | Week of 6/3

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 21:12:00 GMT

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members.

May IT Academy Webinar Now Available On Demand

This month’s Microsoft IT Academy webinar is now available on demand with your IT Academy ID. The last webinar of the 2012-13 academic year, this month's presentation includes a briefing on the program roadmap for the coming year—critical information you need to optimize your curriculum next year. Be sure to tune in.

IT Academy in the News

Florida Middle School Receives Grant for MOS Certification
A grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will go toward helping middle school students in Bellview, Florida, earn a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification. Read more>

Georgia-based IT Academy Certifies Over 100 Students in Inaugural Year
A total of 106 students at Fayette County High’s IT Academy earned Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certifications in the 2012-13 academic year; a key first-year milestone for one of 436 public schools in Georgia’s statewide IT Academy program that debuted in September 2012. Read more>

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TechEd North America 2013 - Lou

Pete Harris [MSL] — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 20:56:00 GMT

I spoke with Lou on the expo floor at TechEd today. He told me that when he was ready to leave management to go back to being a technical individual contributor, he used his SQL Certification to help prove he still had his technical skills. We love hearing from customers whose certifications help them switch roles. Have you don this too?

MCT MTA Throwdown at TechEd NA 2013

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 19:26:00 GMT

Three experienced MCTs are now taking all twelve (12) MTA exams right here at TechEd North America 2013. Telmo Sampaio, David Elfassy, and Ken Rosen (left to right) have challenged each other right here at Certification Central, on the third floor of the convention center.

Objective: Each MCT must take all 12 MTA exams this afternoon, in numerical order by exam number. See all MTA exams here.

We're starting a pool on how well they will do. Comment below with your guesses, and we'll announce the results later today when they come out of the exam room!

Who will finish all 12 MTA exams first?
How many MTA exams will these three MCTs pass, combined?
On average, students takes 22 minutes to complete one MTA exam. What's the average time for these three MCTs?

Let's get ready to rumble!!!

Update: The results are in!

Who will finish all 12 MTA exams first?

- Telmo finished first, with a total time of 2 hours and 22 minutes!

How many MTA exams will these three MCTs pass, combined?
- 20 exams were passed among them.
On average, students takes 22 minutes to complete one MTA exam. What's the average time for these three MCTs?
- 14.39 minutes

How is #90days2MCSA going for you? Michael and Ed want to know!

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 20:56:00 GMT

How quickly have the last three months gone? If you participated in the "90 Days to MCSA" challenge, chances are they've been both very rewarding and a total blur. If you didn't, hurry and sign up for the email series soon so you can catch the last issues, which will also give you access to all previous articles and resources.

This community challenge, originally spearheaded by Microsoft MVP and MCT Michael Bender, invites IT pros to spend the 90 days leading up to TechEd North America studying for the MCSA exams. If you watched the free exam prep videos from Microsoft Learning, you would recognize one of the presenters, Ed Liberman, who's also an MVP and MCT. They'll both be at TechEd NA. Many challenge participant making the trip to New Orleans this week are planning to take one or more exams onsite, where they can take advantage of the 50 percent discount. TechEd NA officially starts on June 3, but the onsite testing center (aka Certification Central) opens on Sunday, June 2. It’s almost go-time!

For those who have participated in (or completed) the challenge, Michael and Ed would love to know: What were the biggest challenges you faced? What are your preferred study methods? Our friends at TrainSignal, who offered access to 10 courses to help you prepare for the MCSA: Windows Server 2012 exams, put together a short survey. It's open from June 1 to June 10, and will take no more than a couple of minutes to complete. One winner will be randomly selected from all survey respondents and receive a one-year subscription to TrainSignal’s entire library of 200+ courses. Three runner-ups will also receive a one-month subscription. Click here to take survey. (The link will take you to a survey by TrainSignal.)

Good luck to everyone who's completing MCSA: Windows Server 2012 at TechEd NA. I'll see you at the convention center very soon!

Note: The survey and prizes listed in this blog post are from TrainSignal, who has offered IT pros complimentary access to select courses to prepare for MCSA: Windows Server 2012.

More Certification Exam Training Tips with MCT Sasa Kranjac

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Fri, 31 May 2013 22:12:00 GMT

Last week, MCT Sasa Kranjac contributed an article packed with training and certification tips, plus a massive list of free resources. This week, Sasa returns with more great tips and resources to help you prepare for exams. Welcome back, Sasa!

In my previous article, I recommended a variety of learning styles, from self-paced study to instructor-led and online training; and provided a list of my most valuable resources. This week, I'll share study tips and provide more cool resources to help you prepare.

Study Tips: 5 Steps to Success

1. Schedule an exam early.
Book an exam early. Paying and scheduling your exam fixes "the day" and materializes it. "A day" becomes "the day" and it is no longer a fictional day. You don't want to take the exam "when you are ready". You are going to be ready at the time of the appointment, take the exam and pass. I know people getting ready and preparing for years.

The most important thing is to prepare to study. Prepare yourself mentally to learn. Be determined to achieve a result. Say it: "I'm going to be an MCSA on Windows 8 in 90 days."

Be aware that if you reschedule your exam appointment 15 days or less prior to the deadline you will be charged a reschedule fee. See www.prometric.com/microsoft for details. On the left side of the page, click Frequently Asked Questions to learn more. Hopefully this will keep you from rescheduling over and over.

2. Prepare to study, prepare to learn.
Find yourself a quiet, comfortable place where you can focus on your studies. A place where you are alone and without distractions. I know that this is not easy, especially if you are working, have a family, or have other commitments; but do whatever you can to keep the distractions to your studies to a minimum. Do not study in a living room or in a kitchen if the rooms are crowded or noisy; in these places, your family sends the message: "please, spend some time with us; put that boring geek book away".

I used to read in the bed. But not anymore. It tells me "come and take a nap; come on, it won't hurt you, close your eyes for couple of minutes". I still read in bed but I do not study in bed. Reading a novel is not the same as studying and trying to remember what you've read.

Speed reading doesn't work either.

"I took a speed reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia."
--Woody Allen

A study room in your house or a library is a good choice. Places free of distractions are the best. An hour of uninterrupted, quality studying is far better than three hours of intermittent, constantly interrupted studying.

3. Prepare your mind. Develop your study plan.
Set a goal, define an objective, or objectives for your studies. The key is to set study goals that are "tangible". Define study goals that are:

Specific - read two chapters, or read 24 pages
Realistic - set a reasonable goal to accomplish in an hour or two of studies; do not set unrealistic goals that will demotivate you (you can read 50 pages in an hour but probably not 500 pages)
Verifiable - finish your studies so you can tell when you are done

Don’t ever do "some reading" or "some studying". Knowing ahead what you will learn and read generates a feeling of progress or "moving forward". I remember a good inspirational quote:

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
-- Mark Twain

I like this one even better: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!"

4. Keep your goals away from trolls.
There have always been and always will be someone that will tell you that certifications are not worth pursuing and exams not worth passing. It is incredible how much energy some people put in convincing you that you threw your money away because you scheduled an exam, paid for a class, bought a book. I remember a colleague of mine telling me that certifications are worthless, that anyone could get one. Interestingly, he himself didn't have any. I am glad I didn’t care what he was saying. Now I have hundreds of (read) books on bookshelves and dozens of certifications under my belt. Recently a client picked me instead of him. I leave to someone else to figure out why.

Keep away from people telling you should abandon your goals, that your goals are not worth pursuing.

5. Which type of study is the best? How to know more?
Self-study, instructor-led, online, books, "audiobooks", podcasts, videos, e-books, blogs, articles?

The learning retention graph (well, list) looks like this:

You remember:

20% of what you READ
30% of what you HEAR
40% of what you SEE
50% of what you SAY
60% of what you DO
90% of what you READ, HEAR, SEE, SAY and DO

The more styles of learning you use, the most effective your studying will be.

More Cool Resources

I'll wrap things up with links to very interesting documents and resources that will greatly support your studying:

TCP/IP Fundamentals for Microsoft Windows. Describes the fundamentals of TCP/IP in Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista and Windows XP. Works for Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8, too. (PDF)
TCP/IP Fundamentals for Microsoft Windows on TechNet
Test Lab Guide: Windows Server 2012 Base Configuration. This Microsoft Test Lab Guide (TLG) provides you with step-by-step instructions to create the Windows Server 2012 Base Configuration test lab, using computers running Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.
Windows Server 2012 Test Lab Guides. The Windows Server 2012 Test Lab Guides (TLGs) are a set of documents that describe how to configure and demonstrate the new features and functionality in Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8 in a simplified and standardized test lab environment. There is even a video that shows how to build out this test environment.
Windows Server 2012 Core Network Guide. The Windows Server® 2012 Core Network Guide provides instructions on how to plan and deploy the core components required for a fully functioning network and a new Active Directory® domain in a new forest.
Windows PowerShell 3.0 and Server Manager Quick Reference Guides. Quickly learn tips, shortcuts, and common operations in the new Windows PowerShell 3.0, Windows PowerShell Workflow, Windows PowerShell ISE, Windows PowerShell Web Access, Server Manager for Windows Server 2012, WinRM, WMI, and WS-Man.
Windows 8 Resource Guide for IT Professionals. One-page guide to the top technical Windows 8 resources, tools, and demos for IT professionals on TechNet.
Work Smart: Windows 8 Shortcut Keys. This guide provides a quick reference to the shortcut keys in the Windows 8 Start screen.

Good luck!

Saša Kranjac is IT Technical Trainer, Consultant and Speaker with almost two decades of experience in the IT field. He began programming in Assembler, met Windows NT 3.5 and the love exists since then. He have held various jobs and roles: Teacher, System Engineer, Systems Aministrator, IT Manager, Consultant, and IT trainer. Now he works mainly as a Consultant and IT Technical Trainer in the Security field and on Microsoft related products and technologies. He can’t forget his first love, Microsoft Office. He is also Member of the Board of Directors at IAMCT/MCT Europe and country lead for Croatia.
Read more from Saša on his blogs at sasakranjac.com and kranjac.wordpress.com.

Microsoft Introduces Progressive Case Studies: Psychomagician & Super Sigma Bring You the Latest News!

Liberty Munson (Microsoft) — Wed, 29 May 2013 23:41:00 GMT

Hey VIPs! As promised, Psychomagician and Super Sigma are committed to making sure you are the first to know about changes, innovations, and improvements that Microsoft is making to their certification program and exams. And, they have some news for you…Microsoft Learning is exploring a variation of case studies called ‘progressive case studies,’ and they need YOUR feedback!

This variation of case studies is a game changer—creating scenarios that are more real world in how you actually solve problems on the job because, just like in the real world, more information is introduced as you proceed through the case. Want to know more? Watch the video below, the demo of the new question format, and then complete a survey to have a say in how we ultimately roll this out. Because the structure of progressive case studies is so different from our other question types, we really need to know what you think! If you want to have a voice in the implementation of this question format, watch the video and respond to the survey by June 16. Psychomagician and Super Sigma look forward to seeing what you think!

...Cert Bunny is curious, too...

TechEd NA 2013: MCP Party, Certification Resources and Free Beta Exams!

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

The Microsoft Learning team is getting ready to head to New Orleans for TechEd North America 2013, and we could not be more excited to see you again. I even got a haircut for the occasion. But have we started packing? Of course not! We did, however, send Melissa to crash Rick's and Joey's TechEd Countdown Show! Watch the latest episode to find out all the cool things Melissa revealed.

Certification and Training Resources

I've been getting a lot of great questions from the community (especially members of the Krewe) about what MSL will make available onsite. For planning purposes, get all the details and links via our previous blog post titled "How to get certified @ TechEd at 50% off." If you don't remember all that or just aren't sure about taking exams yet, no problem. Come to Certification Central when you arrive at TechEd, where you'll find a full buffet of training and exam prep resources, such as:

Free practice tests
Free on-demand training, powered by MVA
Free e-learning courses
Free, live, exam prep sessions, led by Microsoft Certified Trainers
Advice and assistance from our MCT Ambassadors and Technical Learning Guides
50% off all MCP and MTA exams onsite!
New onsite testing center experience, provided and managed by Microsoft Learning

FREE Beta Exams

For the SharePoint developers among you, we are bringing two free beta exams this year. These are available to TechEd North America attendees only, and the limited seats will be filled fast. Go to http://northamerica.msteched.com/CertificationReg to pre-register for these exams using the codes provided below, and select site location MC60 or MC61.

71-488: Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Advanced Solutions: Code TE488J
71-489: Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Core Solutions: Code TE489J

Certification Nation Celebration (#CertNation)

That's right. *The* party for our MCP + MCT community at TechEd NA, dubbed "Certification Nation Celebration," is coming with us to New Orleans! It will be happening at Pat O'Brien's on the River at 9pm on Tuesday night (June 4), so mark that on your calendar. We are so happy to partner with New Horizons Computer Learning Center this year, who will be treating you to a specialty cocktail. Want in? Visit our booth, find me (Veronica Sopher, aka @Shih_Wei) or one of my esteemed colleagues, show us you're an MCP, and you'll get a "backstage pass" to the party, hashtagged #CertNation. Don't forget to give a shout-out to @MSLearning and @NewHorizonsCLC if you're the tweeting sort. (Party size is capped at 300. One pass per person.)

That is it for now. Got questions? Post it in a comment below, or find me online. See you in NOLA soon!

Alison Cunard named new MSL General Manager

Eddie Yandle — Wed, 29 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Microsoft Corp. has announced that Lutz Ziob has stepped down from his role as General Manager of Microsoft Learning (MSL) after more than a decade of leading the company’s training and certification business and has been succeeded by Alison Cunard, who has been running MSL’s Sales and Marketing organization.

Mr. Ziob said that he plans to take some personal time off before considering his next career step, but is confident that MSL is well-positioned to continue its efforts to educate, train and certify individuals on the Microsoft platform under Ms. Cunard’s direction.

“This is a time of great change and opportunity in the learning industry,” Mr. Ziob said. “Microsoft is leading the entire technology industry in these efforts and MSL is well-positioned to play a key leadership role in this transition with IT Pros, developers, students and our Learning Partner channel. We’ve seen great business models and training innovations within our existing learning partner community and I believe now more than ever our partners have even greater opportunity to take those forward to drive new skills and certification across key audiences and markets.”

During the course of his 10-plus years at MSL and its predecessor organizations, Mr. Ziob helped redefine the company’s training and certification strategy, expanding the company’s reach in multiple geographies, extending its Microsoft Press books to digital format and further solidifying the industry’s most recognized and valued technology certification program. There are now more than 10 million people certified on a Microsoft technology platform. Recently, MSL updated its entire Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program to make it “cloud ready” to support Microsoft’s cloud strategy. The organization also has greatly increased its footprint in the academic area through its Microsoft IT Academy, which offers academic institutions and their students access to industry-leading technology skills training and certification.

Ms. Cunard is well-known in the training industry, after having led the Sales and Marketing team for more than two years, working closely with Microsoft’s training partners globally. Ms. Cunard has worked in multiple leadership roles at Microsoft. Prior to joining MSL, she was General Manager in the US Public Sector Services group, based out of Washington, DC.

Since joining MSL, Ms. Cunard has been instrumental in helping craft a longer-term strategy for the organization that takes into account the rapidly evolving training industry, while working closely with the organization’s 1,400-plus training partners.

“Changes are happening real-time in the learning industry and I’m excited to take this organization forward through this industry evolution. We appreciate and thank Lutz for the many years of tireless advocacy and leadership and I look forward continuing to drive our learning business through leadership in innovation and strong industry partnerships.”

This Week at IT Academy | Week of 5/28

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Tue, 28 May 2013 23:29:00 GMT

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members.

IT Academy News

A New Look for the IT Academy Blog
We’re excited to introduce a new look for the IT Academy blog. We refreshed the design and navigation to make it easier to catch up on the latest posts and browse the archive. The new, clean reading pane is also easier to get around, and improves the reading experience. We welcome your feedback about the new look—share your thoughts below.

Follow Us

Keep up with the latest updates from IT Academy:

Subscribe to our RSS feed | Follow us on Twitter | Subscribe to our YouTube channel

North Carolina Public Schools: nearly 100,000 Certifications (and Counting)

Keith Loeber - IT Academy — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:57:00 GMT

As any educator can attest, time flies when you're heads down in the academic year.

Just three (short) academic years ago, Microsoft and the North Carolina State Department of Public Instruction piloted the first-ever statewide Microsoft IT Academy (ITA) program. The year prior to that, twenty one students and teachers across three school districts achieved Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification. By the end of the first academic year--with high schools across the state enrolled in the ITA program--the number jumped to 8,794 certifications earned by students.

This month, near the end of the program's third year, I am thrilled to share with you that North Carolina teachers and students are rapidly approaching 100,000 certifications in Microsoft technologies.

We’ve had the opportunity to share some of the great individual success stories that are contributing to this milestone, and look forward to sharing more news as the state continues to prepare the next generation for technology-focused careers. Hats off to you North Carolina!

This week, North Carolina's PBS affiliate UNC-TV profiled the state's IT Academy program, providing insight into the approach and results at Green Hope High School. Watch the segment on the UNC-TV website.

Watch Tuesday, May 21, 2013 on PBS. See more from NC Now.

Learn more about North Carolina's IT Academy program:

Public Schools of North Carolina: Microsoft IT Academy web page
Video Spotlight: North Carolina Public Schools (YouTube)
Case Study: North Carolina Provides Equal Access to Technology Skills at All Public High Schools

New MOS 2013 Demo Videos

Wendy Johnson (MSL) — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:03:00 GMT

A couple months ago we announced and launched our first MOS 2013 exams in a new and improved project-based exam format. You can read all the details here. If you're an anxious test taker like myself, you may want to check out a couple new videos! These videos demonstrate how the new exam works, as well as answer questions we know are on many candidates' minds such as how long will the exam take, how will I know if I pass, what if the exam crashes, and more.

The first video, viewable via this link located on the Microsoft MOS web page, features a 6 minute news desk format Q&A discussion and demo of key changes in the exam experience. The second video, viewable via this YouTube link and the Certiport MOS video web page under Exam Preparation, features a 6 minute video that navigates you through the new MOS exam interface, highlighting key tips and tricks you'll want to know for success taking your exam.

Check out the listing of and exam objectives for all the MOS 2013 exams here, which are rolling out over the next five months. Ready to take the exam? Click here to find a test center via our MOS exam provider, Certiport.

Happy testing!

Certification Exam Training Tips with MCT Sasa Kranjac

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:15:00 GMT

Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) are the premier technical and instructional experts on Microsoft technologies, and are the only individuals authorized to deliver training with Microsoft Official Courses. MCT Sasa Kranjac—a preeminent Croatia-based IT Technical Trainer, Consultant, and Speaker—stopped by the Born to Learn blog to offer a wealth of training and certification tips, including an exhaustive list of free resources you shouldn’t miss. Take it away Sasa!

Study Tips: Blend your Learning Styles

When preparing for a certification exam, different people have different approaches. What works for one person may not work for another.

I would not recommend a single study resource or approach. Blended learning—combining different methods—seems to be the best for me. Both theory and practice are equally important, and to pass an exam you’ll need both.

It’s important to realize that you are not learning to pass an exam. You are learning to secure your future; to be successful at your job, to be knowledgeable, and to be an expert—you’ll need that knowledge throughout your career.

Think of knowledge as a pyramid. Why are pyramids so stable? It’s because of the wide base. As you go higher, the pyramid narrows. Theory is the foundation of your pyramid, and hands-on experience builds on top. You have to have solid theory knowledge on which to build your practical knowledge. You’ll probably pass an exam without reading a book or an article about underlying technology, but that won’t make you an expert and won’t benefit you in the long run.

Self-paced Study: My Preferred Learning Method

Self-paced studies are my preferred method because I can decide A) what I study and B) when I study. I read, listen and watch while going to/from work, not only when I’m studying for an exam. During these times, I focus on my weak spots to learn about the topics I don’t know so well.

Tips:

I reference the Skills Measured section of exam pages on Microsoft Learning (i.e. http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Exam.aspx?ID=70-xyz where xyz is exam number) to know where to focus my studies.
One place not to miss when preparing to take an exam is Microsoft TechNet and the TechNet Library. Be sure to bookmark these sites, as you will be using these pages for a long time (well, at least you should!). If you are a developer, please see the table below to find links to resources that are useful to you. I am an IT Pro, not a Developer, but I still read articles on MSDN. If you need to dive deeper and know more about a technology, then there is no better place than MSDN.
Needless to say: buy and read some books! Choose carefully what books you buy; this should be a long-time investment. Books are now more available than ever, in print and in digital format. It only takes couple of seconds to access your favorite book on one of your electronic devices.

Instructor-led Training

This option is slightly more expensive but here is the crucial thing you need to be aware of: picking a class and a subject should be your secondary concern. Picking right instructor for a class you want to attend should be your primary concern. The instructor makes a difference and holds a lot of the value in the class you want to attend. Instructors can answer your questions and assist with his or her experience in your studies.

Online Learning

Just as with instructor-led, online classes are as good as the instructor.

My Most Valuable Resource: TechNet/MSDN Subscription

If I could pick only one resource that is MOST valuable to me, then TechNet/MSDN Subscription would be definitely the one I’d choose. With TechNet/MSDN Subscription you are in possession of almost all Microsoft products and operating systems, licensed for evaluation. That means that you get access to full-versions of software for 12 months with no feature limits. You also get other benefits, depending on the subscription level. Visit TechNet Subscriptions or MSDN Subscriptions to learn more about Subscription levels, benefits and prices.

TechNet Library and MSDN Library are competing for first place with TechNet/MSDN Subscriptions ;-)

I have already mentioned some of the important resources. There are numerous blogs, sites and places where you can read a lot about your preferred technologies, but I’ll mention some of the most popular and what’s most important, FREE, resources you shouldn’t miss. (You can also download the list at the end of the post.)

IT Pro Resources

TechNet. IT Pros’ Product and Technology Resources
TechNet Library. The TechNet Library contains technical documentation for IT professionals using Microsoft products, tools, and technologies
Test Lab Guides. Test Lab Guides (TLGs) allow you to get valuable hands-on experience with new products and technologies using a pre-defined and tested methodology that results in a working configuration. When you use a TLG to create a test lab, instructions define what servers to create, how to configure the operating systems and system services, and how to install and configure any additional products or technologies. A challenge in creating useful TLGs is to enable their reusability and extensibility.
TechNet Video. Find videos, screencasts, podcasts, and articles to help IT Professionals stay up to date on the latest Microsoft products and technologies.
TechNet Wiki. Visit a content portal to find information, resources, and help over a wide range of topics, projects, and issues.
TechNet Magazine. Monthly Magazine for IT Pros. Articles, Videos, scripts, digital magazine downloads.
TechNet Evaluation Center. FREE Microsoft products trials.
Microsoft Virtual Academy. Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) is a cloud-based learning experience focusing on Microsoft Technologies. You can access a variety of training content online to assist you in becoming one of the renowned experts in the IT Pro and developer communities around the world. MVA provides its users with a virtual university experience: the students can select a course and study the material and then complete the self-assessment
TechNet Virtual Labs. FREE hands-on! TechNet/MSDN Virtual Labs enable you to quickly evaluate and test Microsoft's newest products and technologies through a series of guided, hands-on labs that you can complete in 90 minutes or less. There is no complex setup or installation required, and you can use TechNet/MSDN Virtual Labs online immediately, free!
TechNet Events and Webcasts. Find links to upcoming events organized directly by Microsoft and by third parties, plus webcasts, podcasts, and other on-demand resources. All content is recorded and made available on demand
Ramp Up Learning Series(TechNet). Learn about Microsoft products with these "Ramp Up" learning collections. TechNet assembled these training materials for customers to learn either by reading, watching a video, or playing with the products in virtual labs.
TechNet Events Repository. Find supporting documentation, reference materials, and media from TechNet events and briefings listed by product or technology.
“How do I?” Videos. Learn more about Microsoft products with these "How Do I?" videos. TechNet has assembled these short videos for customers to learn how to accomplish specific tasks with Microsoft products: step-by-step.

Developer Resources

MSDN. Microsoft Developer Network – Developers’ Resources
MSDN Library. Essential source of information for developers using Microsoft® tools, products, technologies and services. The MSDN Library includes how-to and reference documentation, sample code, technical articles, and more
MSDN Learning Resources. All for Developers: Samples and code, library, tutorials, Videos, Virtual Labs.
MSDN Magazine. Monthly Magazine for Developers. Articles, Videos, code, digital magazine downloads.
MSDN Virtual Labs. FREE hands-on! TechNet/MSDN Virtual Labs enable you to quickly evaluate and test Microsoft's newest products and technologies through a series of guided, hands-on labs that you can complete in 90 minutes or less. There is no complex setup or installation required, and you can use TechNet/MSDN Virtual Labs online immediately, free!
MSDN Events and Webcasts. Through this event portal, you can virtually meet your local Microsoft Developer and Architect Evangelists and connect with them through their blogs; you will also be able to experience videos brought to you by your local teams covering technical topics and recordings from recent events.
Visual Studio Downloads. Install and try Visual Studio today and seize the future of development. Visual Studio Express 2012 products provide FREE development tools for creating modern applications on the latest platforms.

General Resources

Microsoft Virtual Academy. Microsoft Virtual Academy – MVA is a cloud-based learning experience focusing on Microsoft Technologies. You can access a variety of training content online to assist you in becoming one of the renowned experts in the IT Pro and developer communities around the world. MVA provides its users with a virtual university experience: the students can select a course and study the material and then complete the self-assessment
Microsoft Press FREE e-books. Free e-books
FREE E-Book Gallery for Microsoft Technologies. More FREE e-books
Microsoft Events. Recorded sessions from Microsoft events worldwide, available on demand.

Fundamental Technologies: Technical References on TechNet

The links below points\ to some of the most important fundamental topics. You should get familiar with how TechNet Library topics are organized; something that’ll happen once you start reading and exploring. The resources below are not buried very deep in the library, but often are not easy to find. Although the core topics are placed under the “old” technologies/products section, they are equally important today.

If you need to learn the basics, don’t miss these:

Networking

Group Policy Collection

Core Group Policy, Components, Administrative Tools

Storage Technologies

Windows Security Collection

Logon, Authentication, Access control, Data security, PKI, Trust

Active Directory Collection

Print and Save TechNet Library Articles

I almost forgot to tell you about one really cool feature TechNet Library has. You can print and export multiple topics in PDF and HTML! Files you export retain links to selected topics; you don’t need to scroll much – just click on a topic in the Table of Contents and jump to sections.

Follow these steps to use the Print feature:

1. Navigate to your favorite topic in TechNet Library.

2. On the top right corner, below the Search bar, right-click on a downward-pointing arrow next to the printer icon and choose Print Multiple Topics. A brief introduction page loads.

3. Click START to begin selecting topics. After that, all you have to do is visit each page or topic you want to print/export and select it by clicking on + Add This Topic on the gray bar on top of the page. Once you add the topic you want, you can remove it by clicking – Remove This Topic if you do not want to export it.

4. When you have finished selecting all the topics you want to print, click Collection (x Topic(s)) where x is number of topics you have selected. On the Manage Collection page you can choose to export your collection to PDF or HTML, rename and rearrange collections, add more chapters or choose from Advanced options to refine and tune your selection.

5. Click Generate to export/print the topics. If you aren’t already signed in, you will be asked to sign in to generate the page and print.

Taking Your Exam

I have to admit: I did not study for my first exam, only because I had a lot of hands-on experience and I passed it relatively easily. That does not mean that the exam was easy, but I had a good working knowledge of the product, and that helped me a lot.

After getting a few exams on my transcript, and passing all on the first try, I failed an exam. What a shock! I could not believe that I could’ve failed an exam, and was furious. After passing the exam on my second attempt, I realized that being overconfident and acting as if I was in some kind of race did not help at all. If I had read the questions more carefully and took all the time I had on the exam, I knew I would pass. And I did.

I would say, even if you know a product by heart, take your time to read questions carefully and be sure you understand what the question is about. If you are unsure about the answer don’t be afraid to mark the question so you can return to it later.

Take a Tour of the New Born to Learn Community!

Leann Turpin (Microsoft) — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:09:00 GMT

We’re excited to introduce to you a new look for the Born to Learn community. We’ve made big changes to the design and navigation to make it easier to not just find what you want, but also to discover new articles, discussions, news, and expert advice.

Let’s take a stroll through the some of the new features, starting with the Born to Learn home page:

Get where you’re going faster. We’ve made it easier to access your favorite places on the Born to Learn Community—blogs, forums, study groups and more are a click away from the top navigation menu.

Keep up with new and noteworthy posts. Catch up with the latest posts on Born to Learn blogs and forums.

This is a good time to remind you that you can keep up with the latest activities by subscribing to RSS feeds or daily or weekly email digests—most subscription options are located at the top-right of the blog or forum.

New blog articles. We wanted to give you a simple way to keep up with all the new posts across Born to Learn blogs. The new blog module displays a tabbed view of the latest articles from some of the popular blogs.

Easier-to-browse blogs. Leaving no stone unturned, we’ve rolled out a new design and layout for the Born to Learn blogs. The clean look is easier to get around and improves the reading experience.

What do you think of the new look? Speak your mind!

Tune Your Site (& Apps) to Maximize Search Jump Start

Frank Gartland — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Bing it on! Learn best practices for how to build Web sites that are easy to discover, including guidance on architecture, page load time, getting your site indexed, and the resources available within the Bing Toolbox, including APIs and SDK documentation. During this two-hour session, Microsoft Senior Product Marketing Manager Duane Forrester, Search Evangelist Stacey Helman and Digital Marketing Agency Lead Dalip Tyagi will also introduce marketing opportunities (SEM) to complement and enhance your SEO efforts. This demo packed session is free, and we encourage you to prep by visiting the Bing Programs..

Tune Your Site and Apps to Maximize Search Jump Start | Register Now

Date: June 4, 2013
Time: 1:00pm – 3:00 pm (PDT)
Where: Live, online virtual classroom
Cost: Free!

Help us spread the word! Here are a few suggested Tweets:
Learn the best and fastest way to direct traffic to your website, join #MSJumpStart on 6/4 http://aka.ms/BingJS #MSmva
Bing it On! Learn how to complement and enhance your SEO efforts. Join #MSJumpStart on 6/4 http://aka.ms/BingJS #MSmva
Join @staceyhelman & @duaneforrester on 6/4 to learn how to maximize traffic to your website http://aka.ms/BingJS #MSmva

Step-By-Step: Building Your Own Lab on Windows Server 2012

Anthony Bartolo — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Studying for your Windows Server 2012 MCSA designation via related books should not be your only method of study. While memorizing facts and figures is a great first start, however, nothing beats practical experience. Microsoft provides a slew of resources called IT Pro Camps, or CANITPRO Camps here in Canada, allowing attendees to run through labs provided being led by an instructor. Again, another great start, but still not enough hands on to gain practical experience. There is however another option.

Building a lab at home provides the ability to learn on your own time and pace. Most aspiring IT administrators think creating a home lab would be difficult and/or expensive. This process is actually easy to do and will provide you a tool to test out many labs provided in reading material and online. To setup your Windows Server 2012 lab machine be sure to keep the following PC requirements in mind:

Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 as installed OS
64-bit capable hardware (x64)
Intel-VT or AMD-V support in firmware
Hardware-assisted memory protection in firmware (XD)
At least 4GB total RAM
At least 60GB free space on HDD
Full Administrator Rights to existing PC OS
No disk encryption or pre-boot authentication

Setting Up Your Lab

NOTE: This process installs Windows Server 2012 in a dual-boot scenario using Boot-to-VHD features in Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8. While this process is not intended to disrupt your existing OS installation, these steps are for use at your own risk. No support or warranties are implied or provided.

Backup your existing PC operating system before beginning this process. While this process is not intended to disrupt the existing OS installation on your PC, performing a backup before any system upgrades or installation is recommended as a precaution.
Download the Windows Server 2012 installation bits in VHD format
Extract the downloaded VHD file by running the compressed .EXE file.
Copy the Extracted VHD file to C:\BootVHD\Server2012.vhd
Mount the copied VHD file as a virtual Drive Letter
Right-click on the "Command Prompt" shortcut and select "Run as Administrator"
Run "DISKPART.EXE" from the Command Prompt
At the "DISKPART>" prompt type the following commands, pressing Enter after each:

           SELECT VDISK FILE="C:\BootVHD\Server2012.vhd"

           ATTACH VDISK

           EXIT
Allow the VHD file to be mounted as new Drive Letter. When completed, this new drive letter will appear in both My Computer and Windows Explorer
Add a new OS Boot Menu Choice for Windows Server 2012
Right-click on the "Command Prompt" shortcut and select "Run as Administrator"
Run "BCDBOOT <mounted_drive_letter>:\WINDOWS" from the Command Prompt
Reboot and select "Windows Server 2012" for the OS Boot Menu displayed

Once completed, you now have a study tool that will allow you to conduct labs on your own time providing true hands on practical experience. Stay tuned as we will provide more Step-By-Step posts to take your learning to the next level and help you achieve your Windows Server 2012 based MCSA sooner.

Have You Met Psychomagician, Super Sigma, and Cert Bunny, Yet?

Liberty Munson (Microsoft) — Mon, 20 May 2013 22:28:00 GMT

Last week, I posted the first installment of The ACE Chronicles, introducing you to Psychomagician and Super Sigma on the ACE Team Blog. Based on the number of views, it seems most of you haven't found your way there yet... I am super excited about this series and our ability to be more engaged with our community. I want to be sure that you know about The ACE Chronicles!!!

Without further ado, meet Psychomagician and Super Sigma, superheroes tasked with investigating cases based on your questions about Microsoft certifications and exams. Not only will they answer your questions, they will also provide information on emerging issues. In other words, they will make sure you have the most up to date information about all things certification and exam, and they might even share some insights into life at Microsoft.

YOUR MISSION…if you choose to accept it:

Meet Psychomagician and Super Sigma by watching the video. Tell your friends how cool they are!
Share your answers to their questions by responding to Briana’s and my blog posts or shoot us an email.
Ask questions… Psychomagician and Super Sigma want, no… need cases to solve… without cases to investigate, their evil nemesis, Cert Bunny, wins. And, that’s just bad for everyone.
Meet Cert Bunny... Psychomagician and Super Sigma's nemesis. What's his origin story? Why does he behave badly? What will he do next?
Sign up for the ACE Team Blog RSS feed!!!! Don't miss out on future episodes of The ACE Chronicles!!!

Now, go watch that video…we’d love to hear what you think about ACE Chronicles!

This Week at IT Academy | Don't Miss the May Member Webinar

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:44:00 GMT

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members.

Events

Last Chance to Register for May 23rd ITA Webinar

What: May Webinar – the Last IT Academy Webinar for the academic year
When: May 23^rd from 8-9am PST
Where: Streaming online from the convenience of your computer
Why: Keep up with program updates and new opportunities for members. As the last webinar of the 2012-3 academic session, we’ll brief you on the program roadmap for the coming year—critical information you need to optimize your curriculum next year.
How: The May IT Academy webinar is scheduled for May 23^rd from 8-9am PST. Register today using your IT Academy ID.

Benefit Spotlight

New! Earn Your Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) Certification
Last week, Microsoft announced the global availability of the Microsoft Certified Educator certification, a valid and reliable assessment of educator ICT competencies mapped to the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (ICT-CFT), Technology Literacy Approach. Learn more about MCE and how the certification offers an opportunity for educators to differentiate themselves in the education field, and enhance their value for current and future employers.

IT Academy in the News

Students are Mastering Microsoft Office at Caloosa Middle School
At Caloosa Middle School [Cape Coral, Florida], they still teach reading, writing and arithmetic. But thanks to a tech-savvy squad of sixth through eighth graders, they’ve added Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access to the curriculum. 453 Microsoft Industry Certifications were earned by Caloosa Middle School students during the 2012-2013 school year. Read more.

‘Dedicated and motivated’: Daily Sparks Tribune Profiles 14-year old IT Academy Student
Scrolling through a website or playing a video game opens a different world for Darren Alley, a world that isn’t looking for information or trying to simply beat the game. He is looking for errors, things that could be fixed or simply trying to understand what the developer was thinking. Alley, a freshman at Sparks High School, is finishing up his first year in the Microsoft IT Signature Academy while making huge strides in the first-year program. Read more.

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Keep up with the latest updates from IT Academy:

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Hello world

Cert Bunny — Thu, 16 May 2013 22:39:00 GMT

Introducing Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification

Keith Loeber - IT Academy — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:23:00 GMT

Research shows that innovative teaching practices, along with the use of Information Communication Technology (ICT), supports student acquisition of 21st century skills. Those skills can mean the difference between being successful in school, or struggling every day; and having a career, or simply getting a job.

The Microsoft Teaching with Technology curriculum—hosted by Microsoft IT Academy and Microsoft Partners in Learning—supports educators' professional development as they seek to integrate ICT into their teaching and learning. The program includes self-assessment tools, online learning curriculum and summative assessments which align to the Technology Literacy Approach of the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (UNESCO ICT-CFT).

MCE certification: Demonstrate ICT competency in the classroom

Today, Partners in Learning and Microsoft IT Academy introduce Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification, a professional development and certification offering that enables educators to demonstrate competency in integrating ICT into teaching and learning. MCE offers an opportunity for educators to differentiate themselves in the education field, and enhance their value for current and future employers.

We’ve long held that certification is a means of validating proven skills needed to be successful on the job. This year alone students will achieve over one million Microsoft certifications through IT Academy. We are pleased to be bringing that same opportunity to teachers allowing them to showcase their ability to integrate ICT into the classroom.

Measuring effectiveness

An effective and proven assessment tool, the MCE exam measures the ways ICT integration can be used to improve outcomes in six core content areas which align to the UNESCO ICT-CFT:

Education Policy
Curriculum & Assessment
Pedagogy
ICT/Technology Tools
Organization & Administration
Professional Development

Improving outcomes

For education administrators, MCE represents a valid and reliable way to measure the effectiveness of their investment in ICT and professional development. Educators holding an MCE certification have the tools and skillsets to break though limitations of geography and resources, and begin to apply their knowledge to provide a rich, customized learning experience for their students.

Microsoft IT Academy’s Teacher Starter Kit Now Includes MCE exams!

Microsoft IT Academy educators' professional development opportunity has expanded! Starting in July, the Teacher Starter Kit will offer ten (10) Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam vouchers, ten (10) Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) exam vouchers, and ten (10) Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) exams. From mastering Microsoft Office and entry level technology through incorporating technology into classrooms, the Microsoft IT Academy Teacher Starter kit has the breadth of certifications to support educators’ professional development objectives.

Learn more about Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) certification:

Educators on Microsoft Certified Educator certification

“Microsoft Certified Educator provides teachers with a globally recognized certification which is focused on the practical integration of ICT into teaching and learning. As a teacher education provider, we are able to offer teachers the opportunity to get recognition for their use of ICT in the classroom.”
—Rose Lawlor, Meath Vocational Education Committee, Ireland

“Microsoft Certified Educator complements our professional development program as it is based on the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework and uses scenarios that deal with the integration of ICT and development of 21st century skills in the classroom.”
--Miriam O’Donoghue, City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, Curriculum Development Unit, Ireland

“MCE is a reliable and highly demanded assessment of teachers ICT competency that allows institutions in charge of teacher retraining programs to evaluate achieved results and optimize financing.”
—Svetlana Avdeeva, National Training Foundation, Russia

My Road to Certification: Meet Fredrik Nilsson

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

MCP: 7882935
Location: Sweden
Twitter: @FredrikNilsson_
Blog: moln1

I actually started my Microsoft certification journey in October 2010 while I was employed at HP in Sweden. I was working within the Enterprise Services division with the Server Virtualization Solutions. The HP/Microsoft alliance manager asked a colleague and me if we had any interest in attending a Windows Server 2008 R2 Server Virtualization class. This class was my first real contact with Hyper-V and Microsoft Server virtualization.

A few weeks after attending the class, I decided to give the Hyper-V exam 70-659 a shot, and I passed. In the second quarter of 2011, after doing some self-study, I passed the Desktop exam 70-669; followed by the PRO exam 70-693. At that point, I added the title MCITP Virtualization Administrator to my resume.

My experience from Windows Server and Presentation Virtualization Solutions helped me out quite a bit, but my biggest help came from a site in Portuguese by Daniel Donda: MCSE Solution. I don’t speak Portuguese but, luckily, the web translation service does! After translating the site to English, I discovered some really valuable information on the exam topics and key resources for my studies.

Later that year, I attended Microsoft TechEd in Atlanta, where I met some awesome people, The Krewe, and really learned the value of the technical community. In 2012, I got involved in The Krewe community and joined the 60 Days to MCSE challenge. I was a bit too certain that I would pass the exams as easily as I did with my previous ones and, unfortunately, I failed to get my MCSE. I can tell you: it was painful to fail the exams. I had already passed exams from other vendors, and I had never failed exams before. I actually licked my wounds for six months before I got myself back on the horse.

I currently work at Lumagate in Sweden, a company focusing on System Center and I’m studying for the System Center Private Cloud exams 70-246 and 70-247. It’s been really great to build a training schedule and a lab that covers both exams.

The next step in my education plan is to study for the MCITP/MCSA upgrade exam 70-417. Since I don’t have a lot of experience with Windows Server topics, like Active Directory, I’ll be studying hard to make sure I’m prepared for the questions. The 90 Days to MCSA challenge will be a great help in preparing for that certification exam.

Fredrik’s Tips:

1) Set the date for the exam now. It’s a great strategy for getting yourself mentally prepared for the exam.

2) Create a training schedule. If you’re attending a trainer-led class, be sure to pencil in time for additional study. If you’re following a self-study plan, create a schedule that allows for a study-free day before your exam.

3) Build a lab environment and try different scenarios. You can usually employ scenarios from your day-to-day work or find some at TechNet Test Lab Guides, which is a great resource I use.

If you have any questions, please connect with me. See you around in the binary space!

This Week at IT Academy | Taking the First Step with MTA

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:10:00 GMT

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members.

Benefit Spotlight

MTA Certification: Students’ Encouraging First Step into Technology

Does your IT Academy program offer Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification? If not, now’s a good time to consider offering this recommended entry point into IT certification and job preparation.

MTA is an optional industry-recognized certification for those pursuing a career path in IT infrastructure, database design, or software development using Microsoft technologies. Students must pass just one exam to achieve certification, giving them an encouraging first step toward a career in technology.

For IT Academy participants, MTA enhances understanding of IT fundamentals and validates core knowledge. The certification fits well into the existing curriculum to bridge the gap to more advanced certifications and gives program participants another impressive accomplishment on their CV.

MTA certification tracks (click to download PDF)

Get to know MTA and how it can enhance your IT Academy program:

Microsoft Learning: MTA certification paths
Certiport: MTA Video Success Stories
See how the MTA certification program has been successfully implemented by institutions and training centers.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

Events

Register Today for the May IT Academy Webinar

What: The May IT Academy Webinar
When: May 23^rd from 8-9am PST
Where: Streaming online from the convenience of your computer
Why: Keep up with program updates and new opportunities for members. As the last webinar of the 2012-3 academic session, we’ll brief you on the program roadmap for the coming year—critical information you need to optimize your curriculum next year.
How: Register today using your IT Academy ID.

Other IT Academy News

Washington State IT Academy Sets Sail on Certification Program

Monroe High School, located at the foothills of the Cascade mountains outside Seattle, just launched its IT Academy certification program in February; but in that short time, 10 students have already earned 14 certifications and are working to complete additional certifications before the end of the school year.

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My Road to Certification: Meet Marius Sandbu

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:00:00 GMT

MC ID: 6859838
Location: Norway
Twitter: @msandbu
Blog: Sandbu-Blog

I was working part-time at a helpdesk when I began my path to certification. It was 2008 and I attended a Microsoft Vista client training course in Norway. After the course, the instructor asked if I wanted to give the certification a try, and I figured “why not?”. I trained for a couple of weeks and aced the exam. As someone who doesn’t have a college degree, it felt good knowing that I had achieved these skills.

After my first exam, I investigated other Microsoft certifications. After passing two more Windows Server exams, I got a new job as a system engineer working with infrastructure management.

Currently, I have taken more than 30 certification exams with Microsoft, Citrix, Cisco, EXIN and Comptia and I know there are more to come.

I feel fortunate because certification has provided me with new opportunities. I’ve had the pleasure of working part-time at Microsoft as an infrastructure ranger. Currently, I work as a technical advisor and a Microsoft Trainer. My current work allows me to incorporate everything I’ve learned through certification, as well as my on-the-job experience. Nothing feels wasted.

Why am I am going to continue with certification? Certification allows me to keep my knowledge up-to-date and I like playing around with technology. Why not take the exam and demonstrate my expertise with the technology?

Marius’s Tips:

1) Find someone who has similar goals as you and become study partners. It’s always easier to study for an exam if you have someone to discuss ideas with.

2) If you are studying for a particular exam, use the Microsoft study guides. Don’t rely solely on hands-on experience to prepare you for your exam. Most of the Microsoft exams already have a study guide available. TrainSignal or CBT Nuggets also have good training books and videos.

3) Find a topic that interests you! If you don’t, your training will take a lot more time because you won’t be truly engaged. Microsoft has a wide range of resources to help you find the IT certification that suits your interests.

My Road to Certification: Meet Neal McFee

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Fri, 10 May 2013 22:00:00 GMT

MC ID: 3724854
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Twitter: @sharepointmcts
Blog: http://www.sharepointfeed.com/

I remember my first certification exam. It was 2006 and I was just a few years into my IT career. I started with an IT Pro exam for Windows SharePoint Services 3.0. I took the exam because I wanted to use Microsoft certification to validate my skills to myself as well as to my current employer.

I found the exam experience to be very rewarding and passing this exam allowed me to be promoted to a more senior position.

Since my first exam, I’ve passed 14 additional exams and achieved 5 certifications. These certifications have provided me with the opportunity to rapidly advance in my career and gain exposure to new opportunities. It’s also confirmed my belief that Microsoft certification is an ongoing measure of my experience and technical ability. In fact, certification has been so rewarding that I decided to become a Microsoft Certified Trainer to help others with their journey toward Microsoft certification.

I’m currently studying for my next certification, the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert – Private Cloud.To train, I’m using Microsoft Virtual Academy, which is a great resource and provides the most current information, directly from Microsoft, on a variety of technical subjects. This current certification relates directly to my job as I have started implementing a private cloud environment for my employer and it also allows me to continue my Microsoft certification journey.

Neal’s Tips:

1) Relax. If you haven’t taken a Microsoft certification exam yet, it may feel like a daunting experience. Remember that you have prepared yourself and this is your chance to show what you know.

2) Reference the “Exam Details” page that Microsoft Learning publishes for each exam. This page is very valuable and will help you understand what you need to study for the exam.

3) Find a buddy in the IT community to study with. I will expand your focus: you not only learn the topics you’re focusing on but gain additional knowledge from the topics your peer is focusing on, while helping each other achieve certification.

Lync 2013 Jump Start! Accelerated Cert Prep for Exam 70-336!

Frank Gartland — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:42:00 GMT

Two of the most "edutaining" Jump Starts we've ever produced were last year's courses on Lync Server 2010. This year, we have the same instructor teams back to teach IT Pros and telecommunications experts how to take advantage of Lync Server 2013. Join Unified Communications Architect Brian Ricks and Microsoft Senior Consultant Aaron Steele as they provide a fast-paced and engaging learning experience packed with a variety of scenario-based demos focused on Lync Server 2013. This course follows the criteria for exam 70-336 and provides accelerated preparation for this important exam in the MCSE: Communication track.

Core Solutions of Microsoft Lync Server 2013 Jump Start | Register Now

Date: May 30-31, 2013
Time: 9:00am – 5:00 pm (PDT)
Where: Live, online virtual classroom
Cost: Free!

Help us spread the word! Here are a few suggested Tweets:

@bricomp & @steeleaaron are back with Lync 2013! #MSJumpStart 5/30&31 http://aka.ms/Lync336 #MSmva @drrez
Get ready for Exam 70-336 - attend Lync 2013 #JumpStart on 5/30&31 http://aka.ms/Lync336 #Msmva
Join @bricomp & @steeleaaron on 5/30&31 for Lync2013 #Jump Start http://aka.ms/Lync336 #Msmva

Welcome Psychomagician and Super Sigma to Born to Learn: Introducing ACE Chronicles!!

Liberty Munson (Microsoft) — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:17:00 GMT

In my last few blog posts, I have been hinting that something big was coming, something awesome, something that would entertain and educate, something amazing really. Well, the time is now! I am very excited to introduce you to Psychomagician and Super Sigma, superheroes tasked with investigating cases based on your questions about Microsoft certifications and exams. Not only will they answer your questions, they will also provide information on emerging issues. In other words, they will make sure you have the most up to date information about all things certification and exam, and they might even share some insights into life at Microsoft.

YOUR MISSION…if you choose to accept it:

Meet Psychomagician and Super Sigma by watching the video. Tell your friends how cool they are!
Share your answers to their questions by responding to Briana’s and my blog posts or shoot us an email.
Ask questions… Psychomagician and Super Sigma want, no… need cases to solve… without cases to investigate, their evil nemesis, Cert Bunny, wins. And, that’s just bad for everyone. “Who is ‘Cert Bunny’?” You ask. Stay Tuned! I can’t reveal all of their secrets in the first episode!

Now, go watch that video…we’d love to hear what you think about ACE Chronicles!

This Week at IT Academy | Week of 5/6

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:30:00 GMT

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members.

Events

Three Reasons to Register for the May 23rd IT Academy Webinar

The monthly IT Academy webinar is one of the best ways to keep up with program updates and new opportunities for members. Why should you register today for the May session?

1. It’ll help you prepare for the 2014 academic year. As the last webinar of the 2012-3 academic session, we’ll brief you on the program roadmap for the coming year—critical information you need to optimize your curriculum next year.

2. You’ll gain valuable insight into the program. The member webinars are led by the Microsoft technology and academic team developing new technology courses and learning tools—find out more about our approach and how we’re innovating tools and resources to help your students succeed.

3. Connect with the community. We’ll share how to interact with the member community, helping you discover the ways IT Academies set up students for success around the globe. Tune in for details.

The May IT Academy webinar is scheduled for May 23^rd from 8-9am PST. Register today using your IT Academy ID.

April 25^th IT Academy Webinar Now Available On Demand

This month’s Microsoft IT Academy webinar, Best Practices from IT Academy Members around the World, is now available on demand with your IT Academy ID. The webinar showcases unique concepts coming out of the UK just in time for summer school planning, as well as an inspirational story from a business teacher who helped a high school student gain broad recognition for skills achieved through the IT Academy program.

IT Academy News

Video: Microsoft Director of Global IT Academy Visits La Salle College High School

The IT Academy program at La Salle College High School (Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania) pushes the boundaries of innovation on the high school level. Last year, the Student Lab Manager Program was chosen by Microsoft as one of the 100 most innovative technological programs in the United States; and the programs enjoys a high success rate of students certified in Microsoft Server technologies. Keith Loeber, Director of IT Academy, visited the school in mid-April to catch up on the program and share his impressions.

(Please visit the site to view this video)

New IT Academies Around the World

Institutions across the globe announced new or forthcoming IT Academies in the last week:

Morehouse College (Atlanta, Georgia, USA). This week, Microsoft and Morehouse College launched the YouthSpark Atlanta program, which will offer free IT skills training to students and educators in Atlanta. The program includes the creation of a Microsoft IT Academy, an Innovation Lab, campus recruitment and leadership training. Learn how the initiative aims to inspire Atlanta-area students to explore careers in technology and business.

Rockdale County Public Schools (Georgia, USA). In the state of Georgia, more than 8,000 open, unfilled jobs require Microsoft technology skills. Rockdale County Public Schools has launched the Microsoft IT Academy in each of its high schools to provide students the opportunity to earn industry recognized credentials before graduating. This program is available to all students in Rockdale County through a partnership with the Georgia Department of Education and Microsoft.

Portage Township Schools (Indiana, USA). The Portgage, Indiana, school district plans to expand technical offerings to high school and middle school districts later this year, providing students with IT Academy training and Microsoft Office Specialist certification. The program will be offered as a dual credit program with Ivy Tech Community College.

Armenian Education Ministry. Microsoft and the Armenian Education and Science Ministry signed an agreement this week to expand the use of Microsoft technologies and programs—including IT Academy—in Armenian universities.

Birkenhead Sixth Form College (Merseyside, England). The prominent college in England’s Wirral district, Birkenhead Sixth Form College will offer students and the community critical technology training and Microsoft Office Specialist certification, with options to study at home.

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Don't Do This: Part 2

Kerri Davis - MSL Anti-Piracy PM — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:00:00 GMT

Let’s continue our discussion of ways to unintentionally violate our Exam Agreement (found here). A couple of months ago I talked about discussing the exam answers. To clarify, I want to make the distinction between studying with colleagues and friends before the exam, and divulging information you learned after having taken the exam. The first is perfectly fine—assuming you’re not revealing confidential information, which is what violates our agreement. Discussing what is on the test itself once you’ve taken the test is the behavior that could get one into trouble. I think everyone understands that.

Now, for example number two of ways to unintentionally violate our NDA.

Example 2: Using unauthorized materials in an attempt to satisfy Exam requirements (this includes using brain-dump material and/or unauthorized publication of Exam questions with or without answers)

Everyone knows not to bring cheat sheets into a testing environment. (Well, they should.) This is why at the testing center, you may be asked to empty your pockets, submit to a security wanding, and asked to put all your items in a locker. It’s pretty difficult to argue having answers or notes on you during the test is okay.

But what not be as clear as a violation is what one uses to study. I’ve talked about brain dumps before and how confusing they may be as legitimate study materials. Unfortunately people do use them to study for the test, not realizing to do so is a violation of our exam policy. I know this because sometimes I get inquiries from those who failed, wondering why they didn’t pass, because they studied using “[X] brain dump site.” Again, it’s just a matter of making sure everyone understands that using such sites is an actual violation, not just a poor study practice.

The same is true for materials obtained from anyone who attempts to sell or give away answers or questions to the test, no matter how they procured them. Using those materials violates our policy.

Interestingly, I sometimes get mails from folks who recognized answers on a test and they want to let me know. They didn’t realize they were studying from a disreputable source until they sat for the test and realized the answers were the same. Recognizing that this is an issue, they’ll let me know, and sometimes have even asked to re-test so that they can legitimately pass. This speaks to the integrity of our examinees, and I appreciate such tips so I can take action against those sites.

Got a tip for me? Let me know at mlsecure@microsoft.com.

Final Course in "MCSD using C#" Jump Start series May 23! Register Now!

Frank Gartland — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:09:00 GMT

Many of you have enjoyed the Programming in C# Jump Start on MVA-- it's been one of our most popular courses on MVA! On May 23, 2013 Jerry Nixon and Daren May will be back in the studio to deliver accelerated cert prep for exam 70-485 to a live global audience. Of course, you're all invited! Each module will be packed with cool demos, samples and techniques aimed at helping you build better Windows Store apps through animations, transitions, storage mechanisms, caching strategies, and more.

Advanced Windows Store App Development Using C# Jump Start | Register Now

Date: May 23, 2013
Time: 9:00am – 5:00 pm (PDT)
Where: Live, online virtual classroom
Cost: Free!

Help us spread the word--Announce this on your blog or post a tweet!
Advanced C# #MSJumpStart on 5/23 w/ @jerrynixon & @darenmay! Last in the series! http://aka.ms/AdvCJS #MSmva
Let @jerrynixon & @darenmay help you prep for MCSD w/ C# #MSJumpStart on 5/23 http://aka.ms/AdvCJS #MSmva
They're back! Join @jerrynixon & @darenmay for final C# #MSJumpStart on 5/23 http://aka.ms/AdvCJS #MSmva

Second Shot Ends Soon – Don’t miss your chance for a free retake

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:24:00 GMT

There are many reasons to gain a Microsoft Certification - prepare for a new job, get ahead in your career, or to gain recognition by peers and managers. Whatever your reason, Microsoft’s reinvented certifications, announced in early 2012, have evolved to focus on technology solutions, and validates the breadth and depth of skills required to manage cloud, on-premise, and hybrid technology solutions.

While obtaining Microsoft certification is a measurable sign of achievement, earning your certification requires a great deal of time, energy, and commitment. You may already be taking the necessary steps to upgrade your certification to a MCSE: Server Infrastructure, MCSA: Windows Server 2012, or a MCSD: Web Applications certification or another distinguished certification. Prepare for your future by registering for your certification packs before May 31, 2013. By doing so, you will receive 15% off your certification, free exam retakes, plus you will have until December 31, 2013 to complete your initial exams and your free retakes.

Second Shot exam retakes are also available for single vouchers, if you have registered for a single exam voucher online or through a Microsoft Learning Partner, these vouchers, including free retakes, must be used by May 31, 2013. Sorry, no exceptions or extensions can be made.

Get the Second Shot Details at: http://aka.ms/SecondShot

If you are preparing to schedule your exams, keep in mind that ALL exam registrations are subject to seat availability at testing centers. Reserve your seat early if you plan to take your exam(s) (including retakes) by the deadlines:

Single exams or exam packs received from a Learning Partner – DEADLINE: May 31,2013
Exam packs for 3 or more registered online – DEADLINE: December 31, 2013
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) second shot vouchers – DEADLINE: June 30, 2013

Don’t let your vouchers go unused. Register and take advantage of great SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 resources to give you the extra boost you need to pass your exams.

Extend Infrastructure! Cool "Azure for IT Pros" Jump Start May 16!

Frank Gartland — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 20:07:00 GMT

This fast-paced MVA Jump Start is designed to help IT departments understand why it's time to start the process of extending infrastructure to the cloud. Microsoft Technical Evangelist David Tesar and Azure Group Technical Product Manager David Aiken will leverage a demo-rich and engaging team-teaching style to illustrate how Windows Azure Infrastructure Services (e.g., Virtual Machines, Virtual Networks, Storage, Active Directory) makes it easy to safely migrate, extend, run, manage and monitor common workloads in the cloud.

Windows Azure for IT Pros | Register Now!

Date: May 16, 2013
Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm PST
Where: Live, online virtual classroom
Cost: FREE!

Additionally, they'll cover SharePoint and extending System Center 2012 SP1 during this course. This is one Jump Start you don't want to miss.

Help us spread the word--Announce this on your blog or post a tweet!
Extend your #infrastructure! Cool #MSJumpStart w/ @dtzar & @thedavidaiken http://aka.ms/JSAzure #MSmva #iaas
Move common workloads to the #cloud! #Azure #MSJumpStart w/ @dtzar & @thedavidaiken http://aka.ms/JSAzure #MSmva #iaas

Microsoft Prepares Veterans for Transition to IT Job Market

Veronica Sopher (Microsoft Learning) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:00:00 GMT

This week, President Obama’s Administration announced the IT Training and Certification Program, a partnership which will enable thousands of service members to earn industry-recognized information technology certifications before they transition from military service.

As part of this initiative, Microsoft Corporation has partnered with Global Knowledge and Prometric to define learning paths for several IT Professional roles that map to military occupation specialties, and donate instructor-led classes and exam vouchers to the first wave of transitioning service members who are participating in the pilot phase of the program.

These training resources will help service members meet the criteria and pass the exams to achieve industry-recognized Microsoft Certificated Solutions Associate (MCSA) credentials in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2012. By earning a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) credential, service members will attain the technical skills and credentials needed to get hired in today’s competitive IT job market, while also gaining access to the MCP member site and associated benefits.

In addition to helping land their first IT industry positions, the MCSA credential will put service members well on their way to future career advancement by earning the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) credential in cloud-related areas of Desktop/Server Infrastructure, Private Cloud, Communication, Messaging, and SharePoint.

If you are a transitioning service member and want to learn more about the IT Training and Certification Program and associated Microsoft official skills training, please contact your branch of service training officer. A downloadable fact sheet is also available below.

To review related news on this training program, please visit:

- White House announcement

- Global Knowledge announcement

- Mashable article

- Washington Post article

- Huffington Post article

This Week at IT Academy | Week of 4/29

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:55:00 GMT

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members.

Events

April 25^th IT Academy Webinar Now Available On Demand

Register Now for the May IT Academy Webinar

Registration is open for the last IT Academy webinar of this academic session, scheduled for May 23^rd from 8-9am PST. During this session, members of the IT Academy team will preview the program roadmap for the coming year, highlight the curriculum plan, and share other announcements and member opportunities. Register now for May’s event using your IT Academy ID.

IT Academy News

Enhancing Flipped Classrooms with IT Academy Tools

The Flipped Classroom model has gained prominent exposure in recent years, and is being implemented in more schools around the world. Keith Loeber, Director of IT Academy, shares how to integrate the IT Academy program in a flipped classroom where students are assigned pre-recorded lectures as homework, freeing up in-class time for instructor-guided exercises.

A Teacher’s Perspective: Celebrating Certification Accomplishments with Student

Our guest blogger this week is Cathy Bradshaw, Business Education teacher at Hamilton County High School. Discover how IT Academy program has enabled her seventh graders to earn industry certification, prepare for college and careers and boost self-confidence to achieve more every day.

University of North Carolina Offers Free Microsoft Training to Students, Faculty, and Staff

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has launched its campus-wide IT Academy program, providing more than 2,000 free Microsoft training courses to students, faculty and staff. The Daily Tarheel, UNC’s student newspaper, reports how the program supplements the university curriculum with valuable Microsoft technology training and certification opportunities.

In Other Education News

Microsoft Announces the Imagine Cup Finalists for 2013

Microsoft has announced the ten teams advancing to the 11^th annual U.S. Imagine Cup Finals Demo Day. Demo Day will take place on May 13 in Silicon Valley and will be streamed live on the U.S. Imagine Cup Facebook page. Learn more about the teams competing to represent the U.S. at the Worldwide finals in St. Petersburg, Russia July 8-11, 2013.

Congratulations to Jeff Charbonneau: U.S. National Teacher of the Year

Jeff Charbonneau has spent the past 12 years with one purpose in mind: helping his students excel. Jeff was recently named National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers and will be recognized by President Obama in a ceremony at the White House on April 22. Read more about Jeff’s honor and his commitment to his students.

Share Your Success Story

Do you have a success story about one on your IT Academy students? Have IT Academy resources enabled you to provide more in the classroom? Share your story and best practices in a brief email with photos and your contact information to ITASuccessStories@microsoft.com.

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A Teacher's Perspective: Celebrating Certification Accomplishments with Students

ITA Guest Blogger — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:06:00 GMT

This week’s guest blogger is Cathy Bradshaw, Business Education teacher at Hamilton County High School. Cathy shares how the IT Academy program has enabled seventh graders to earn industry certification, prepare for college and careers and boost self-confidence to achieve more every day .

My name is Cathy Bradshaw. I am the Business Education teacher at Hamilton County High School. I teach Information & Communications Technology - Essentials I, Computer Applications in Business, Computing for College and Careers, and Digital Design I, II, & III. I work under the leadership and administration of Karen Mitchell (CTE Director), Waylon Bush (Site Administrator) and Thomas Moffses (Superintendent).

Our school serves students in grades 7th through 12th (middle and high school), approximately 725 students. Our school was one of the schools selected by Florida Department Of Education to implement a pilot program with middle schools students. This class is Information & Communications Technology - Essentials I (ICT) and it consists of fourteen seventh graders, ages 12 & 13. We are a member of the Microsoft IT Academy.

When I accessed Microsoft eLearning, I was so excited! I thought that the lessons were short, yet so in depth. I like how the modules are divided and the videos are very valuable, they are short (usually 2-3 minutes) and keep the students’ attention. The videos serve as a perfect tool for demonstrations and in teacher modeling where we implement explicit instruction (“I do”), guided practice (“We do”) and independent practice (“You do”). The test banks save a lot of time and has been great for preparing pre- & post exams for various units of study. We use Microsoft eLearning as a blended learning tool, along with other “go to” resources, such as GMetrix (for practice exams), other books and on-line resources for projects to apply and extend the student’s knowledge.

Currently, we have five 7th grade students certified in Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) PowerPoint 2010. Our goal to have every student in the class earn at least one certification before the end of the school year. We make sure our students are made aware of the benefits of having these computer skills and industry certifications. Our class motto is: “Each one, reach one, teach one.” Just as I reach out and teach them, they must reach other students and teach them. This is displayed in our classroom through the implementation of collaborative structures, such as, shoulder buddies, think-pair-share and peer tutoring. With continued teamwork, our goal will be accomplished!

As an incentive, we recognize and reward our students. We have a “Wall of Fame” in the hallway with names of certified students on wooden plaques w/ golden name plates. There is also a “certification” bulletin board in my classroom. Every student who passes a certification exam gets their name displayed on a paw. I send out announcements to our faculty and staff members so they can congratulate the students. This announcement is then put on our TV news, along with their pictures. At our annual Award Ceremony, the students will receive their official certificates. In addition to this, our class celebrates the accomplishments of those certified, because we realize that it is teamwork.

Florida Department of Education’s Microsoft IT Academy has provided our students with outstanding opportunities to earn an industry certification, preparation for college and careers, increased qualifications for successful employment, advancement for chosen career path and increased self-worth and self-confidence to achieve more. The certification isn’t the essence of the course…it’s the “icing on the cake.” The computer skills that these students learn will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

By the way, I am taking advantage of the free exam vouchers for my Professional Development to obtain MOS certifications. I also use Microsoft eLearning for my Computing for College and Careers students.

Learn more about Florida's statewide IT Academy program: Florida Statewide Microsoft IT Academy site

Cathy Bradshaw graduated from Florida Institute of Technology, earning a B.S. degree in Business Administration/Finance and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. She also has an A.S. degree in Computer & Information Science.

Cathy began her teaching career as the founder and director of an academy, where she taught Pre-K. In 2006, she started teaching Adult Basic Education & GED classes and received her Professional Educator’s Certification. In 2011, she began teaching at Hamilton County High School, where she is the Business Education teacher. Her philosophy is “Learning is a lifelong experience.” She enjoys teaching…knowing that the knowledge gained from her classes will benefit students for a lifetime.

Enhancing Flipped Classrooms with Microsoft IT Academy Tools

Keith Loeber - IT Academy — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 02:44:00 GMT

Keith Loeber is the Director of the IT Academy Program for Microsoft Learning. He and his team oversee the strategy, benefits, operations, and policies for the program. An 18-year Microsoft veteran, Keith has spent the last several years in education with the majority of his career focusing on training and certification.

Most teaching models in high school and college follow the age-old standard: first, lecture the students, telling them what they need to know; then, send the students home to apply what was taught to a project or a paper.

This approach was developed in the days when the educator was the only source of knowledge, before mass-produced books, the internet, eBooks, computers, multimedia and mobile devices made it possible for each student to have the entire world's knowledge in their pocket. Back then, educators held the knowledge and students listened to their lectures because there was no other way to learn new concepts and ideas.

But the hard part of learning is not listening to the lecture. The hard part is doing the work: practicing and performing the new task until you master it. This is where most students struggle because, as their questions arise, guidance is needed and educators are not available around the clock.

Many educators have come up with a new way to teach that takes advantage of information technologies. They have turned the old approach upside down, bringing the practice and performance into the classroom; and leaving the lecture-listening for homework. This way, they can support their students when they need it, and students can help each other figure out the tough parts. We might describe this as the F.L.I.P.P. approach:

Farm out the

Lecture as homework, then,

Inside of the classroom,

Practice and

Perform the tasks to build skills

While this isn’t a particularly new approach, some teachers are finding great success with it; so I wanted to share what this could look like in a Microsoft IT Academy member school.

Let's take a simple example, like teaching a skill that's required in the Microsoft Office curriculum: opening and editing a PDF file with Word. Under the old approach, we'd teach it this way:

First, in class, the students would sit and watch as the educator lectured them and showed them on the big screen how to open a PDF file with Word. An educator would stand up in front of the students and show them how this works best with documents that are mostly text, and how some older PDFs won't open at all. As students watched, the educator would demonstrate how to use the editing and formatting features of Word to work with the content of the PDF until it was formatted correctly. The educator would show them an assignment for homework to be completed outside of class. The assignment would call for them to open a series of PDF files, edit the content, and practice these skills on their own until they were able to perform the tasks as they would on a certification exam.

An educator following the FLIPP approach, on the other hand, would teach it this way:

Find and assign the appropriate course and lesson from the Microsoft IT Academy eLearning library that shows students how to edit PDFs with Word. Using the Lesson Plan as a guide, the educator might also include online tutorials from Microsoft, a page from the Wiley Microsoft Official Academic Courseware (MOAC) book, or a page from a book sourced by searching through the eReference library. The educator might develop his or her own narrated screen recording of the process, as well. Students could study these resources on their computer, on their mobile device, or on their tablet.

Let students work with resources for homework. The educator could simply use the reporting capability in the IT Academy eLearning system to track the usage and progress of students and utilize the other resources as optional learning materials or post as assignments in an alternative Learning Management System. The educator might additionally assign students some simple editing exercises.

In class, the educator presents them with some difficult PDF-editing projects, which call for full mastery of the skill. These projects may be found on the IT Academy member site, in the MOAC curriculum, sourced from other educators, or created from scratch. The educator observes the students as they work, helping them as necessary. The educator might pair a more advanced student to work one-on-one with a student who is having difficulty, or assign different parts of the project to a group who would work together to complete the project.

Practice their craft with many different examples and projects typically found in business, the arts, or any other real world scenario, and expect that by the end of the lesson, each and every student would be able to competently edit PDFs in a variety of scenarios.

Perform the PDF-editing task with the level of competence required on the certification exam.

The Microsoft IT Academy benefits fit very nicely to a FLIPP environment. Many teachers have been adopting this approach with success - understanding the resources available, and that students may learn best on their own time, at their own pace, and when receiving teacher guidance when its needed most.

If you are not yet a Microsoft IT Academy member, learn about the importance of Microsoft IT Academy from other members.

If you are a Microsoft IT Academy member, sign In and go to Getting Started.

A thing or two on taking your MCSA certification exams...

Michael Bender — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Greetings True Believers!

So it's been a while since I've checked in via a blog post. It's great to see many of you joining the conversation on twitter as well as on the Server Certification Group forums on Born to learn.

So what have I been up to? Well, I passed the 70-410 exam and had begun my path towards 70-411 when I got a curve ball. Between work and family, I had to reschedule my exam. Unfortunately, my options for test taking are limited, and the only available date for the exam was after my scheduled 70-412 exam. So I am in the process of re-working my plan so that I can study for both exams in tandem. I hope to have this available to share with you in the near future.

One helpful thing for my studies will be the recent release of the 70-411 and 70-412 by TrainSignal. If you haven’t signed up for the free video training from TrainSignal, check it out here. Along with the TrainSignal videos, I am using the 70-417 Exam Prep book by J.C. Mackin to prepare. While the book is designed for MCSA's upgrading from 2008 to 2012, all of the chapters map to the exam objectives for 410, 411, and 412. So I would recommend checking it out along with the wiki resources for each exam.

So the focus of today’s post will be exam taking strategies. I reached out to folks at MS Learning and TrainSignal, and they provide me with some resources to help you prepare for your exams.

Ask The Certification Experts: This is a great series of videos by the Microsoft’s certification team. While they don’t give you exam specific information, you will get some great insight into the exam framework.
Next is a great blog post by Ashraf Al-Dabbas on the different exam question types. This will provide you good insight into the type of questions you will see throughout your exams.

A little something on My Test Taking Strategy….

As a veteran of multiple certification exams and an MCT responsible for helping students with their exams skills, I want to share my test day strategy. Hopefully, you can take some tips from it to improve your test day results!

I always schedule my exams for a 12:30-1:30 start time. That is normally the time of day when I’m “on my game” mentally. Also, this leaves me the morning to do some last minute preparation and I’m not rushed.
I make sure to get a good night’s sleep. If you prepared properly, should not have to do a late night cram session for your exam.
Make sure I have two forms of ID and any other requirements per exam. As a college instructor, I can take the academic versions of the exams. These require a college ID so I make sure I have that as well.
I find a quiet coffee shop (or noise cancelling head phones), and review my materials. I like to run through the areas that are my sticking points. Also, I will run through 10-20 practice questions at the end of my review session to get me in the test-taking mode.
Have a light lunch and try to relax. Depending on your caffeine tolerance, you may or may not wish the forgo caffeine prior to the exam.
I arrive to the test location 15 minutes early so I can check in and use the bathroom (or water closet for those across the pondJ). You won’t be able to use the restroom during your exam so keep that in mind with lunch as well. The exam reminder recommends 30 minutes, but my test site is never busy so I’ve never had a problem with 15 before. When I have arrived 30 prior, I’ve always started early.
Unless I bring a coat or a bag, I leave my cell phone in the car. You won’t be able to bring it into the exam room. At my last exam, they included watches and any items in your pockets. I did sneak in a piece of gum though:)
You'll recieve a laminated writing page with a dry-erase pen. Use this to write down any important information prior to the exam and as you go through it. For example, 70-410 covers subnetting so I wrote down all the common CIDR blocks as a reference for any subnetting-related questions that might have been on the exam.
Once into the exam, I have a specific strategy for each question that I will explain below.
The length of the exam should be posted with the exam information. If so, you know how much time you have for each question. Use this time as part of your preparation. Most practice exams allow you to input the time limit and # of questions. Simulate the exam day experience during your study and it will help you be more comfortable on exam day.
1. If I have 2 minutes per question, I set a limit of 2 minutes I will take on a question before moving to the next question
Once I have completed all questions and run through my review, the moment of truth is here. You are a few clicks away from success or failure. This can be nerve-wracking the first couple of times you take an exam as you wait for the system to tell you whether you passed or failed.
Once you complete your exam, you’ll be provided a copy of your exam report with your score.

Mike’s Exam Question Strategy

Here’s my strategy for each Question

Read the entire question end to end without going down to the answers. You need to familiarize yourself with what the question is looking for.
Review the answers provided but try not to answer the question unless you are 110% positive you know the answer. At this point, many test takers get into trouble. We have been taught that we should go with our “first Impression”. While this is often a correct method, it can lead you into an incorrect answer. The reason is that exam questions are designed to be a bit tricky. You will have answers provided that may be correct for some situations, but not the one you are dealing with in the question. We want to get rid of these answers.
1. I will mark my “first impression” answer at this time just in case I hit my time limit and need to move onto the next question. An answered question has a possibility of being right but an unanswered question is always wrong.
Now run through the question again. This time you know the provided answers and can match those answers to the information provided in the question.
1. Often times, there is information in a scenario that is not necessary, so use your knowledge of the subject matter to weed out this information.
Based on the information gleaned through the second pass through of the question and using the information that is relevant, I try to weed out some of the answers.
1. For example, if the question is asking for you to export DNS zones from AD and they provide you different command line tools to do it, you should be able to get rid of utilities you know cannot perform the task.
2. The goal is to get down to 2 answers to choose from. But even if you only get rid of one answer out of four, that’s changing your odds to 1:3. I’d take those in Vegas in a heartbeat!
3. If you are unable to come up with a definitive, go with your first impression answer or your “best” answer based on the question, and move on to the next question
4. If you are not definitive on the question, mark it for review and comeback to it after going through all of the questions. In regards to marking questions for review, I mark all questions that I am not 100% on, and I want to go back to them
After running through the questions the first time, I go to the review section which allows you to go through just the questions marked for review. This is helpful since it will only give you the questions you want to go over again
1. During this pass, I repeat the same process as above. One thing I make sure to do is count up the number of reviewed questions and determines how much time I have left based on the exam countdown clock.
That’s it! By the end of step 6, I am ready click the submit button!

The key to successfully completing a certification exam is providing answers to ALL questions to the best of your ability. That’s why we use the review option to comeback to questions you are unsure of. I can guarantee there are questions you could spend 10-15 minutes on, and you would still not have an answer. In that same time period, you may be able to cover 5-7 questions you do know the answers to. You need to get to the “low hanging fruit” questions and come back to the ones requiring more time. But always…ALWAYS…enter an answer for the question before moving to the next question. This ensures you have an answer for every question should your time run out.

Until next time…Excelsior!

Mike

This Week at IT Academy | Week of 4/22

Lorna White (Microsoft) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:40:00 GMT

Infographic: The Skills Gap in Cloud Technology

With a projected 7 million unfilled cloud-related jobs by 2015, IT Academy plays an increasingly important role in preparing the next generation of cloud-trained professionals. Check out the new IT Academy infographic that spotlights the importance of helping your students prepare for opportunities in the cloud.

Bridging the IT Gender Gap

In a compelling new video, Microsoft Research shares insight into the critical need for a diverse IT workforce—and the opportunities to engage young women in computer science and include them in the talent pipeline. Watch this video to learn more about the growing need to involve young women in future technology careers.

Education Events

April IT Academy Monthly Webinar: Best Practices from IT Academy Members from around the World

During this IT Academy member-only webinar series, IT Academy members are invited to hear from their peers from around the world on how they are implementing IT Academy benefits to manage their classrooms and guide their students toward a smooth graduation and beyond to successful employment. Register to attend the next event on April 25, 2013 from 8:00-9:00 AM PST using your IT Academy ID.

EduTech Family Summits

Learn how to create engaging, dynamic learning environments with technology at Achieve 2013: EduTech Family Summits, held in Las Vegas on April 27^th and Dallas on May 11th. Discover more about the events!

Other Educational News

Microsoft Certification Summer School

This week, our friends at the UK Schools blog spotlighted Microsoft Certification Summer School, a creative approach to encourage students to achieve certification over the summer. Learn how you can take advantage of the program to maximize IT Academy benefits.

College Diplomas with the Highest Pay

A new Forbes magazine article reports that an education with a strong background in computer science and technology ranks highest in income. Share this information with your IT Academy students as they consider a career in IT.

Share Your Success Story

How do IT Academy resources enhance the classroom experience for you and your students? Share your story and best practices in a brief email with photos and your contact information to ITASuccessStories@microsoft.com.