We’re happy to announce that Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 Step by Step , by Olga Londer and Penelope Coventry, has shipped to the printer. This book will be available online and in bookstores in February 2011. You can learn more about the book here: http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780735627260/ .   Book excerpts to come in the not-too-distant future. You can preorder the book here . Read More...

Created by Microsoft Press author, Rob Miles. (see Microsoft® XNA® Game Studio 4.0: Learn Programming Now!)   DOWNLOAD HERE - Windows_Phone_Programming.zip, 79MB This material is an introduction to Windows Phone development for anyone learning to program. It assumes some knowledge of programming fundamentals, but will teach you programming concepts in the framework of Windows Phone development. This information does not teach basic programming principles. The assumption is that you already know how to write and run simple C# programs on a Windows PC. The following sections are included in this material: Windows Phone 7 In this chapter you are going to find out about the Windows Phone platform as a device for running programs. You will learn the key features of the platform itself, how...

We’re excited to announce that Microsoft Excel 2010: Data Analysis and Business Modeling , by Wayne L. Winston (ISBN 9780735643369; 720 pages) is now available for purchase!   In today’s post, please enjoy an excerpt from Chapter 37, “The Travelling Salesperson Problem,” which describes how Excel can help solve sequencing problems and traveling salesperson problems (TSP). Chapter 37 - The Traveling Salesperson Problem Questions answered in this chapter: How can I use Excel to solve sequencing problems? How can I use Excel to solve a traveling salesperson problem (TSP)? Answers to This Chapter’s Questions · How can I use Excel to solve sequencing problems? Many business problems involve the choice of an optimal sequence. Here are two examples: In what order should a print shop work...

Within my organization (certification development), our focus this year is innovation in item types. Although we are exploring new item types (more on that in a future blog), we are also exploring how we can leverage our current item types in innovative ways. Take the old standby--the multiple choice (MC) item. This item type has been unfairly criticized--after all, it's used on the vast majority of exams for a reason, but I understand the perceptions that are driving this criticism. Complaints include: it's too easy to guess the correct answer; MC questions are not rigorous measures of skills; and they don't reflect real world experiences. So, the question is "how can we make MC questions more difficult to guess, increase their rigor, and make them a better reflection of real world experience?" One solution is to change the focus from selecting the "correct" answer to selecting the "best" answer. What's the difference? In a "correct" answer item, only one answer is correct; in a "best" answer item, more than one answer might solve the problem but there is one best solution.

Because we believe that truly qualified candidates, especially at the professional level, should know what the best solution is in situations where multiple good solutions exist or are possible, we have decided to incorporte "best answer" items into some of our exams. After all, how often do you encounter a situation where there is one and only one correct solution to the problem? Problems rarely have clear cut solutions. As a result, these items should be more real world than a correct answer question because they require the candidate to carefully consider the situation presented in the question, just as they would carefully consider their organizational environment and constraints when making decisions in their jobs, and determine the best solution given those circumstances. These questions require more critical thinking than correct answer items, which makes them more rigorous measures of skills and more difficult to guess.

So, let's cut to this chase. What does this mean to you?

We will be slowly adding best answer items to our exams over time, and I want to let you know what to expect:

• Best answer items will only appear on PRO level exams where being able to identify the best solution given a set of specific environmental characteristics or constraints is critical to planning, designing, and managing Microsoft technologies in organizations.
• The best answer will be the solution that takes the least effort, requires the fewest steps, and/or is least costly AND solves the problem. Remember with a best answer choice item, more than one answer will likely solve the problem (others might not), but one answer will be the best solution from a resource (budget, time, people) perspective in that particular situation.
• The best answer will be the best answer GIVEN THE SITUATION DESCRIBED IN THE QUESTION. It may not be how you would do it in your organization, but it's how it should be solved given the situation.
• At this time, only a small proportion of items on any exam will be best answer choice items; although this proportion is likely to increase over time, we are not to the point where every question on a particular exam will be a "best answer" question. Not all PRO exams have best answer questions yet, but we're working on it.
• You will know these items when you see them. The question statement will include words such as "best" or "most" (depending what is being asked) that make it clear that the question requires a deeper evaluation to determine the best answer. In addition, the following statement appears following the question: "(More than one answer choice may achieve the goal. Select the BEST answer.)"
• Most important, the best answer has been vetted by many SMEs who agreed on what the best answer is. The best answer isn't what Microsoft thinks is the best answer; the best answer is what many SMEs have agreed is the best answer.

I have to admit best answer questions are not innovative in and of themselves; you can find them on most certification and licensure exams, but they are new to Microsoft Learning. I know some of you won't like this change, but I believe that best answer questions have a place in our certification program and will ultimately increase the value of your certifications because of the higher level thinking required to answer these items correctly.

For students who are just getting started in an IT career, Microsoft has lots of resources.   One career resource is the Microsoft Student Career Portal.  It’s a good place to check out IT job roles like Web Developer, a Server Administrator, Consumer Support Technician, etc.  If you're not quite sure which direction to take, the portal has a nifty tool to explore which role might be a good fit. 

Once you have a job role in mind, dig a little deeper by going into Start Your Career and selecting that job role.  You'll see that each role outlines the skills necessary and training you need to get there.  The final step, of course, is validating your skills. Microsoft offers great discounts for students who are interested in getting a Microsoft Certification.  As you enter the job market, a Microsoft Certification is a good way to set yourself apart as you look for a job in a competitive job market.  And, it just so happens that you can get up to 55% off standard certification exam fees PLUS a Free Exam Retake by going to Special Offers.  

Hear what other students have to say:  

 

Check out these other Microsoft career resources for students:   

Student to Business  - Find internships and jobs from Microsoft partners, and unique networking opportunities, plus the guidance and connections needed to help ensure that you are prepared to meet the needs of companies around the globe.  

Dreamspark - Download and use Microsoft tools and software to unlock your creative potential and embark on a path that will help lead to your academic and career success. Hone your skills in technical design, technology, math, science, or engineering. 

Own Your Future – Get information on how to build a resume, write an effective cover letter or have the perfect job interview

From our friends at MIX - if you have been to MIX, post a comment and let us know how it was.

 

Save on MIX11 – Register by Feb 11

MIX11 registration is now open with a special offer for early birds – register by February 11 and save $500 on your conference pass, plus one free hotel night when you book two or more nights.  Visit MIX11 registration for details. 

 
MIX11 event details

When:              April 12-14, 2011; day of Boot Camps on April 11

Where:            Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas

Cost:               Full Price Conference Pass - $1395

                        Boot Camps - $350

More Info:        http://live.visitmix.com/

Pick Your Favorite MIX11 Sessions – Vote by Feb 4

The MIX content team has selected the best community proposals, and now it’s your turn to tell us what sessions you want at MIX11.  Visit the Open Call page and pick your favorites by Feb 4. Selected sessions will be announced in mid-February.

Thanks to everyone who attended our Cram 4 Exam on the Windows 7 TS exam: 70-680 on Monday. If you missed the session or want to review the content, you can access the recording here.

Windows 7 not your thing? That's OK! On Monday, February 7th, we're offering another Cram 4 Exam.

Join Microsoft Certified Trainer, Russ Kaufmann for a look at what you need to know to pass Lync Server 2010 TS exam: 70-664. Russ will walk you through the objectives of this exam and talk about strategies to employ while taking this test.

If you like what you see, be sure to register for the Microsoft Certified Career Conference taking place on February 17. We'll be offering Crams 4 Exams on a variety of technologies and whether you feel like you're ready to take your exam now, or are just beginning your studies, exam crams are a valuable way to see if you're ready to take your test and to ensure you get your best result.

Register for this session today!

Monday, February 7, 2011Start Time: 8am Pacific Time (What time is this in my region?)

Use discount code DDM25 in the oreilly.com shopping cart CODE Was: $14.99 Now: $7.49 (Save 50%) Code Complete, Second Edition Was: $39.99 Now: $19.99 (Save 50%) Programming Microsoft LINQ in Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Was: $39.99 Now: $19.99 (Save 50%) Windows Internals, Fifth Edition Was: $55.99 Now: $27.99 (Save 50%) CLR via C#, Third Edition Was: $47.99 Now: $23.99 (Save 50%) Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Administrator's Pocket Consultant Was: $27.99 Now: $13.99 (Save 50%) Managing and Implementing Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Projects Was: $15.99 Now: $7.99 (Save 50%) Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Administrator's Companion Was: $47.99 Now: $23.99 (Save 50%) Web Applications Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4 Was: $55.99 Now: $27.99 (Save 50%) MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70...

Check out this recent New York Times article that discusses the learning benefits from testing:

Today we’d like to share an excerpt from one of our upcoming books: Programming Microsoft® ASP.NET 4 by Dino Esposito. We’ll publish this book in February 2010. You can learn more about the book here: http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780735643383/ In this excerpt from Chapter 5, Anatomy of an ASP.Net Page, the author describes how an HTTP request for an . aspx resource is mapped to a page object. Anatomy of an ASP.NET Page ASP.NET pages are dynamically compiled on demand when first required in the context of a Web application. Dynamic compilation is not specific to ASP.NET pages alone (.aspx files); it also occurs with services (.svc and asmx files), Web user controls (.ascx files), HTTP handlers (.ashx files), and a few more ASP.NET application files such as the global.asax file. A pipeline of...

2011 will mark my third Microsoft TechED North America conference and I couldn’t be more excited for May to arrive.  As active as I am in the Microsoft Partner network, it took me to actually attend the conference to understand its TRUE value. An analogy to help convey its value would be, “What Microsoft WPC (World Partner Conference) is to a partner is what TechED is to our customers”. So what, there are lots of great conferences, what separates TechEd from any other conference?  I have narrowed down my top three reasons why a Microsoft partner of any solution competency should attend:

• If only for the EXPO Hall: Imagine walking into a conference as if you were THE client/customer?  Well this is where our decision makers come to find the NEXT big thing that they can and will implement in their company. Partners are contacted actively by vendors to re-sell their products. The Expo hall of TechED is full of these vendors and here you actually have the opportunity to view their presentations as the client.  I thought it was great to see where the crowds gathered and find out what the vendors had to offer. Wouldn’t you love to see a client as they demo the products? Whether understanding the delivery or taking in the questions, if you have some products you are considering adding to your arsenal this is the place to make that decision.

• What are the Sessions all about? Wouldn’t you love to attend a session in which the presenter’s message garners close to 10% of the attendees in one room? My biggest “aha” moment was attending a 300 level session with Mark Russinovich titled “Cases of the Unexplained”. This session was on the last day of the conference, after lunch and still had at least 1000 in attendance. Our two MAIN communities, IT Pro and Developers, gather at TechED TOGETHER for one week. Regardless of your Microsoft Partner competency, this is where your clients/customers are. There are break out groups and strategy sessions with the greatest minds in our industry providing real world problems and solutions. Sit back and listen to what the attendee’s questions and concerns are. I include this in my top three because last year I began the week with a specific perspective and understanding of the issues my customers were facing. Attending sessions like Mark’s and seeing such a large audience engage at the end of the week in a topic, opened my eyes and gave me a new perspective on what my clients have been facing. The sessions give you the opportunity to see where your clients are gravitating to and help you gauge interest easily. There are numerous sessions that have remarkable content delivered in a way that the attendees are engaged in and excited!

• Your NEW Microsoft Competency Strategy: When I have discussed this conference with partners in the past they initially state without hesitation that they send their own IT staff to TechED and sending someone from the business or sales side doesn’t seem necessary. While I contend this is a valid point, a typical attendee is going to this conference to learn, to be wow’d by not only the products but also by the team that created, envisioned and brought it to market. As a business development professional I find enormous value in actually understanding the vision behind these products and engaging in a conversation with the minds behind them. Do you see value in sitting in the room when great questions are discussed? How about hearing directly from your client’s mouth the areas where their business is struggling and the areas they see these new innovations helping? The ultimate value this conference provides to the future conversations you can have is immeasurable. In my experience talking with my fellow partners, under the new competency guidelines many partners have struggled to find their identity. This is where you can see all of those competencies in action among your clients and maybe even discover the value of something new for your business.

 

I want to end on something very sincere. This is not a sales and marketing conference! Please don’t discount the immense value of attending WPC in the summer. At TechED, learning is the most obvious value during the whole event. If you have attended this conference before then you understand, but if you have not, do not think you are coming to something where you network all night and skim sessions during the day. There are a fair amount of evening gatherings but remember these are the smartest folks in the industry! They live for those breakout sessions during the day.  At night when attendees sit around at a pub table they are discussing technology deeper than most of us can imagine. What I have realized and gotten the chance to embrace is that being a part of these conversations is amazing!

Tiffany Ingargiola, @TiffanyWI

 

Just a reminder...once the clock strikes midnight tonight, the early registration discounted rate of USD$20 expires. 

Here are a few of the new things you have to look forward to at the February 17 conference:

• Cloud Computing Talent…What is it?  A conversation with Chandra Prasad, one of the world's foremost authorities on cloud computing.
• Deep dive into the Microsoft Masters program, featuring content from official MCM training courseware.
• Podcasting Your Way to a Job. Podcasting is the perfect tool to open doors, build relationships, and grow your career. Michael Surkan podcasts about job searching, entrepreneurs, and the economy under his alter-ego, The Optimistic Bear.
• Fresh perspectives from top-notch Tech·Ed speakers, including Asli Bilgin, Joao Paulo Clementi, and Niraj Bhatt.
• Round II of the wildly popular Are You Careerable? game show with all new content and prizes.

You’ll also have plenty of opportunities to network with employers seeking Microsoft Certified talent. 

With a packed agenda for the day, it's worth the regular registration rate of USD$50, but why wait?  Register now.

 

 

 Visit the Microsoft Learning YouTube channel and get free training on Windows 7, Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, and other Microsoft products and technologies.  You can now view Microsoft Learning training on the platform and browser of your choice.  The channel offers both standalone videos and playlists.  You can embed videos on your own web site, subscribe to the Microsoft Learning YouTube channel, and access the videos on your mobile phone.  Check out the Microsoft Learning Channel on YouTube to find out more!  Don't forget you can still get free training through Learning Snacks here.

 

Bojan, one of our MCM Exchange Server 2010 candidates from rotation 8, tallied some interesting statistics for us: http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/careerfactor/b/bojan/archive/2011/01/21/microsoft-certified-master-in-figures.aspx Read More...

Thinking about attending the Microsoft Certified Career Conference on February 17th, but want to know what you’re getting into? Here’s your chance to attend a free session that gives you a taste of what’s in store for the whole conference.

Join Microsoft Certified Trainer, Craig Brown, on Monday, January 24th for this Cram 4 Exam session that focuses on what you need to know to get certified and pass the Windows 7 Technology Specialist exam 70-680. Craig will walk you through the objectives that are covered in the exam, give you some general exam taking tips and technology “gotchas” about Windows 7. This session will be your last step in getting ready for this exam.

Take advantage of this free peek into the Microsoft Certified Career Conference. Register for this free session now!

January 24 2011 at  8am Pacific Time (What time is this in my region?)

Late last week we announced the release of a new "Jump Start" course designed specifically for Application Architects and Developers. “Building Cloud Applications using the Windows Azure Platform” provides an in-depth illustration of how developers can leverage the Cloud using the Windows Azure Platform. For those of you looking to learn on the go, we've posted all 12 hours of these HD-quality videos to both Zune (U.S. only) and iTunes for free (also subscribe to the Zune RSS Feed if you like). Of course, you can always access this course for free on Channel 9.

Key concepts like the Windows Azure Lifecycle, Storage options & SQL Azure, Diagnostics, Security and Scalability, Caching & Elasticity are getting rave reviews. Check it out!

For other Windows Azure Platform resources, check out the Windows Azure Training Portal.

We are excited to see continued great reviews for Programming Windows® Identity Foundation , by Vittorio Bertocci (ISBN 9780735627185, 272 pages, September 2010).   Check out Vittorio’s recent blog post, Programming Windows Identity Foundation is [Figuratively] on Fire! , summarizing the great reviews. Read More...

Microsoft Learning has decided to extend the deadline on the Microsoft Certification Packs. Now customers who buy a pack and take their first exam before June 30, 2011 will have until December 31, 2011 to take the rest of the exams in the pack. This will provide a longer window for customers to prepare and take their exams to achieve their certification. Microsoft Certification Packs provide aggressive discounts when customer buy more than one exam. Plus, Microsoft Certification Packs provide FREE retake exams if you fail on your first attempts.  

Customers have several choices that map nicely to Certification Paths, or just help validate knowledge:

Pack Size	Savings	Retakes
2 Exams	15%	Included with each exam
3 Exams	15%	Included with each exam
4 Exams	20%	Included with each exam
5 Exams	20%	Included with each exam
1 Exam	Regular Price	15% Additional Cost

Visit: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/career/en/us/career-offer.aspx#certification

Exam 70-506: TS: Silverlight 4, Development is now available in Prometric testing centers. This exam is intended for software developers who are creating rich Internet-based applications using Silverlight.  The exam focuses mainly on Silverlight 4, but also covers core Silverlight concepts.

 

Candidates for this exam are developers who create and maintain rich interactive applications (RIA) using Silverlight 4.  Candidates may have additional experience with previous Silverlight versions.

 

The minimally qualified candidate typically:

• Has at least six months of experience with Silverlight development

• Has at least one year of experience with Microsoft .NET development

• Has experience consuming data services

 

To schedule your exam, visit Prometric’s Web site.

Check out Microsoft's Career Factor, a real-time, online, interactive reality show. It will tell the stories of nine real individuals around the world, each working to improve their IT careers. During the next five months, each will be working toward a career goal with the help of Microsoft, its partners, and the global IT community. Follow our participants and keep track of everyone's successes and struggles through the website where you can help shape their paths through your input via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, or reach out to the viewing community for feedback on your own journey. Career Factor will change these peoples' lives. Will it change yours? Learn more > Read More...

Hey! I'm sure you think I've forgotten about answering the remaining questions that you asked in response to my blog before the new year, but I'm nothing if not persistent in my quest to find answers to your questions!

Previously on "'Tis the Season: Answers to Your Questions," we were waiting on the answer to one question:

Q. When is my "MCTS - Windows 7 and Office 2010, Deployment - Charter Member" certificate going to show as that instead of "Windows 7, Deployment - Charter Member"?

A. We have submitted the change request. It takes a few days to propogate through the necessary systems, but by the end of next week, you will see the change (if not sooner).

So, you're probably wondering... what took so long? Well, it turns out that we are in the process of reviewing all of our certification titles and making some minor tweaks (something we do every year or so for quality assurance reasons). This review process takes some time as does incorporating all the changes into our systems. But, because you asked about this one specifically, I requested that we make this change now rather than wait for the review process to be completed. See how much I love you. This is why you should ask questions!

I do want to highlight a comment that J Seymour posted in response to my last "answers to your questions" blog. I'm not sure how closely readers follow comments to blog posts, and I'm afraid that my response to the questions about 70-162 and TMG may have misrepresented what J wanted me to communicate in the first place. So, I'm taking this opportunity to clarify my answers to those questions.

J's comment: 70-162 should be live around June 2011. We're thinking beta in March-ish. Don't read anything into the future of TMG based on whether we do an exam or not. Run rates, available budget, schedules, etc. all have a lot to do with whether we do an exam or not. Microsoft is a big company and MSL is an independent entity from the Product Groups (think wholly owned subsidiary). There are lots of great products that don't have an exam. At the moment TMG happens to be one of them.

Finally, I was asked by a number of people if Microsoft Learning would ever share the number of certified individuals again...It looks like we removed the certification numbers page due to some concerns. Unfortunately, there are no plans to replace this page at this time, and I can't provide any additional information. However, no other IT certification program provides this information, so our decision is in line with industry practices around sharing this type of information.

I hope the new year finds you happy, healthy, and thinking of more questions to ask! As ever, I am here on a quest to find the answers.

In case you missed Stephen Rose and the excellent Live Meeting for Managers regarding Windows 7 and Office 2010, you can now view the recording on demand.

Riding the Windows 7 and Office 2010 Wave
Many organizations have not touched their desktop in years, since their original Windows XP deployments. During this time many other important components have changed and progressed. Things are not as simple as replacing Windows XP with Windows 7 -- you need an optimized desktop solution to easily take advantage of the new technologies and enable your desktops to be productive long into the future.  Stephen Rose will show you how to weave technologies like Windows 7, Office 2010, the Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack (MDOP), and desktop virtualization technologies into a coherent desktop strategy.

Watch Now.

 

 

So, Career Factor is here…and I can’t wait to get started! However, when I first found out that I had made the cut, my emotions were a mixture of stunned amazement and guarded anticipation. Here I am, a poor kid from Harlem, who somehow made his way to The University of California, Berkeley, to now be one of nine from around the world chosen to take this incredible journey! It was hard to wrap my head around! But then I had to ask, “What does it all mean?” Is this just another responsibility to add to my already overflowing plate (did I mention that I am married with a 23 month old son, I work part-time at Starbucks as a Barista, all while pursuing this IT career?), or was this really the opportunity of a life time? I’ve decided that it IS the opportunity of a life time, and I am to take it by the horns and ride it to the wheels fall off! (Are there any more metaphors I can throw into this sentence?!?)

It all starts now…are you ready for the ride? I sure am!

Check out Microsoft’s Career Factor , a real-time, online, interactive reality show. It will tell the stories of nine real individuals around the world, each working to improve their IT careers. During the next five months, each will be working toward a career goal with the help of Microsoft, its partners, and the global IT community. Follow our participants and keep track of everyone’s successes and struggles through the website where you can help shape their paths through your input...

Today we’d like to share an excerpt from one of our upcoming books: Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2010 Step by Step, by Olga Londer and Penelope Coventry. We’ll publish this book in February 2010. You can learn more about the book here: http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780735627260/ . In this excerpt from Chapter 5, Working with Libraries, the authors describe how to create a picture library and add pictures:   Creating a Picture Library and Adding Pictures A picture library is used to share a collection of pictures. Although picture files can be stored in other types of SharePoint libraries (such as document libraries), picture libraries are designed especially for storing image file types and therefore have several advantages. For example, from a picture library, you can view pictures in...