March, 2012

We’ll be shortly using our MSL SME database to ask our Visual Studio experts to help us prioritize the knowledge and skills that we should be assessing on these certification exams. If you have experience with any of the following, update your SME profile now to reflect those experiences. Visual Studio 11 .NET Framework 4.5 (Web) .NET Framework 4.5 (Windows) Metro Application Development JavaScript HTML5 If you're not in our SME database, sign up today for opportunities to shape Microsoft Learning's certification exams, courseware, and program! See this post for more information.)

This past Saturday was the PASS SQL Saturday #105 in Dublin, Ireland. I delivered a session on the new SQL Server 2012 exams we’re bringing to market. There were over 300 people at the event. I had a chance to chat with Bob Duffy who holds both the SQL Microsoft Certified Master credential, and the Microsoft Certified Architect credential. I’ve met several MCMs, and only a couple of MCAs and Bob is being modest when he says these folks are super-smart. Have you met an advanced certification holder? What’s been your impression?

The event yesterday in New York marks my sixth and last (for me) stop on the tour. I’m headed east for two more events I’ll be covering next week. We had an great group of SQL Professionals who brought their fun New York attitude to the event. The highlight for me was meeting another person who was certified in 1994 which is one of the oldest certifications I’ve seen since I went on the road in early March (when I was talking to Wayne, I forgot about Ted back in Denver who was 1993). If you held a cert from back in the 90s, I encourage you to check out the 20 Years | 20 Ways page on Facebook where we’re celebrating the 20th anniversary of Microsoft Certification.

Register for SQL Server 2012 beta exams Registration is now open for SQL Server 2012 beta exams. You are invited to take this beta exam at no charge. If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. The 71-xxx identifier is used for registering for beta versions of Microsoft Certification Program exams. When the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration. By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification Program with feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals...

The Ops tour rolled through Philadelphia, PA yesterday and we had another full house of over 150 SQL professionals. I spoke with a variety of folks and found an interesting common thread across my two interview subjects: getting certified helped them both learn more about the product. Have you learned anything new while preparing for your certification exams?

It is with great pleasure that MSL announces the release of course 80313A: Development IV in Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2012 . About this Course : This four-day instructor-led course dives deeper into the programming architecture of Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2012. It provides students with a case study/hands-on approach to customizing the system. This course contains coding. Audience The intended audience is experienced systems consultants typically working for a Microsoft Dynamics partner that is selling, consulting, implementing, and supporting Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. Course Syllabus : http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Course.aspx?ID=80313A&Locale=en-us Note : This course is available now for download...

It is with great pleasure that MSL announces the release of course 80420A: Data Upgrade and Code Upgrade to Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2012 . About this Course : This three-day instructor-led course covers both the data upgrade and the code customization upgrades from Microsoft Dynamics® AX 4.0 and Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2009 to Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2012. Audience The intended audience includes Partners, Installers, End-users and Developers. Course Syllabus : http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Course.aspx?ID=80420A&Locale=en-us Note : This course is available now for download on PartnerSource, and will be available on the MCT Download Center 12 April 2012. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the course...

It is with great pleasure that MSL announces the release of the Hands on Lab: Cost Accounting in Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2012. About this Hands on Lab Collection : The objective of this hands-on lab collection is to introduce the concepts and terms associated with Cost accounting and to demonstrate the features of the Cost accounting module in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. This is a series of hands-on labs that cover the functionality of the module. Audience It is required that individuals have knowledge of business acumen, accounting principles, and a general knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 and Microsoft Windows. Course available on PartnerSource : https://mbs.microsoft.com/partnersource/communities/training/trainingmaterials...

Microsoft Learning hosted another new and exclusive Jump Start virtual training event on March 13, 2012! Instead of specifically targeting IT Pros or Developers like most Jump Starts, Cloud 101 had a unique constituency in that it targeted business leaders who are searching for understanding so they can join the cloud conversation. Cloud 101 was team-taught by Microsoft Technical Evangelist, Rick Claus and Frank Gartland , Managing Principal of Focused FX. The conversational approach that has come to define Jump Starts helped attendees understand the overall cloud story and compartmentalize how and where Microsoft’s different cloud solutions solve real business challenges. One attendee from Mexico City commented, “Excelente! Great...

The SQL Server 2012 Special Ops Tour made a swing through Chicago today (where it was unseasonably 75 degrees and beautiful for my video intro). We had another great crowd of almost 150 SQL enthusiasts, and another great reaction to the new features in SQL Server 2012. I met several folks with various certifications. Today’s video, however, takes a different approach and I spoke with Simon and Arjun who aren’t certified yet, but are considering getting certified on the new version of SQL Server. We’ve heard a variety of motivators from people who have found better networking opportunities, doors that open to meet new clients, and folks who have increased their hourly billable rate. What anecdotal benefits do you find with your...

Calling all Visual Studio 2011 -- Windows Experts Microsoft Learning is working to include the experiences of early adopter communities into Microsoft’s official training curriculum and certification exams with the goal of increasing the real world relevancy of these products. We’re putting a call out for technical experts who have VS 11 bet a Metro experience and good HTML/JavaScript experience as part of experience with Visual Studio 2011 . We have a few spots left in a working session to be held on Microsoft’s main campus from Monday March 26th through Friday March 30th. The experts chosen to participate must be available for the full week, and will be compensated. If you are interested in participating in these...

We’ll be shortly using our MSL SME database to send notifications to register for Microsoft SQL Server 2012 beta exams. The notifications that include beta codes will be sent out for the following exams: · Exam 71-461 : Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012 · Exam 71-462 : Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases · Exam 71-463 : Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 · Exam 71-464 : Developing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases · Exam 71-465 : Designing Database Solutions for Microsoft SQL Server 2012 · Exam 71-466 : Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012 · Exam 71-467 : Designing Business Intelligence Solutions...

Yesterday was the Jacksonville, Florida stop on the SQL Server 2012 Special Ops Tour. Another room buzzing with SQL Server enthusiasts anxious to take a look at the great new features of SQL Server. We heard more enthusiastic support for the exams we’ve built for SQL Server 2012. You can explore them here . I had a quick chat with Rob and Brian about their experiences being certified.

It is with great pleasure that MSL announces the release of course 80423A: Master Planning in Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2012. About this Course : This two-day instructor-led course, Master Planning in Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2012, provides students with the necessary tools and resources to perform moderate to advanced tasks for the setup and process for forecast and master planning in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012. Topics include the main concepts, considerations and setups used in master planning, master scheduling, forecast scheduling, coverage groups , product item detailed coverage settings, and the effect that intercompany and multisite operations has on the Master planning module. Audience The intended audience includes customers...

It is with great pleasure that MSL announces the release of course 80422A: Intercompany Setup and Order Processing in Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2012. About this Course: This two day Instructor Led Training (ILT) course provides students with the knowledge and skills to set up and use the Intercompany functionality in Microsoft Dynamics® AX 2012. The topics covered in the course include basic setup of intercompany relations, basic and advanced workflows, and return orders in Intercompany. Additionally, it introduces the synchronization of batch and serial numbers, and the setup of security roles, amongst other intercompany specific areas of functionality. This course is also available as an e-learning deliverable. Audience ...

Subject Matter Experts -- we want to hear from you! Our annual SME Profile Satisfaction Survey will be open for one more day! The survey has been available since February 14th, 2012 and will close on March 14th, 2012. If you have not yet taken the survey you still have time to provide us with your valuable feedback. Please be sure to login with your Windows Live ID in order to see the survey The SME Profile Database program is our online registry of Subject Matter Experts. In this program, we get to know more about the people who are industry professionals and passionate about Microsoft Learning products. We coordinate beta exam invitations, feedback activities, and content development opportunities through this program. ...

Some of the brightest minds in the world work at Microsoft—and you could be one of them. We’re looking for SQL wizards to audition for Microsoft’s new reality show “ Be the Next Microsoft Employee .” We’ll cast six contestants who will use their SQL skills to battle it out in Redmond for an opportunity to interview for a job at Microsoft. Check out Be The Next Microsoft Employee for all the details. Use Your SQL Smarts for an Opportunity to Work at Microsoft.

· Dear MCTs, If you have used the Microsoft Learning courseware for Microsoft Dynamics ® AX 2012 I kindly invite you to provide feedback (good and bad) to the condition of the documents (student manual, Powerpoints, Instructor notes). We welcome any opportunity to improve the quality of the courseware for your consumption, and to improve your experience when instructing our classroom courses. While I cannot guarantee that your suggested changes will be implemented immediately, I can guarantee that your feedback will be taken seriously and considered for any future updates of the material. Please email Claire Bremer Nielsen ( [email protected] ) with your feedback, and also if you would prefer me to set up a...

Yesterday was the SQL Server Special Ops Tour in Denver, Colorado. Almost 250 attendees joined us to hear Dandy Weyen aka The Belgian aka @ilikesql present the cool new features in SQL Server 2012. I met a variety of interesting MCTs, MCITPs, and some folks who have never been certified as well. Two interesting testimonials this time from one of our longest standing MCTs, and someone who has had almost all of the SQL Server certifications. How small is your MCP number?

Exam 98-375: MTA: HTML5 Application Development Fundamentals is now available at Certiport testing centers . For students new to IT, MTA is the starting point of Microsoft technology certifications, positioning students for advanced technology training and Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) Certification. This exam tests knowledge of fundamental HTML5 application development concepts. Candidates for this exam should have solid foundational knowledge of the topics outlined in the preparation guide, including CSS and JavaScript. It is recommended that candidates be familiar with the concepts of and have some hands-on experience with the related technologies either by taking relevant training courses or by working with tutorials...

UPDATE 3/8/12 : The session is now full. Thank you to everyone who expressed interest in participating. To be considered for future opportunities, please complete a SME Profile survey on Microsoft Connect . Microsoft Learning is working to include the experiences of early adopter communities into Microsoft’s official training curriculum and certification exams with the goal of increasing the real world relevancy of these products. We’re putting a call out for technical experts who have experience with Windows Server 2008, and who have expert level knowledge in one or more of the following areas: Windows Server infrastructure, server virtualization, desktop virtualization. Candidates should also have experience with the Windows...

Yesterday I spoke at the SQL Server Special Ops Tour stop in Irvine, California. We had a good crowd of nearly 150 SQL Server enthusiasts that came out to hear a little bit about what’s new with SQL Server 2012. It’s always fun meeting with customers, and today was no exception with somewhere near a third of the room having some sort of Microsoft Certification. I also spoke with several customers who weren’t certified, and it was fun to share some of the changes we’re making to boost the integrity of the certification program. Thanks to Mickey and Reza for taking the time to chat with me about the value certifications have had in their careers. How many of you use your cert initials on your business cards to open doors...

Help us celebrate twenty years of thriving careers powered by Microsoft Certification by joining a tweetchat ( #20yrs20ways )! You'll get to ask industry experts, HR pros and technology veterans questions about getting hired and getting ahead. What is a tweetchat? It is a real-time conversation taking place on Twitter, where participants can interact with each other, and keep track of the conversation by following a designated hashtag. In this case, we'll be using #20yrs20ways. Be prepared for informative and lively exchange of questions, answers and advice, one hour at a time! Each tweetchat will focus on a specific topic. Two sessions will be planned for each date so you can participate from wherever you are in the world!...

I am excited to announce an expansion of elective exams for MOS 2010 Master certification to now include SharePoint 2010 and OneNote 2010! Since the MOS 2010 certifications were launched in June 2010, achieving Master status has required the Word Expert, Excel Expert, PowerPoint and your choice of one elective exam - which now includes Outlook, Access, SharePoint, or OneNote. Microsoft Learning recognizes that SharePoint and OneNote have become more integral in day to day business function, and more integral in the MOS 2010 certification line up. Now they play a more important role in the MOS Master certification as well. For details about the MOS 2010 Master certification, you can check out either the Microsoft MOS certification page or...

I'll be heading out on the SQL Server Special Ops tour starting next week. I'm looking forward to meeting SQL enthusiasts, and talking about the great portfolio of exams, courses and books we're about to ship to support SQL Server 2012. If you're in a tour city, come find me and lets talk about SQL Server, and certification. Here are some testamonials from folks in MS Learning. We're anxious to hear how certification has changed your world!