Latest from IT Academy
UAE Launching 11 New Microsoft IT Academies for a Total of 25
The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Education last week announced it would add 11 IT Academy centers to its existing 14. The ministry expressed its “determination to empower students…and equip them with sciences and knowledge, especially those related to advanced technology… to address future challenges.” Read the article.
New Microsoft in Education Website a Goldmine of Resources
Microsoft in Education has launched a new website where you can find a plethora of resources for educators, such as monthly webinars, lesson plans, a network of 800K educators worldwide, and more. Check it out.
Make 2014 Count with Microsoft Offerings for Education
What Microsoft offerings for education did you overlook in 2013? Find out with this comprehensive compile published on the UK Schools Blog.
Events & Happenings
January 14: Promoting 21st Century Skills Webinar
Today’s educators are familiar with the breakneck speed of change in technology and relevant workforce-readiness skills. Join a Microsoft Partners in Learning Virtual University webinar January 14th (7 A.M. or 5 P.M. Pacific Time) to explore the nitty-gritty including:
The event will be co-hosted by Richard Olsen, Assistant Director of ideasLAB, and Adrian Blight, Managing Director of Imagine Education.
Learn more.
Technovation “Global Technology Entrepreneurship Program for Girls” Begins February 3
Interested in challenging your female students to pursue STEM? Technovation is designed specifically for that purpose: to lead young women to identify and solve problems in their local communities by developing mobile app prototypes and business plans.
Working in collaboration with local or long-distance mentors, they research, design, code, and pitch their apps to prospective investors. Then 10 finalists go to Silicon Valley for the World Pitch competition in the spring. Learn more about how you and your students can get involved.
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As most of you know, IT Academy provides a bounty of benefits for teachers, not least of which is access to free Microsoft certification exams. These exams lead to three relevant certifications for teachers:
While many staff and instructors take advantage of this benefit, others don’t. Why is that?
The Q&A answers below, compiled in part from last month's webinar on professional development through Microsoft certification, might make you think twice about passing up that exam benefit. Read what these two IT Academy educators have to say—and watch the webinar to view their presentations. Both teachers are Microsoft certified and eager to share their perspectives on the value of certification.
Katherine Schmit, Business & Technology Instructor, Kalama High School in Kalama, WA
ITA: How and why did you pursue Microsoft certification?KS: I became a teacher and tried to teach my students these skills. I was teaching digital and computer applications at the time, and I knew that no matter what they learned, it wouldn't matter unless I could quantify it with some type of certifications for an employer.
When I heard about IT Academy and three certification exams, for me as an educator in Washington State, I was all in. It didn't matter what it took. I wanted to lead the way for them by getting myself certified.
ITA: What might hold a teacher back from certification?KS: For a teacher, probably our biggest concern with certification is time constraint. The second would be fear: What if I take the exam and I fail? I'm supposed to be teaching my students this. Don't let that scare you. I say, get into the exam as soon as you possibly can.
ITA: In your opinion, what’s the greatest value of Microsoft certification for teachers?KS: When you can tell your students that you are certified and that you know that they can do this, they have so much more confidence in you. Certification is key for an instructor. For me, it's created all the difference in my confidence as an instructor as well as in my students' confidence in me to lead them.
ITA: How does Microsoft certification lend to a teacher’s ability to adhere to Common Core Standards that are being enforced in the United States and numerous countries worldwide?KS: Currently every single discipline in the United States has a Common Core technology component that should be included with their final exam or with their final classroom-based assessment.
Students need to know how to use PowerPoint, how to integrate a spreadsheet into their PowerPoint, how to integrate Word, how to integrate charts. All of those types of things, how to save your PowerPoint as a movie so that it can be broadcast on the internet. These are just basic skills that students have to know across the disciplines.
Justin Crompton, CTE IT Instructor at Academy at Central in High Point, NC
ITA: What’s different about Academy at Central?JC: We're a special school because we allow students to graduate in three years, on an accelerated track. So we do things a little differently than a traditional school, and we focus on technology.
ITA: What Microsoft certifications do you hold, and what do you teach?JC: I'm a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), and I have four different MTA certifications. I'm an Office Master, and I have six other Office certifications. I've been in a classroom seven years. I teach the MTA track, and I also teach Office courses and programming. I also write curriculum.
ITA: What do you consider the most valuable certification for any teacher?JC: The most important certification for any teacher actually is Microsoft Certified Trainer.
MTA is a great starting point for fundamental knowledge, a step up from Office specialist. I know a lot of IT Academies focus on the Office specialist, but the MTA is a great step up, not only for the students, but also for any educators. MTA provides fundamental knowledge in various areas.
If you, as an educator, want to know how the Internet works better, how networks connect, how Microsoft Windows handles connections, the Networking Fundamentals is a great certification to start with. It breaks down wireless connections, talks about encryption, all of these different things that'll help you better understand how computers talk to each other and how the Internet works.
The next one, OS Fundamentals, is a really good one for any educator, not even as a technology educator, anyone who wants to know more about Windows 7, more about how it operates, how to customize the desktop, how to set up a backup, how to use the control panel, set up a printer. All these basic things that you might need to do, this certification teaches those things.
Security is a really good one to have, because it gives you great fundamentals on how to secure data and tells you about the current threats that are out there. As you know, threats evolve, there are new threats every day.
Lastly, Server Fundamentals is kind of the more advanced one of the track. It covers what happens behind the scenes. Most users don't see how the server operates and how permissions, sharing and stuff works. That kind of happens behind the scenes, and that's what server administration fundamentals covers. It’s great for your professional development if you want to know…how the client interacts in a domain, how it interacts with other computers in a server-client environment.
ITA: What special opportunities have unfolded for you, by way of your Microsoft certification?JC: Certification in the classroom lends respectability to the instructor, but it can also open doors for you to train others, either in your school district, at the state level, or other opportunities. Certifications are how I got into doing training at the state level. I write curriculum for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, which is the governing body for public education in the state.
Keith Loeber is the Director of the IT Academy Program for Microsoft Learning Experience. 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.
Related:
One of my favorite parts about the year end is looking back over the year and finding the key moments that made the year great. These moments are often converted into “top 10” lists that are always fun to read (or watch). With that in mind, Super Sigma and I reviewed the videos we shared with the community in 2013 and identified 5 key messages that we want to remind candidates of as we leave 2013 and move into 2014. What made the top 5 list? Watch and see if you agree.
By the way, I think we may have missed the most important moment—launching ACE Chronicles, of course! This was certainly a defining moment for us… and one of my best memories of 2013!
Wishing you all a safe, prosperous, and happy new year! Good luck with your exams, and we’ll see you in 2014!
MERRY NEW YEAR!!! (For all of you movie buffs, name that movie! It's a throw back!)
To continue to support database administrators and developers working with SQL Server 2008 systems, the Microsoft Learning Experiences team has extended the retirement date for the following exams from January 31, 2014 to July 31, 2014:
As a result of this adjustment, the associated MCITP certifications can still be earned until July 31, 2014:
To prepare for future tasking on SQL Server 2012, individuals holding any SQL Server 2008 certification can take a streamlined two-exam upgrade path to MCSA: SQL Server 2012:
70-457: Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 1
70-458: Transition Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012, Part 2
From now through May 31, 2014, there is a special promotion of 25% off the cost of these upgrade exams, plus free retakes if needed.
Microsoft Learning is bringing Certification Central to TechEd North America again in 2014. Melissa Bathum and I cannot wait to see you in Houston in May! As usual, attendees will have access to a long list of free resources in our onsite study hall, multiple exam prep sessions delivered by Microsoft Certified Trainers, and 50% discount on all MCP exams.
The early bird discount rate ends on December 31, 2013, so REGISTER NOW and save US$300!
Never been to TechEd before? Here are some highlights of what's in store for you. One of my favorite stories from the last TechEd NA was when Clint, who has worked in the IT industry for over 20 years, took his first (ever!) certification exams. At the end of the week, he left the conference triumphantly with his MCSA: Windows Server 2012 and MCSE: Messaging (Exchange Server) titles. Our own Pete Harris caught up with Clint outside the exam rooms and captured his excitement in the video below.
What will you get out of TechEd North America 2014?
Are you responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a virtualization infrastructure? Looking for a way to validates your skills on current virtualization technologies? Wondering how you can improve the trajectory of your career? Now is your chance to do just that, with free online training and an exam voucher from Microsoft!
What you get: The title of Microsoft Certified Specialist: Server Virtualization with Windows Server Hyper-V and System Center
How you will get it:
Still thinking about it? Here's Chris Harney, president and founder of The Virtualization Technology Users Group, discussing why people need to be able to speak more than one virtualization language, and why it's good for your career.
*The fine print: The number of free exams is limited, so be sure to schedule your appointment to lock-in your free exam. Vouchers expire and all exams must be taken by June 30, 2014.