Microsoft IT Academy - Blog

When Eric Franz started teaching Microsoft IT Academy courses three years ago, he “saw the opportunity and just jumped in.” The same go-getter stance underlies his advice to students: “Don’t be afraid of taking the test. Study up and, chances are, you will pass.” Eric is a 16-year CTE instructor and IT Facilitator for the Yakima School District in Washington State. After an impressive show of dedication—offering preparation for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification to approximately 400 teachers, staff, and others at 24 schools—he recently earned the 2013 Washington IT Academy Outstanding Achievement scholarship from the Washington Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) . ...

Announcing our October webinar— October 10th— on the skills gap in the technology workforce, and how educators can guide students toward a successful career. Also this week: Europe taking a hard look at how to empower youth.

This week, we announce the next IT Academy webinar: "Guiding students down a path toward a successful career in technology." Also: Imagine Cup 2014—Microsoft’s premier global student technology competition—is now open for registration.

IT Academy is pleased to introduce the first of a series of guest bloggers, Randy Richards. Randy is Senior Director of Marketing at Certiport, a 20-year veteran of high technology, and a pundit on the value of technology certification in education. Welcome, Randy! Achieving college- and career-readiness is always a challenge for students. It’s to be expected. What’s different now is the daunting task that many IT-focused businesses face—even in an employer’s market—of finding enough qualified job prospects in the field of computer science (CS). And the challenge isn’t just in facing future demand, it’s in facing demand now . The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that the immediate...

On behalf of the entire IT Academy team, I extend our thanks and appreciation to everyone who tuned in live to this season’s debut webinar— Training with Technology. The webinar is now available to view on-demand—simply click here to register and tune in . This webinar brought together educators from around the world—including Portugal, Italy, Turkey, Nigeria, Canada, and many US states—who participated in a global discussion about using technology within the classroom to engage and motivate students. Special thanks to our presenters, including Pete Sigmund and team from La Salle High School, who shared their story about their compelling vision for offering a Microsoft Surface to each incoming freshman; and Scott...

Final reminder to sign up for the September 12th season debut webinar! Also this week: Certified Career Day October 29; Thinkspace: a website for and by student developers...

This year's webinar series mirrors the excitement and leverage you get from technology in your everyday work. Each topic and speaker has been chosen to provide what we consider the most useful and timely information—from top-ten classroom enhancements to keeping up on the technology curve.

Word is spreading about IT Academy’s ability to engage faculty and students in successful technology training, and our reach is growing. Queensland, Australia is one example of IT Academy's global success.

Get ready for the 2013-14 webinar series debut, "Training with Technology," taking place on September 12th. Also in this edition: Get Trained on Office 2013 with Your E-Learning Benefit; Georgia Student Bests Competition at Microsoft PowerPoint 2010; more.

News flash! The IT Academy newsletter is moving to monthly. Also in this edition: Webinar Series Kicks Off with “Training with Technology”; Vancouver’s Brighton College to Partner with IT Academy; Workforce Skills Development Blog: Engineering for Tomorrow

Announcing the 2013-14 IT Academy webinar series! Also in this edition: Speaking Skills for the Modern Workforce; New eBook: Devices in Education; The Use of Social Media in School

Now's the time to get signed up for this free, monthly virtual event that features expert speakers covering the hottest topics in technology education—open to anyone affiliated with an academic institution. Starting on September 12th with “Training with Technology: Using technology within the classroom to engage and motivate students."

This week, author James Lengel explores the various approaches educators take to instill solid writing skills, and the role of technology to produce better writers and communicators. Also in this edition: Invite Your Students to DigiGirlz Day; Share Your Success Story

Registration opens for this year's IT Academy Webinar Series. Also this week: Author James Lengel explores the U.S. Department of Labor's "Pyramid of Skills"-- the building blocks needed to assemble a modern worker; Are Textbooks a Thing of the Past?

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members. Education News from Microsoft Partners in Learning Hot Topics: Workplace Skills Worldwide What do global employers consider the most essential skills for new workers? On Partners in Learning’s “Hot Topics” blog, author James Lengel explores the common thread between sought-after employee traits in the U.S., India, and Europe; and uncovers the role schools play in preparing students for the road ahead. Read the post > White Paper: New Pedagogies for Deep Learning With the leadership of Michael Fullan, global leader on system improvement, and contributions from over 20 global leaders in the education field, Microsoft...

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members. Education News from Microsoft Microsoft Education Innovative Schools Program Through the Microsoft Innovative Schools program , Microsoft is helping educators discover, share, and scale best practices, and develop assets to help students and educators reach their full potential. A new video showcases how enrolled schools in Colombia, the U.S., the U.K., and Qatar are using Microsoft technology to put students and learning first, and giving school leaders and educators new ways to reimagine education. Partners in Learning Hot Topics: Learning Another Language What languages does one need to know to be a valuable worker and citizen in today's...

It's always an honor to share success stories from IT Academies around the world. Yesterday, we announced news from Kalama High School in Kalama, Washington that three IT Academy students earned the opportunity to compete at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championships . These three students will join six other U.S. students, along with students from 89 other countries, to prove their high proficiency in Microsoft Office software. It's a distinct honor for all of the participants and we congratulate every student who will compete in Washington D.C. July 31 - August 3. Today, I'm thrilled to introduce Katherine Schmit, the Business & Technology Instructor/FBLA Advisor at Kalama High School. Katherine, a Microsoft Certified...

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members. IT Academy News Three Microsoft IT Academy students to compete in international competition Exciting news from a Microsoft IT Academy in Washington State! Three students from Kalama High School will compete at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship , a global competition taking place July 31-August 3 that tests students’ skills on Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Juniors Morgan VanRiper and James Willman, and sophomore Brady Harmon each took first place at a national competition for students in the Microsoft IT Academy. The three students competed in the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda competition...

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members. IT Academy News Microsoft IT Academy debuts in Azerbaijan This week, Odlar Yurdu University in Baku, Azerbaijan, debuted the country’s first-ever Microsoft IT Academy program . The university will offer training for Microsoft Office Specialist, Microsoft Certified Professional and Microsoft Technology Associate certifications. In addition, the university will provide access to Microsoft software for learning, teaching and research purposes through the DreamSpark program. The IT Academy program is expected to expand across universities and schools across the country in the near future. Infographic: How Microsoft IT Academy helps bridge the...

Hasan Eksi, Computer Science Teacher at Chesapeake Math and IT Academy (CMIT) in Laurel, MD, reports in to the IT Academy blog with a wrap-up of the school's first year as an IT Academy. Hasan Eksi, Computer Science Teacher, Chesapeake Math and IT Academy Laurel, MD In the first year, CMIT certified 50 Microsoft Office Specialists in the sixth grade.... 7th grade.... ...and 8th grade. Congratulations CMIT students! I am the Computer Science teacher at Chesapeake Math and IT Academy (CMIT). I teach Microsoft Office Suite and Introduction to Programming to my 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I wanted to let everyone know how easy it is to get started with the IT Academy program and how...

Welcome to our weekly round-up of news, events and opportunities for IT Academy members. IT Academy News IT Academy Spotlight: University of West of Scotland Take a tour of the IT Academy program at University of the West of Scotland , courtesy of the UK Schools blog. Discover how the university is meeting the needs of local employers by offering a comprehensive selection of technology training curriculum and certification opportunities. More Education News from Microsoft Why STEM Education and Blended Learning Matter This past week, policy makers, educators, industry leaders and others gathered at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center in Washington, D.C. to discuss critical design elements of successful and innovative...

Last week, we provided an insider's look at the internship experience at Microsoft Xbox headquarters . This week, we continue the series with a first-person perspective from Stan, a Program Manager intern on the Windows PC System Co-Engineering team. Share with your students how this University of Illinois student joined the intern development team that built one of the first Windows 8 applications; and how technology training and certification can lead to similar real-world experiences. Stay tuned next week for more insights from a Microsoft intern, and be sure to share this series with your students and staff.

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...

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! 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...

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: ...