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.
In just under two weeks, Microsoft IT Academy will host the College & Career Readiness virtual event, a two-hour interactive webinar for all educators dedicated to helping them prepare students for success in college and careers through skills development and certifications that are needed in today’s workforce. The interest in this event has been fantastic, so be sure to mark your calendars and register if you haven’t yet done so.
You'll probably recognize me if you've joined any of our monthly webinars. My team and I oversee the strategy, benefits, operations and policies for the IT Academy program. Each month, I share the latest program updates, benefits, and the value educators get as IT Academy members. This event is extra special because it is two full hours packed with valuable information and a great line-up of educators and technology education experts.
Carrie Francey, Senior Director, Worldwide Sales, Marketing & Programs, Microsoft Learning Experience
I'm thrilled to introduce my co-host, Carrie Francey. Carrie oversees worldwide sales, marketing and programs for Microsoft Learning Experience. She will share her global perspective on how skills development and youth employment are interrelated, and why IT Academy is preparing students for college and career success across the globe.
Our Special Guests
Katherine Schmit, Business and Technology Instructor, Kalama High School, Kalama WA
I’m excited to welcome Katherine Schmit to the event. Katherine runs a fine-tuned IT Academy program at Kalama High School in southern Washington State. In 2013, three of Katherine's students clinched first place at the Microsoft Office Specialist National Championship, earning a coveted spot to compete at the Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Washington D.C. (Don't miss her blog post about the experience!).
Katherine came to teaching through the Washington State Career and Technical Education Business Route. She was employed as a library assistant when the school recognized her technical skills and asked her to become a teacher. In her own words, "I used my 20+ years of business experience to quantify my college experience in conjunction with two years of CTE teacher courses and am in my seventh year of teaching Business and Technology. If you have ever seen the pay difference between classified staff and certificated staff, you already know why certification is important!"
At the College & Career Readiness event, Katherine will present "Technology for Everyone: Validating your students' success in Microsoft Office." She'll recommend the right mix of tools, training, and certification to inspire entry-level students to set a course for a future career using the latest business technologies; and she'll illustrate the value of Microsoft Office training and certification.
Watch Katherine Schmit's December webinar presentation on YouTube: "Using IT Academy for Professional Educator Development."
Zeshan Sattar, Head of Curriculum Development, Agilisys Arch
IT Academy educators know that aspiring technologists thrive when immersed in the technologies they'll work with every day in their prospective careers. Our special guest Zeshan Sattar will share how Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) training and certification gives students the hands-on experience they want and need to succeed at college and in a career.
Zeshan is the Head of Curriculum Development at U.K.-based Agilisys Arch. This new division of Agilisys tackles the challenge of the ever increasing technology skills gap by providing workforce development training. Zeshan is responsible for designing apprenticeship and professional training programs which are delivered by a network of trainers across the U.K. He has worked on the MTA component since its inception, and is an advocate Microsoft certification within academia.
Don't miss this informative, engaging, and interactive event!
Have questions during the event? You’ll have opportunities to get your questions answered live. Our virtual event platform lets you interact with the presenters, other attendees, and Microsoft IT Academy team.
Register today
If you haven't registered yet, choose the event time that fits your schedule and register today.
Thursday, February 13 | 8:00 – 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time February 18th | 12:00-14:00 Asia/Singapore / 15:00-17:00 Sydney
Learn more and register today! Here are five reasons you need to be there!
Have You Registered for the Upcoming "College & Career Readiness Day"? Don't Delay!
We're just over two weeks away from College & Career Readiness Day, our special two-hour live virtual event on February 13 and 18. If you haven't done so, mark your calendar and register today. The Microsoft IT Academy team is gearing up for an informative, engaging and interactive event, featuring educators and experts who will deliver insights into guiding students to successful careers, as well as discuss the latest career prospects for technology-focused students. Your questions will be answered live, so don’t miss this special opportunity!
Choose the event time that fits your schedule and register today! Thursday, February 13 | 8:00 – 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time February 18th | 12:00-14:00 Asia/Singapore / 15:00-17:00 P.M. Sydney
Learn more and register today!
Wondering whether you should attend? Here are five reasons you need to be there!
Monthly Webinar Videos Now on YouTubeYou can now watch excerpts from past monthly webinars on YouTube, right from your desktop or mobile device. The ITA Webinar Series playlist features presentations from the IT Academy team and guests about topics that matter most to you. Be sure to check out the three newest videos from our December webinar on professional development resources and opportunities for educators:
Professional Development for IT Academy InstructorsHeidi Johnson, Senior Product Manager for Microsoft IT Academy, provides an overview of training, certification, and other valuable professional development resources available to IT Academy instructors.
Using IT Academy for Professional Educator DevelopmentKatherine Schmit, Business and Technology Instructor at Kalama High School (Kalama, WA), provides an overview of professional development resources available to IT Academy instructors. Learn how certifications such as Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE) validate technology skills for teachers and students, and find out about training materials ranging from Microsoft e-learning to official courseware.
MTA: Foundations of KnowledgeJustin Crompton—Information Technology Teacher/MCT, Academy at Central High Point, NC—shares the value of Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification, the foundation for technology training. Justin shares how MTA helps students prove their passion and fundamental technical skills as they explore academic and career options, and sets the course for advanced Microsoft training and certification.
Subscribe to the Microsoft IT Academy YouTube channel to stay updated when new videos are posted.
In Other News...
International Education Forums Promote Knowledge-Sharing, Honor Visionaries
The 2014 Education World Forum (EWF) and British Education Technology & Training (BETT) Show are wrapping up. This year's EWF theme, Empowering Ministers of Education with Transformational Change, an invitation-only event targeted at national ministers of education and their delegations, is designed to inspire top-down change. Last year’s EWF included over 100 education ministers, representing over 90 countries. Read about the event in this TechNet blog post by Anthony Salcito, Microsoft VP of Worldwide Education.
"While education reform requires hard work and support from many fronts—students, teachers, administrators, parents and policy makers—the national ministers of education have very specific and unique pressures and perspectives," Salcito says. "EWF exposes them to the ideas of global education visionaries, and then empowers them to advocate for change."
The annual Microsoft in Education Global Forum, taking place in Barcelona, March 11 to 14, will recognize and celebrate the achievements of educators who are preparing students for life in the 21st century. Attending educators, school leaders, and education and government leaders from 75 countries will honor this year's recipients of Microsoft Expert Educator and Microsoft Mentor School awards.
Stay Informed & Join the Discussion
Shine a Light on Your Success!
By highlighting your IT Academy accomplishments on the IT Academy Blog, you can help lead the way for other IT Academy members and students around the world. Send a brief summary of your success and any accompanying images or videos—along with your contact information—to the IT Academy team. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Five Reasons to Attend the Career & College Readiness Virtual Event
On February 13 and 18, Microsoft IT Academy will host a special 2-hour “Career & College Readiness” virtual event. Here are five reasons you and your colleagues in education should register today to attend:
1. Get insight on the state of youth employment. Tune in to hear first-hand from educators and technology career experts on current and projected trends on the technology job landscape—critical insights that will affect not only how your students prepare for college and careers, but also how you tailor curriculum to guide them to success in the workforce. 2. Get a clear roadmap for guiding students to college and career success. We’ve formatted this 2-hour event as six 20-minute sessions that cover the full breadth of content you need to know, delivered by the experts working to solve challenges new technologists face in an increasingly-competitive workforce:
3. Discover the value of certification to validate employable skills. College and career recruiters increasingly demand real-world experience for aspiring college and career-bound students. Learn how to effectively incorporate Microsoft certification in your curriculum, presented by Microsoft education experts and educators.
4. Hear real-world success stories from educators. Microsoft IT Academy instructors from schools across the U.S. will share tips, success stories, and techniques they use every day in the classroom—learn what works best directly from your colleagues!
5. Get your questions answered! Our virtual event platform lets you interact with the presenters and other attendees. Ask questions in an easy-to-use chat module, and get immediate answers from presenters and the Microsoft IT Academy team.
Choose the event time that fits your schedule and register today! Thursday, February 13 | 8:00 – 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time February 18th | 12:00-14:00 Asia/Singapore / 15:00-17:00 PM Sydney
In other news...
What Skills Future Employees Need to Learn Now: A Student’s Perspective
Critical skills for workplace success is a hot topic. In our upcoming College and Career Readiness event (above), you’ll hear from experts in the field on what it takes to prepare students from success. Before then, you can get an undergraduate student’s perspective on the topic.
On the Partners in Learning Hot Topics blog, Haas School of Business student Steven Yang shares his view on the importance of learning the ‘Four C’s’-- Critical Thinking/Problem Solving, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity—and the discrepancies in the classroom between what students need to learn vs. the traditional learning methods many schools continue to practice.
Read Steven’s insightful blog post.
Educators receive free Big Data Practice Exams for a limited time
You have the tools to prepare yourself and your students for a career where Big Data plays a Big Role. Whether your student becomes a consumer of Big Data in a business or operational capacity or an IT Professional planning data strategy, having that fundamental understanding of how data is stored, secured and used will be of benefit. Equip yourself to prepare your students by including Database Fundamentals in your professional development plan.
For a limited time you can register here to receive a free Measure Up Practice Test for MTA Database Fundamentals. This practice test is complementary to your IT Academy professional development benefits that include full Microsoft Official Academic Course Curriculum, learning tools, and a teacher starter kit that includes MTA exam vouchers.
Making the Grades – The Evolution of Teaching Methods
Teaching methods have certainly changed over the past few generations. From a profession where you were once referred to as a ‘schoolmaster’ to the current modern teacher, a lot has changed. The daily edventures blog presents an infographics that offers a visual view of just how far education has evolved in recent years.
View the infographics here.
Everything you need to know about Office 365 Education
Office 365 Education gives students, faculty, and administrators in your school reliable cloud-based web services, including document collaboration, shared calendars & more. Whether you’re using Office 365 at your school now, or want to learn how Office 365 helps students learn, a new, free guide provides everything you need to know.
View the free guide on SlideShare.
Join us for a special two-hour virtual College & Career Readiness Event
Choose the event time that fits your schedule: Thursday, February 13 | 8:00 – 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time | Add this event to your calendarFebruary 18th from 12:00-14:00 Asia/Singapore/ 15:00-17:00 PM Sydney | Add this event to your calendar
Register Now!
Who should attend: If you are in education, this event is for you! Administrators, educators, instructors, teachers, faculty, career counselors, curriculum planners are encouraged to attend.Format: Live, interactive virtual broadcast with engaging chat and Q&A opportunities for attendees and industry experts
About the Event
For technology educators, the responsibility of preparing students for success in higher education and future careers is no small one. Educators are tasked with fostering a dynamic set of foundational soft skills and technical skills in technologies that never stop evolving. The pace of change in the job market, technology platforms, and in-demand skills can outstrip educators’ ability to keep up—but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Join Microsoft IT Academy program for an informative, free, two-hour virtual event showcasing the latest best practices technology educators can adopt to effectively guide college and career-minded students, and foster a new generation of innovators in the IT and developer technology fields.
This virtual event will consist of six mini-sessions hosted by industry experts and drilling down into the topics that matter most to you.
AgendaSpeakers to be announced shortly!
8:00 – 8:10 A.M.: The Global Skills Gap and Job Market LandscapeAn overview of the technology skills development landscape and roadmap for guiding students to success.
8:10 – 8:28 A.M.: Extending Today’s Technology Curriculum in the Classroom and OnlineExplore the value and best practices for adopting technology curriculum and certification in the classroom and online learning platforms, including Microsoft Office Specialist, Microsoft Technology Associate, and Microsoft Certified Professional certification tracks.
Entry-level Technology for Your College- and Career-Minded Students (two sessions)8:28 – 8:46 A.M.: Technology for Everyone: Validating your students’ success in Microsoft OfficeThe right mix of tools, training, and certification is essential to inspire entry-level students to set a course for a future career using the latest business technologies. We’ll review the best practices for getting students started on a productive path, including the value of Microsoft Office training and certification options.
8:46 – 9:04 A.M.: Entry-level technology for your college and career-minded students Aspiring technologists thrive when immersed in the IT and developer technologies they’ll work with every day in future roles. Learn about Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) training and certification, and how it helps students get hands-on with the latest technologies.
9:04 – 9:22 A.M.: Technology Endorsements that Get RecognizedHelping students develop solid technology skills is just part of the learning equation. Validation is a critical, ongoing need to ensure students stay motivated, focused, and empowered. Learn from IT Academy educators and learning experts on ways to endorse and validate students’ skills.
9:22 – 9:40 A.M.: The Last Mile: Résumé Building and Interview TechniquesStanding out in a crowded job marketplace requires sharp self-promotion skills. Join a panel of hiring experts on the very latest hiring trends and best practices for successfully landing entry-level technology roles. We’ll discuss tips for creating résumés that can’t be ignored, and interview preparation tips that you can share with graduating students.
9:40 – 10:00 A.M.: Q&A – Get your questions answered live!
Keep up with the latest details on this unique event for the educators across the globe! Stay tuned to this blog and IT Academy social channels for event updates as we announce guest speakers and session details
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.
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.
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