As many of you know, I love "year in review" retrospectives, so my holiday gift to all of you is my annual summary of what happened in the world of exams from a numbers perspective. Without further ado, let’s take a look back at 2013:
So, those are the highlights from an exam publication perspective, but this year, I thought it might be more fun to talk about what I did in 2013. If you know me, you know I love to talk about what I do…
Wishing you an awesome 2014! And, just for fun... a picture of me on my favorite hike from 2013 with the best dog ever!
Is your company's data weighing you down or is it helping you drive smart strategy for your business? If your data isn't core to decisions in product development, forecasting, operations, inventory, marketing and sales, it may be time to rethink your data strategy. What some organizations consider a headache to keep in check (security and PII management, sifting through relevant vs. detracting information), others are using as a core strategy tool that no business professional on top of their game would be without.
As technology evolves and opportunities arise, the amount of data that businesses are entrusted with is growing at an astonishing rate. Friend or foe, data must be managed, as trusted MCT and principal at Sourcedev Rachel Jones explains. Make sure that your organization is positioned to profit by having a smart data management and IT talent plan.
Resources:
I'd love to hear how we're doing in helping prepare you for your "big data" career/challenges.
A few months back we let you all know that we are updating our exams to cover Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2 and System Center 2012 R2. Well, the day is approaching quickly when the updates will be seen in the exams. In just under 3 weeks, on January 28th, you will see the updated content in the exams.
I am working on getting all our webpages updated to include this information for all of you, but here are a few more key pieces of information:
1. Exams being updated on January 28th you can review the exam detail pages and download the document outlining the changes:
NOTE: Upgrade exam objectives will follow the changes shown in the full exams. For example, exam 689 changes follow the changes in exams 687 and 688.
2. Training Content being updated as follows:
Instructor Led Courses
Microsoft Virtual Academy
Microsoft Press
3. Exam name changes
If you didn't already notice, we have changed the exam names for the Windows 8 exams. The names now include 8.1 and we changed one of the exams from Managing and Maintaining Windows 8 to Supporting Windows 8.1. The certification names remain the same.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
Guest post by Barbara Norfleet
You may have already noticed—the member sites for our three certified professional tracks (Microsoft Certified Professional [MCP], Microsoft Certified Trainer [MCT], and Microsoft Office Specialist [MOS]) have been refreshed with a new look and feel to coordinate with that of our www.microsoft.com/learning sites. Members will benefit from the synergy between the sites and the common site navigation. Research and plan your next steps toward certification with easier access to the information you need.
Also, the new design is both eye-catching and practical—the page adapts to your device—so using it on your phone, tablet, or other device just got easier!
The main menu contains links to Microsoft training, certifications, exams, professional development opportunities, and more.
All of your benefits are still available in the new, upgraded format. Look for quick links to the most popular benefits: accessing your transcripts, getting certificates, and connecting to the Certification Planner. And explore the scrolling list of the most recent announcements.
You’ll also find links to the other benefits and certification information you count on. We continue to seek out and partner with other groups to bring promotional offers to our Certified Professionals, so be sure to check them out, and stay tuned for updates!
Explore! Enjoy! Let us know what you think! We look forward to hearing from you!
To stay aligned with how developers build Web applications, the Microsoft Learning Experiences team is making a few exciting updates to the MCSD: Web Applications certification:
1. CHOICE: Web application development often requires a combination of programming languages for implementation, so students now have a choice of two exams to fulfill the language requirement (Step 1) for earning the MCSD: Web Applications certification:
The added flexibility provides a convenient path for desktop and enterprise developers transitioning to cloud computing.
2. COVERAGE: The past year has seen Web application development evolve with the use of technologies such as ASP.NET MVC5, WebAPI2, Entity Framework 6, Azure Portal, and Visual Studio 2013. To help students stay current, the following exams will be updated in March 2014:
At least one month prior to the update, details on the original and revised exam objectives will be made available for review in the Skills Measured section of each Exam Detail web page.
Also in March 2014, recertification options for maintaining the MCSD: Web Applications credential will be made available.
3. CONVENIENCE: We recognize that developers rely on self-study materials to stay current with technology. So, in addition to instructor-led courses, we've grown our developer library of recorded video training on Microsoft Virtual Academy. Here are the most recent offerings to help students prepare for the updated Web application development exams:
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.
What: Tech Showcases are hosted by Microsoft Learning Partners—organizations specializing on Microsoft technology training—that are fully endorsed by Microsoft to deliver training that leverages real-world knowledge
Who: Everyone who's interested in getting a thorough, first-hand overview of the major features and core scenarios in the latest releases of Microsoft technologies is invited
Where: At Microsoft Learning Partner locations around the world
When: Find the available event dates and times for Windows 8.1 Tech Showcases or Windows Server 2012 R2 Tech Showcases and reserve your seat!
Interested in other technologies and training offered by Microsoft Learning Partners? Visit our "Instructor-Led Training" forum to find out more. You can also ask Elaine L. questions about Tech Showcases there.
Microsoft Office 365 is transforming the way IT Professionals provision our Office products and administer our industry leading business productivity tools (Exchange, SharePoint and Lync).
How do you plan to position yourself as a certified Office 365 professional as the industry evolves using cloud services?
Today, Microsoft is announcing the availability of two new exams that help test an individual’s competency of Office 365. Those that pass the following two beta exams, will receive our Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification for Office 365. This certification will be promoted across the IT Industry as our “cloud services standard” that Microsoft expects from IT Professionals who are responsible for the migration and administration of Office 365 business productivity services. We plan to change the Microsoft Partner Network requirements for Office 365 partner competency in early 2014, with these new exams as requirements for their consulting staff to maintain.
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): Office 365
Beta exam – 71-346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements
Beta exam – 71-347: Enabling Office 365 Services
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beta exam period runs: December 6th – February 16th, 2014.
We recommend that you register immediately in order to take advantage of the early availability of these exams. If you register, please ensure you are committed to attend.
Testing is held at most Prometric testing centers worldwide. These beta exams may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centers will have the capability to offer these exams in its live version.
Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China, Turkey
If you pass a 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 MCP exams, when the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration. Please note that these exams are testing on the current version of Office 365. The final exams will be released in February 2014. At that point the “Beta” tag will be removed from the exam name. Your Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) transcript will not reflect “Beta” in the exam title.
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 and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications.
To register for your exam, go to the Prometric website http://www.prometric.com. If you have difficulty registering online, call Prometric at (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926). Let the representative know that you would like to register for a Microsoft beta exam and provide them the following exam information:
71-346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements
71-347: Enabling Office 365 Services
Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact: Prometric: www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp
Note that you will need to call Prometric directly to reschedule or cancel your exam. Rescheduling or cancelling your beta exam through Prometric’s web site will incur a fee.
Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although these beta exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centers will have the capability to offer these exam in its live version.
To register in North America, please call: Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)
You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.
You can find the exam preparation information in the following exam webpages. Under the “Skills Measured” section of each page, you can find the technical areas that you will be measured in the exams.
www.microsoft.com/.../exam.aspx
Additional Office 365 exam preparation materials are on Microsoft Virtual Academy.
You can find answers to Frequently Asked Questions about beta exams here:
www.microsoft.com/.../exam-dev-release.aspx
For Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) help and information, you may log in to the MCP Web site at http://mcp.microsoft.com/ or contact your Regional Service Center: www.microsoft.com/.../assisted-support.aspx
For updates and information about exams, visit the Born to Learn blog at: borntolearn.mslearn.net
If you have questions or comments about the Microsoft Learning Subject Matter Experts program, contact [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
Lots of work going on in the world of developer and SQL certification - here are the top three things you need to know:
Read on to learn more…
Windows UX Design Specialist
Microsoft Learning Experiences is excited to announce availability of Exam 74-353: Windows UX Design. Exam 353 validates skills associated with applying Microsoft user experience (UX) guidelines to the design of Windows 8 Store applications. By passing this exam, you will earn a Microsoft Specialist certification. This certification complements the skills validated in the MCSD: Windows Store Apps certification.
Training related to the Windows UX Design exam is available in two forms:
MCSD: Windows Store Apps
Updates to the MCSD: Windows Store Apps exams to address features in Visual Studio 2013 and Windows 8.1 are now complete.
The following Exam Detail pages now reflect the updated exam objectives:
To learn about the updates to Windows Store App Development using C#, we recommend reviewing the recordings from these Jump Start courses:
To learn about the updates to Windows Store App Development using HTML5, we recommend reviewing the recording from this Jump Start course:
Updated Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC) for Windows Store Apps will be available in January 2014.
Certification Updates for SQL Server 2014
In reviewing the SQL Server 2014 product, the Microsoft Learning Experiences team determined that the new features focus on performance tuning and high availability. As skilling and testing around these features is best suited for the MCSE level, the following updates are planned:
To help prepare for the MCSA: SQL Server 2012 exams, recordings are now available for several recent Jump Start courses for database administrators and developers:
As a reminder for those individuals who already hold any MCTS or MCSA certification on SQL Server 2008, there is a streamlined two-exam upgrade path to MCSA: SQL Server 2012:
From now through May 31, 2014, there is a special promotion of 25% off the cost of these exams, plus free retakes if needed.
And, what is it that Anti-Piracy Program Managers do here? (For those of you who know me and my love for movie lines, can you name the movie this is borrowed from? Emphasis on the word "do here" as in "what is that you'd say you do here?")
Enjoy!
Welcome to December and the end of the year!
For this month’s blog, I thought I’d do something a little different. I’ve talked about how I rely on others to be my eyes and ears when it comes to exam security. Our Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT) are a big part of that process. We rely on them to not only prepare students to pass our exams and get skilled, but we also rely on them to be an integral part of the security efforts here.
Because I’m not often in a classroom setting, I reached out to an MCT for her perspective on what students should look for when it comes to security and a good instructor. Rachel Jones is a software developer and trainer who teaches throughout the country as well as internationally. She holds degrees in both Computer Science and Business. Rachel serves as a Subject Matter Expert to Microsoft and is passionate about helping others prepare for careers in the IT industry by developing quality certifications and curriculum. She holds several industry certifications such as, MCSD, MCPD, MTA, MCLC, MOS, and CTT+.
I asked Rachel a few questions about how security in a classroom comes into play.
Kerri: What kinds of things should an instructor be doing to prepare students to take an exam fairly and without taking security risks? What should students look for?
Rachel: Students should look for an Instructor that upholds a high level of integrity. A good instructor will cover test objectives and provides examples but never give out specific test questions. If an instructor ever encourages you to use brain dump sites to pass the test, this is a good sign that his/her method of teaching may also lack in quality.
Instructors should provide an overview of the test objectives and give real-world examples of applied knowledge. Specific test questions and answers should not be discussed in the classroom. Also, it’s a good practice to remind students that while working in a team environment, they should not share answers to the test as it devalues its credibility.
Q. Should students care how a trainer prepares them for an exam, as long as they pass it?
A. Yes, because training should be centered around learning to use the skill in a real world environment. Passing the certification should be evidence of the result and not the result, itself. It would be like an earning a driver’s license without knowing how to drive!
Q. Should students be concerned when an MCT points to or uses brain dump (or other illicitly-obtained) material? Or should they leave that responsibility to Microsoft and/or the Learning Partner?
A. As an instructor, it’s my responsibility to uphold the value of the certification process. Encouraging brain dump sites devalues the certification which is a reflection on me as well as the certification. How students view the credibility of certification begins with me! If I, as the instructor, adhere to a high standard, it will most likely affect how the student views the process.
As a student, it’s important to be part of the effort to reduce cheating on certification exams. When others cheat, it devalues the efforts of hardworking, honest certified professionals.
Q. What should a student do if they think an instructor is promoting use of such materials?
A. The first line of defense would be to discuss the concern directly with the instructor and the training center. If the instructor continues to promote materials and practices you feel are unethical, you should let Microsoft know. They have processes in place to harshly penalize those that do not maintain the ethical standards set forth by the MCT program. (Note from Kerri: Feel free to use the [email protected] alias to report any concerns.)
Q. How can students let instructors know when they are doing a good job teaching and upholding security standards?
A. Most courses end with an evaluation process. Instructors truly value hearing student feedback. In addition to completing the standard 1-9 ratings, take the extra minute to write in a comment on how you appreciate the instructors’ high ethical standard. This provides reinforcement to the instructor. In addition, these evaluations are also sent to Microsoft and provide valuable information to them. On the flip side, if you feel the instructor violated the integrity of the MCT program, let him/her know in the evaluation.
Thank you Rachel! I appreciate you taking the time to talk about security in a classroom.
For my readers, as always, if you see behavior in a classroom that you question or have a concern about, please let me know.
Got a tip for me? Let me know at [email protected].
Hello, database geeks! Yes, SQL Server 2014 is the new shiny object, but you also know the importance of keeping your credentials current while expanding your product knowledge. For those who are certified in SQL Server 2008, we'd like to remind you about upgrading your certification to MCSA: SQL Server 2012. It's time to get it done. Why now? Because you can save 25% on the upgrade exam pack, and get free retakes just in case! Here are the details:
Who qualifies for this offer?If you currently hold one of these certifications, you can take advantage of this upgrade offer:
What can I upgrade to?
What exactly do I get in this upgrade offer?
You get 25% off the price of these two (2) upgrade exams when purchased as a pack, and each exam comes with one free Second Shot (retake) if you fail.
How soon do I have to commit to this?
You have to buy this upgrade offer by May 31, 2014. You also need to finish using all the exam vouchers and free retakes by December 31, 2014.
What if I already took one of the exams in this upgrade pack?
You can still take advantage of our Second Shot offer on single exams.
What if I miss the upgrade window and want to update my certification later?
When the upgrade exams retire (and they will, date TBD), you'll have to start over with a new certification path, which typically means taking three exams at the regular price.
What if I need help preparing for these exams?
Check out the online study group for SQL Server. There are Microsoft Certified Trainers and your fellow IT Pros there to help and provide support.
Go ahead. Buy the upgrade pack now.
This is a guest post by Andy Syrewicze, a seasoned IT Pro of 10+ Years. Andy focuses on Virtualization, Managed Services, and the Microsoft Server Platform. You can find him on Twitter as @asyrewicze.
Hello, Born to Learn Readers,
Technical Evangelist Keith Mayer and I are doing a series on TechNet Radio titled "Hyper-V from a VMware Admin’s Perspective." In this latest episode, we're walking you through the finer points of virtual machine mobility with Windows Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012 R2.
For those Administrators that work with virtual infrastructure on a daily basis, the live movement of virtual machines is often one of the more overlooked functions of a hypervisor, yet it serves such an important purpose in IT today. VM mobility is what allows us to get our work done behind the scenes when making dramatic changes to physical infrastructure. It’s a key piece needed to balance workloads dynamically across several hosts in a cluster, and it provides IT pros the ability to move virtual machines from dev/test to production with the click of a button. I would argue that this feature alone has prevented countless hours of planned production downtime due to needed hardware maintenance or patching. The IT pro of today can simply Live Migrate the production workload to different hardware while the aforementioned maintenance is completed. Seems like magic really. If I could go back and tell my “Windows 98/95 desktop administrating former self” about what was to come, I’d be met with blank stares and disbelief. Even with that said, Microsoft has now stepped things up a notch.
VMware admins are all very familiar with vMotion and storage vMotion. In this Podcast we’ll see how Microsoft has not only met VMware on equal footing, but has provided additional functionality. We’ll be covering all the various movement scenarios such as movement between clusters and shared-nothing live migrations. Also, it’s not enough to just move a VM. The quicker we can do it, the quicker we can complete the task at hand, and move onto more pressing matters. Compressed Live Migrations and Live Migration over SMB-Direct (RDMA) is enabling lightning fast VM movement from host to host. The idea of live migrating entire farms in a matter of seconds is starting to become a reality.
Also, we’ll be covering the use of multiple NICs and the built in Windows Server 2012 R2 NIC teaming features and how they apply to Live Migrations. Hope you enjoy this show. Feel free to contact me or Keith should you have any questions.
And if this episode alone is not enough to satiate your need for more Hyper-V, Microsoft Learning is putting on a two-day Jump Start on Windows Server virtualization, centered around Hyper-V and System Center Virtual Machine Manager. Microsoft will even provide attendees with a FREE exam voucher (while supplies last) for exam 70-409, to earn your Microsoft Certified Virtualization Specialist title. There is no better time to get trained and prove your expertise in virtualization!
Keep on learning and thanks for watching.
Welcome to November already. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, the days are getting colder and darker and you may be hunkering down to study for more Microsoft certifications.
Since we just finished Halloween in the U.S., I was reminded of the old verse from Sir Walter Scott:
Oh what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive…
(Or is that Shakespeare? Feel free to discuss.)
That verse particularly applies to brain dumps as they deceive the public. I know I’ve talked about brain dumps before. But another aspect of their insidious nature is that some of them not only provide exam content, but they actively mislead someone into thinking they are getting our exam content when it’s not our content at all. Often the “exam material” they sell isn’t remotely related to the exam. They feed the unsuspecting purchaser a bunch of garbage.
We see many comments from examinees who failed our exams and want to know why, because they purchased “exam prep” material from braindumpX. When we investigate that site or source, we find out that their content is not ours or is completely wrong. A customer of the site wouldn’t know that, of course. (Yet another good reason not to use a brain dump.) They think they just paid for a Microsoft exam and got burned.
While that’s a good lesson for the purchaser in not skirting around legitimate study sources and gaining the skills in the first place, I still don’t like how these sites affect people. Even though they are using brain dumps, which violates our exam agreement, it’s unfortunate because they erroneously think Microsoft’s exam content is available. I often tell people not to assume that brain dump sites have our content; a lot of the time, they don’t. Some of them take your money first and never even provide any exam material, real or not. These are scam enterprises. They base their business on that deception.
And it’s also unfortunate because the perception is that Microsoft’s exam content is “all over the place” when really, it is not. But there’s no way to determine that unless a purchase leaves you empty-handed. Of course, the free marketplace may dictate that the more people who get burned by these sites, the faster they will go out of business. However, that's not a strategy for braindump management I want to rely on.
That’s why we still work hard to take these sites down; why we have updated our exams to thwart piracy by continuing to innovate around the design and delivery of our exam content and questions. Trust us—we’re doing everything we can to stop pirates, but much of it is invisible to candidates.
As we get closer to the updates on the Windows Store Apps exams to address features in Visual Studio 2013 and Windows 8.1, we wanted to make you aware of two details:
1. There has been an modification in the exam release schedule:
2. Individuals focusing on Windows Store App Development using C# now have the opportunity to register for refresh Jump Start events (or review the recordings made available 2-3 weeks after the live sessions):
Details on all exam updates are now available for review in the Skills Measured section of each Exam Detail web page:
Updated Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC) will be available in January 2014.
Whether you have started on the path to earning your certification or are just about to begin, we recommend that you continue moving forward. For developer certifications on Windows 8 application development with Visual Studio 2012, the exams you take now will still count towards your certification.
To learn about new product features covered in the revised HTML5 exams, we recommend that students review the Windows Store Apps with HTML5 Refresh Jump Start.
In February 2014, recertification options will be made available for:
Read the FAQ on the Visual Studio Certification page to find out more.
Hi! I’m Victoria. Some of you may know me as the marketing manager for the Microsoft Technology Associate certifications. Along with helping people earn their first technical certification, I wanted to tell you about some of the other things I work on. My passion and job is to help people explore options or enhance their careers using technology. Happily, the Microsoft resources and opportunities at our disposal just keep getting better. Whether I’m talking to a student or a mid-career professional looking to branch out into a field with more potential and job security, I can provide them with information, show them free and fee training resources, and point them to a learning roadmap to help them get started. As a starting point, check out our new Aspiring Technologist page for those interested in exploring a change or starting a new career in technology.
And there’s one more thing I want to share with you: I want to remind everyone how critical it is to be aware of data security across the IT industry. And, along with that awareness, is the need for more skilled security professionals. Information Security is much more than a buzz phrase. For businesses to stay compliant and competitive, data security has got to be “top of mind” for everyone from the CXO and Data Analysts to Finance and Marketing. Is our workforce prepared for the security challenges in front of us?
My goal is to make sure that those just entering the technology workforce understand the importance and fundamentals of data security and that those of us who may have been in the industry for a while don’t forget how important it is. I found this article to be an eye-opener to the challenges and skills gap when it comes to data security.
“Constantly evolving cyber threats require the engagement of all of us – from government and law enforcement, to the private sector and the public. It makes sense when you realize that cyber crime now totals $100 billion – a number expected to increase in the years ahead.”
Contact me if I can be of help to you. Check out our new Aspiring Technologist page, and don’t forget to think about data security!
Happy Halloween! The ACE Chronicles takes you behind the scenes to see what life is like on Halloween in the hallowed halls of Microsoft Learning Experiences. Find out what Super Sigma and Psychomagician learned about how Microsoft goes a little nuts on Halloween!
Melissa Bathum and I just spent most of the day at the production studio where we will be bringing Microsoft Insights to you LIVE on October 29, 2013. We're very excited to see all the pieces of the event plan come together, so I wanted to sit down and write a quick note to tell you more. For those blog readers who don't know her yet, Melissa is our Events Manager. Many of you have met her at Certification Central during events such as TechEd. Although our team cannot be at every conference to meet everyone, we want to hear from you and help answer your questions about training, certifications jobs and career development more often. That's why online events such as Insights are becoming more important for you and for us.
During our last online event "Certified Career Day" in March, we discussed the opportunities cloud technologies are creating, and the gaps employers are seeing in training and experience. This time, during Insights 2013, we are zooming in tighter on these topics. We are extending that conversation into specific technology and career paths, the earning and growth potentials for each path, and how the picture differs from one region of the world to another. To put it more frankly: why are so many tech jobs left unfilled? How much do they pay? What does someone, whether experienced or new to technology, need to do to acquire the most in-demand knowledge and skills? What about the age-old debate over college degrees vs. technical training?
Microsoft Insights will not be one of those webcasts that you just log in and sort of watch on your second (or third) monitor while working away. We have assembled a team to answer your questions in real time. Melissa and I will personally be watching your comments and getting them to the panelists for response and discussions. You can either interact with other attendees or our team within the virtual event platform, or talk to us via Twitter (follow @MSLearning). We will use the hashtag #MSInsights13.
Here's the day at a glance (all times PDT, GMT-7) so you can plan to tune in:
9:00am-10:00am PDTOur panel of experts (check them out) will reveal research data and share their perspectives on technology employment and earning trends.
10:10am-12:00pm PDTGet the story directly from those who have been working, learning and finding success. If you're a developer or need to hire one, you won't want to miss the interview with Jeremy Foster (Technical Evangelist | @codefoster) and Chris Gardner (Senior Software Engineer | @freestylecoder)!
Bonus: If you join us LIVE on the 29th, you'll be entered to win a certification exam pack, valued at US$450. There's still time so register now! See you on the 29th!
(Microsoft Insights event sweepstakes rules)
To help students stay current with upcoming releases of Visual Studio 2013 and Windows 8.1, several Windows Store Apps exams will be updated on November 18, 2013.
Details on the exam updates are now available for review in the Skills Measured section of each Exam Detail web page:
To learn about new product features covered in the revised HTML5 exams, we recommend that students review the Windows Store Apps with HTML5 Refresh Jump Start. Individuals focusing on Windows Store app development using C# will still find the introduction module of this Jump Start relevant, while a C#-specific refresh Jump Start is planned by the end of the calendar year.
Some of you may remember that in February I asked you to complete a survey to provide feedback on some ideas that I had for improving the score reports. Some of you may also be wondering whatever happened with your feedback... well, much of your feedback was mixed with no particular idea standing out as the "right" direction to head with the score reports. As a result, I went back to the drawing board, did more benchmarking with how other certification programs were reporting results, worked closely with our tools team to determine what was possible in our channel, refined my ideas, held more focus groups, and finally landed on what I think will best address much of what you'd like to see in score reports based on comments that you provided when completing that survey in February.
After all this time, I'm super excited to announce that I have a prototype of the new and improved score reports ready to go, and they are currently being pilot tested on exams 410, 411, and 412 with 480 soon to follow!! If you want to see it, go take one of those exams! (I know... shameless plug!). Here are the key improvements/changes:
As you can see, the fail score report was changed more substantially than the passing score report because candidates want more feedback on their performance so that they can better prepare to retake the exam. My impression from the survey results and focus groups is that most candidates who pass rarely look at the score report (they may read it the first time they pass) and don't use it for skill growth. Failing candidates do, though.
These score reports are currently being pilot tested on exams 410, 411, and 412 with 480 soon to follow. If you take one of these exams in the next few months, please let me know what you think of the new score reports (email: [email protected] or respond to this blog). If all goes well, we will start rolling out the new reports in January as we publish new exams.
For your viewing pleasure, an example of a failing score report:
And, an example of the passing score report:
Chances are you’ve heard about Microsoft Insights—our free online event taking place October 29th (9 A.M. Pacific Time). You won’t want to miss this awesome opportunity to hone your professional goals! Whether you’re seeking to advance your skills or launching a career in technology, insider tips on emerging opportunities in technology fields and available training and resources will leave you better prepared to succeed. Our panel of industry experts will help you answer these questions:
Another GREAT reason to attend—By signing up and attending, you’ll be automatically entered into a sweepstakes to win a Certification exam pack for your choice of MCSA: Windows Server 2012; MCSA: SQL Server 2012; MCSA: Windows 8; or any MCSD Certification. Check out the rules for more details.
What are you waiting for? Sign up for Microsoft Insights 2013 today!
Heads up, IT Pros! If you are still kicking around the idea of upgrading your certification to Windows Server 2012, it's time to get it done. Why now? Because you can "buy 2, get 1 free" on exams, and get free retakes just in case! Here are the details:
What can I upgrade to?There are the three upgrade paths eligible for this offer. Pick one! (No substitution on exams.)
You get three exams for the price of two, and you get one free retake on each exam in the pack if you fail.
You have to buy this upgrade offer by May 31, 2014. You also need to finish using all the vouchers and free retakes by December 31, 2014.
What if I already took some of the exams in these discount packs?
Check out the online study group for Windows Server. There are Microsoft Certified Trainers and your fellow IT Pros there to help and provide support.
Go ahead. Buy the upgrade pack now. There won't be a better offer any time soon.