2011 STEMtech conference

1. 2011 STEMtech conference Indianapolis, IN *New* Microsoft technology associate (mta) certifications for it students

2. presented by Debora A. Collins, Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant Certiport, Inc. M.S. Curriculum & Instruction, Brigham Young University-1985 Minor: Computer Science M.S., B.S. Oregon State University – 1980, 1983 Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant (MCLC) Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Post-Secondary Teaching Experience: Computer Science, Weber State University, Utah Computer Networking & Security, ITT Technical Institute, Utah Several Private Technical Schools

3. Who and what is certiport? www.certiport.com Certiport: The world leader in performance-based certification exams and practice tests for academic institutions and corporate markets Over 2 million exams are administered annually at 10,000 Certiport Authorized Testing Centers worldwide (1 million are MOS exams) Certiport manages a sophisticated portfolio of leading practice test and certification programs Certiport works with more than 400 subject matter experts in 20 countries to ensure exam objectives are consistent with market needs Certiport is based in American Fork, Utah where it has more than 180 employees… and we’re hiring certified specialists! Certiport delivers exams in 142 countries and 24 languages Exams include: Adobe AutoDesk CompTIA Intuit Microsoft

4. agenda • The Value of Industry Certifications • What is MTA? • Comparison to Cisco, Oracle and CompTIA • Roadmap to Microsoft certifications • The 9 MTA Exams and Available Teaching Resources • Northwestern Michigan College’s Success Story • How to Start a Certification Program • Funding an MTA Program • 5 Basic Steps to Start • Rise to the Challenge!

5. free gift for participating! At the end of this session submit the paper evaluation and receive a FREE MTA T-shirt!

6. Academic Survey says….. Source: “The Importance of Educating IT Students in Technology Fundamentals” [White Paper]. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2011. According to a survey of 40,000 IT Faculty • ½ of their students were not prepared to enter their first technology course. • One in three professors must stray from planned lectures to teach core IT concepts. • The majority agreed that ALL of their students would benefit from a stronger foundation in technology.

7. employers around the world are struggling to find skilled workers • 48% EMEA • QUEST FOR TALENT IS ONE OF THE LEADING CONCERNS AMONG CORPORATE EXECS GLOBALLY • 35% AMERICAS • 41% ASIA/PAC

8. A Major barrier to employment is the inability to apply real-world skills • “Employers have long complained that too many young people leave college without the employability skills they are looking for.” • Deloitte & Touche

9. A Major barrier to employment is the inability to apply real-world skills • “Employers have long complained that too many young people leave college without the employability skills they are looking for.” • Deloitte & Touche BREAK THE BARRIER WITH INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS!

10. What is industry certification? Industry-Defined Skills E-learning | Books | Classroom Foundation Academics Combined with Industry Exam To Validate Skills Relevance | Jobs | Career Journey Industry-issued Certificate!

11. certification validates real-world performance skills Certification validates effective use of technology, improving performance of Students, Information Workers, and IT professionals – and is proven to increase an individual’s efficiency both in the classroom and on the job.

12. What is MTA? Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) A group of entry-level certifications introduced in 2010 to validatefundamental knowledge of IT or Database Administration,or Software Development. The ideal stepping-stone tomore advanced Microsoft certifications. • Designed for students new to technology • Validates fundamental technology concepts. • Prepares students for advanced IT classes, MCTS certification, and entry level job experience, such as internships. • Exams are delivered in the classroom • Available only to Academic institutions

13. step towards a technology career Enhances Your Technology Curriculum • Credible credentials designed by Microsoft • Cost effective implementation with flexible exam licensing • Prepares students to compete in the real-world Helps Students Explore Their Potential • Career exploration • Certifications build confidence • Joins students to a community of more than 5 million Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) IDC reports a 40% gap in the next five to ten years between demand for, and supply of IT professionals with the right technical skills*. . *Source: “Certification at the Entry Level,” Matt Walker, Certification Magazine, July 2008.

14. How does mta compare to the Cisco and Oracle Academies? Cisco and Oracle • Entry-level certifications are designed for professionals with 2-3 years work experience. MTA is designed for students with no work experience. • Exams are not platform-agnostic and only focus on Cisco or Oracle technologies. Except for the Windows specific exams, MTA validates generic fundamental knowledge. • Cisco and Oracle exams are more expensive and are administered via Pearson Vue. MTA exams may be taken online in the classroom using an affordable campus license.

15. How does mta compare to comptia? CompTIA • MTA Exams 98-365: Windows Server Administration Fundamentals; 98-366: Networking Fundamentals; and 98-367: Security Fundamentals cover similar topics as CompTIA’s Server+, Network+, and Security+ certifications. • A key difference is that CompTIA’s Server+ is vendor-agnostic, while the MTA exam on Windows Server Administration Fundamentals is in the context of Windows Server technology. • Microsoft will continue to accept CompTIA certifications towards legacy MCSE and MCSA certifications., but not the current MCTS, MCIT or MCPD. MTA is the official entry-level certification that serves as a stepping stone towards MCTS.

16. Microsoft Certification roadmap MCA Advanced Series IT architects who have completed a rigorous industry-driven peer validation process. IT experts with demonstrated mastery of a product through hands on lab based testing. MCM Professional Series Comprehensive set of skills required to be successful on the job. MCITP or MCPD Technology Series In-depth skills working with Microsoft technologies. MCTS Associate Series Introducing Fundamental knowledge for students to start building a successful career in technology. MTA

17. MTA roadmap to potential salaries MTA Builds Careers • Students can explore, discover and plan successful careers • Whether they choose Network Administrator, Software Engineer, Web Developer, or Database Analyst … MTA is the first step! Sources: Salary.com, March 2011*U.S. Census Bureau, May 2010

18. Coming Soon... Game Development and Mobile Apps!

19. it pro exam objectives • 98-365: Windows Server Admin. Fundamentals • Understanding server installation • Understanding server roles • Understanding Active Directory • Understanding storage • Understanding server performance management • Understanding server maintenance • 98-366: Networking Fundamentals • Understanding network infrastructures • Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, WAN, wireless, topologies, access methods • Understanding network hardware • Switches, routers, media types • Understanding protocols and services • OSI model, IPv4, IPv6, names resolution, TCP/IP • 98-349: Windows Operating System Fundamentals • Understanding Operating System Configurations • Installing and Upgrading Client Systems • Managing Applications • Managing Files and Folders • Managing Devices • Understanding Operating System Maintenance • 98-367: Security Fundamentals • Understanding security layers • Understanding operating system security • Understanding network security • Understanding security software • Exams were defined based on career tracks with high demand in the industry. Topics were designed by MSL experts and vetted with college instructors.

20. Software Developer exam objectives • 98-361: Software Developer Fundamentals • Understanding core programming • Understanding object-oriented programming • Understanding general software development • Understanding web applications • Understanding desktop applications • Understanding databases • 98-362: Windows Developer Fundamentals • Understanding Windows programming basics • Creating Windows Forms applications • Creating WPF applications • Creating Windows Services applications • Accessing data in a Windows Forms application • Deploying Windows application • 98-372: Microsoft.NET Fundamentals • Understanding .NET Framework Concepts • Understanding Namespaces and Classes in the .NET Framework • Understanding .NET Code Compilation • Understanding I/O Classes in the .NET Framework • 98-363: Web Developer Fundamentals • Programming web applications • Working with data and services • Troubleshooting and debugging web applications • Working with client-side scripting • Configuring and deploying web applications • Exams were defined based on career tracks with high demand in the industry. Topics were designed by MSL experts and vetted with college instructors.

21. database administrator exam objectives • 98-364: Database Admin. Fundamentals • Understanding core database concepts • Creating database objects • Manipulating data • Understanding data storage • Administering a database Coming Soon... Game Development and Mobile Apps! • Exams were defined based on career tracks with high demand in the industry. Topics were designed by MSL experts and vetted with college instructors.

22. mta Exam Characteristics This is what to expect: • Exam is delivered online • Mix of multiple-choice, simulation, and scenario test items • 50 minute length • 30-50 test items • Score required to pass is 70% • Skills measured are posted on Certiport’swebsite

23. integration into existing curricula Scenarios you might encounter • The perfect fit – your existing course maps exactly to the ODs • Just a bit off – course is incomplete for a few OD elements • Pieces missing – course completely misses some ODs • No alignment at all – but instructor wants to provide MTA certification opportunity • Independent study – Instructor wants to offer MTA as an independent study or to a small group *OD = exam Objective Domains

24. MTA Exam Review kit (erk) Developed by MS Learning, each MTA Exam Review Kit is a collection of 20 (50 minute) review lessons covering the topics of each MTA exam. The ERKs are offered as a free digital download to MTA customers. • ERK Overview • Lesson objectives with unit scope and sequencing • Lesson mappings to the MTA exam objectives • Instructor materials • Lesson plans for each day of instruction • Presentation slides for each day of instruction • Annotated speaker notes for each slide • Content delivery resources including • Occasional class demonstrations • Occasional interactive whole-class sessions • Guides for discussions to foster dialogue about key topics • Student learning materials including • Instructor presentation slides • In-class exercises (including the code for those exercises) • Practical out-of-class homework • Labs as appropriate • Student assessment materials • End-of-lesson/sub-unit questions and answers

25. free student study guides IT Pro Edition, Developer and Database Editions Available in print ready or study ready format Download free of charge at: www.certiport.com/mrl

26. Looking for mta Specific textbooks? • John Wiley & Sons Publishing • The Microsoft Official Academic Courseware (MOAC) • Short, easy to read; may be used stand-alone or to supplement • 3 year adoption receives FREE MSDN AA membership! • FREE downloads of all Microsoft operating systems, servers, developer tools by faculty, staff, students for research and teaching purposes.

27. online game - are you certifiable? • Technical questions that help students prepare for their certification exam. • Students choose an avatar, a field of expertise, and compete against an online community for technical supremacy!

28. mta campus exam licenses Academic Flexibility • Exams can be delivered in any computer lab, classroom, library, or other facility on any computer connected to the Internet with a faculty to proctor. • In contrast, most certification site licenses in the IT market are restricted to a single computer room. Academic Pricing (1 year license)* $3,250 up to 500 exams per single campus $2,750 up to 250 exams per single campus $2,500 up to 100 exams per single campus *Single use MTA vouchers are also available for $47 each

29. mta practice tests • Exam-like questions match objectives  • Answers with detailed explanations & references • Personal study mode, score report and certification mode - with bookmarking Academic Pricing (1 year license includes all titles) $1,795 single campus with unlimited students $ 995 up to 60 users $ 695 up to 30 users $ 375 up to 10 users *Single title, single user is also available for $64 each

30. Have you ever thought of becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)? Obtain one or more MOS certifications then complete the MCT application requirements. Dues are $150/yr.Benefits Include: TechNet Subscription to most Microsoft software Download and license for Camtasia Studio and Snagit Downloads of all Microsoft courseware instructor kits Free eLearning, discounts on exams and books, other offers For more info: www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mct.aspx Educators – You can Become an MCT!

31. An mta success story! Download the related STEMTech session:Sunday: 9:45am – 10:45am “Program Assessment Using Microsoft Technology Associate Certification”Presenter: Keith Kelly , Program Coordinator, Northwestern Michigan College

32. How to start a certificationprogram

33. SEC. 113. ACCOUNTABILITY.(b) STATE PERFORMANCE MEASURES. (2)(B) CORE INDICATORS FOR CTE: POST-SECONDARY …shall include, at a minimum, measures of each ofthe following:(i) “Student attainment of challenging career and technical skill proficiencies, including student achievement on technical assessments, that are aligned with industry-recognized standards, if available and appropriate.” (ii) “Student attainment of an industry-recognized credential, a certificate, or a degree.” the Perkins act funds certification

34. SEC. 122. STATE PLAN.(c) PLAN CONTENTS. The State plan shall include… (2) …professional development that -(C) “is high quality, sustained, intensive, and focused oninstruction, and increases the academic knowledge and understanding of industry standards, as appropriate, of career and technical education teachers.” funding includes teacher training

35. 5 basic steps to start a certification program

36. 5 basic steps to start a certification program Register an Authorized Testing Center Visit Certiport’s homepage atwww.certiport.com and click the button, “Register a Testing Center”. Follow the steps to complete the application form . Your assigned Certiport representative will call you to activate your testing center.

37. 5 basic steps to start a certification program Acquire the required desktop software • All MTA exams are delivered online, so do not require that the specific server software or developer tool be installed to operate; however you will need software to TEACH the skills and prepare students. • Consider becoming a member of the MSDN Academic Alliance & DreamSpark • FREE downloads of all 500+ Microsoft operating systems, servers and developer tools by faculty, staff and students for research, teaching and learning purposes. • Membership Fee: $499 per year http://www.microsoft.com/education/highered/Administrator/MSDNAA/

38. 5 basic steps to start a certification program • Acquire a good textbook • If you want an MTA specific textbook, adopt the MOAC! • Includes an MSDN AA membership Exam Review Kits (ERKs) are FREE to supplement existing curricula and textbooks. Student study guides are also available for FREE! Ask your Certiport representative for more information.

39. 5 basic steps to start a certification program • Obtain individual exams or an exam site license An MTA Campus License is a 1 year subscription that provides either 100, 250 or 500 certification exams. Applies to any lab, classroom, building or computers within a single campus Price: $2,500, $2,750, $3,250 respectively Recommended Add-on Option: Practice tests by MeasureUp Price varies from $375 to $1,795. Contact Certiport for details. Academic pricing for a single-use MTA exam voucher is $47.

40. 5 basic steps to start a certification program • Certify your teachers The teacher is keyto the success of your MTA certification program! Recommend the teacher become certified and take the exam several times to become familiar with the skills expected.

41. 5 basic steps to start a certification program

42. challenge the students • Clearly communicate certification expectations to students and why it’s important • Empower students to succeed • Certified Teacher • Course lessons highly correlated to the exam • Relevant labs • Practice tests • Students have the right to fail. It’s OK to retest. • Encourage students to compete for high scores!

43. motivation ideas that work • Best the Teacher - instructors post their own score reports and offer students a milkshake, or other prize, if they score higher. • Wall of Fame – post student certificates on a the wall. • Certification Banquet or Ceremony - invite parents, employers, and prominent community members, to attend. • Media Coverage – submit student names and certifications to the newspaper. Invite the local TV station to do a story on the school’s certification program, banquet, ceremony, etc. • Local Competition – hold an exam competition on your campus. • Articulation Agreements – grant credits and/or waive courses in lieu of certification. • Employment/Internship Agreements – commit local businesses to intern certified students and hire certified graduates.

44. mta courseware and resources MTA General Information and Student Study Guides • Available free at www.certiport.com/mta MTA Exam Review Kits, Posters, Campus Licensing • Contact your Certiport rep at www.certiport.com MOAC Textbooks and Practice Tests • John Wiley & Sons(textbooks); MeasureUp (practice tests) “Are You Certifiable (AYC)” Practice Game(no charge online game) • http://www.microsoft.com/click/areyoucertifiable MSDN Academic Alliance and DreamSpark • http://www.microsoft.com/education/highered/Administrator/MSDNAA/

45. try mta for 30 days - free! Rise to the Challenge* • Wiley Textbooks (1 code, access to all 7 titles) • 30 MeasureUp Practice Tests (30 codes, 30 days, 1 app each) • 30 MTA Certification Exams (30 codes) *Offer expires December 31, 2011

46. Take an exam during stemtech – Free! Get Certified at STEMtech • Register a timeslot at www.certiport.com/STEMtech2011 • Go to the Testing Lab located on the first floor, rm 109. • Testing is available during the following hours: Sunday: 9am to 4pm Monday: 9am to 5pm Tuesday: 9am to 5pm Exams AvailableMicrosoft Technology Associate (all seven exams). Also, Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, Autodesk, Adobe, CompTIA Strata and IC3. For details, see pg. 11 in your Conference Program!

47. To learn more about MTA certification: http://www.certiport.com Visit Exhibitor Booth #206

48. Questions? Debora A. Collins Email: dcollins@certiport.com Web :www.certiport.com Phone:888.999.9830 Mobile: 801.560.7546 Please submit your paper evaluation to receive a T-shirt!