1. Microsoft technology associate (mta) certifications for it students
2011 STEMtech conference
Indianapolis, IN
*New*
Microsoft technology associate (mta) certifications
for it students
Session #1:
Date: 10/02/ Time: 2:15 PM
Presentation Location: Room 103, First Floor
Session #2:
Date: 10/04/ Time: 2:30 PM
Presentation Location: White River Ballroom I, First Floor

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
Presented by Debora A. Collins

3. Who and what is certiport?
Certiport:
The world leader in performance-based certification exams and practice tests for academic institutions and corporate markets
Certiport delivers exams in 142 countries and 24 languages
Exams include:
Adobe
AutoDesk
CompTIA
Intuit
Microsoft
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!
The purpose of this slide is simply to establish Certiport’s role and expertise in the delivery of industry certification assessments.

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!
Session agenda.

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

6. Academic Survey says….. 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.
Source: “The Importance of Educating IT Students in Technology Fundamentals”
[White Paper]. John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Source: “The Importance of Educating IT Students in Technology Fundamentals” [White Paper]. John Wiley & Sons, Inc

7. employers around the world are struggling to find skilled workers
48%
41%
EMEA
ASIA/PAC
35%
QUEST FOR TALENT IS ONE OF THE LEADING CONCERNS AMONG CORPORATE EXECS GLOBALLY
AMERICAS
This slide shows the percentage of corporate executives who said that their quest for skilled employees is one of their leading concerns.
Source: The battle for brainpower. Economist, , 10/7/2006, Vol. 381, Issue 8498

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
Source: Deloitte & Touche -

9. WITH INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS!
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!
Certifications can break this barrier!

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 certifications are an addition to academic knowledge. Because the exams are written and endorsed by industry, the certificates received by successful test candidates are recognized world-wide.
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.
This is a sampling of the many certificates issued by IT vendors upon successful completion of an exam. These industry-certification exams are delivered using Certiport’s testing centers. Certiport has more than 10,000 testing centers around the world!

12. What is MTA? Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
A group of entry-level certifications introduced in 2010 to validate fundamental knowledge of IT or Database Administration, or Software Development. The ideal stepping-stone to more 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
The main points on this slide are:
The purpose of the MTA academic certification exams
2) How they are a “stepping stone” into the more advanced Microsoft professional-level certification exams.

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*. .
This slide introduces some of the benefits of MTA to existing academic programs.
*Source: “Certification at the Entry Level,” Matt Walker, Certification Magazine, July 2008.

14. How does mta compare to the Cisco and Oracle Academies?
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.
This slide points out the main differences between MTA and the Cisco and Oracle Academies.

15. How does mta compare to comptia?
MTA Exams : Windows Server Administration Fundamentals; : Networking Fundamentals; and : 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.
This slide points out the main differences between MTA and CompTIA.

16. Microsoft Certification roadmap
4/15/2017 3:32 PM
MCA
MTA
MCM
MCITP or MCPD
MCTS
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.
Professional Series
Comprehensive set of skills required to be successful on the job.
Technology Series
In-depth skills working with Microsoft technologies.
Certification as a demonstration of an individual’s the level of excellence, commitment and confidence to take his or her knowledge and skills to the next level with an industry recognized validation.
Associate Series
Introducing
Fundamental knowledge for students to start building a successful career in technology.
©2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.

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
Sources: Salary.com, March 2011 *U.S. Census Bureau, May 2010

18. Game Development and Mobile Apps!
1 MTA exam = 1 MTA Certification
MTA exams are not pre-requisite to each other or to MCTS exams, this is simply a “recommended” pathway.
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
All exams are version agnostic, meaning they are not specifically about a software version.
All exams are vendor agnostic with the exception of which are in the context of Windows Server.
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
98-363: 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
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
All exams are version agnostic, meaning they are not specifically about a software version.
All exams are vendor agnostic with the exception of which is in the context of Windows.
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!
All exams are version agnostic, meaning they are not specifically about a software version.
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’s website
General characteristics of an MTA exam.

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
This slide depicts the various ways MTA integrates into an existing course.

24. MTA Exam Review kit (erk)
4/15/2017 3:32 PM
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
Explain that the ERKs are digital downloads available FREE to MTA customers.
©2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.

25. free student study guides
IT Pro Edition, Developer and Database Editions
Available in print ready
or study ready format
Each Student Study Guide contains 20 scenarios that map to the MTA exam. Each scenario asks the user a series of questions and includes a hint. Simply turn the page and you’ll find the correct answers, tips and additional resources.
Download free of charge at:

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.
John Wiley & Sons is the publisher of the Microsoft Official Academic Courseware (MOAC) for MTA.

27. online game - are you certifiable?
The online game “Are You Certifiable?” can help students prepare for their certifications exams.
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
Exams can be purchased individually; however, the best value is to purchase a campus license.
1 exam voucher = $47
100 exam license = $25 per exam
250 exam license = $11 per exam
500 exam license = $6.50 per exam

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
$ up to 60 users
$ up to 30 users
$ up to 10 users
*Single title, single user is also available for $64 each
Practice tests can be purchased individually; however, the best value is to purchase a multi-user license.
1 user license = $64
10 user license = $37.50 per user
30 user license = $23.17 per user
60 user license = $16.58 per user
Unlimited = ?? much less

30. Educators – You can Become an MCT!
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:
MTA teachers do NOT need to become MCTs; however, they are encouraged to do so for the benefits that the credential offers. The MTA exams do not qualify towards MCT status, but passing a single MOS exam (such as Word 2010) does! Most MTA teachers should be able to easily pass an MOS exam with a little preparation.

31. An mta success story!
Video is 5:54 minutes – Northwestern Michigan College 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 certification program
This section will discuss how to begin an MTA certification program.

33. the Perkins act funds certification
SEC ACCOUNTABILITY. (b) STATE PERFORMANCE MEASURES. (2)(B) CORE INDICATORS FOR CTE: POST-SECONDARY …shall include, at a minimum, measures of each of the 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 federal government prefers that student achievement be measured by industry assessments.

34. funding includes teacher training
SEC STATE PLAN. (c) PLAN CONTENTS. The State plan shall include… (2) …professional development that - (C) “is high quality, sustained, intensive, and focused on instruction, and increases the academic knowledge and understanding of industry standards, as appropriate, of career and technical education teachers.”
The Perkins funding may also be used for teachers to acquire industry certifications

35. 5 basic steps to start a certification program
Register an Authorized Testing Center
Acquire required desktop software
Acquire a good textbook
Purchase exams or a site license
Certify your teachers
This slide introduces the 5 basic steps to start an MTA certification program.

36. 5 basic steps to start a certification program
Register an Authorized Testing Center
Acquire required desktop software
Acquire a good textbook
Purchase exams or a site license
Certify your teachers
Register an Authorized Testing Center
Visit Certiport’s homepage at 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.
It is simple to register an Authorized Test Center

37. 5 basic steps to start a certification program
Register an Authorized Testing Center
Acquire required desktop software
Acquire a good textbook
Purchase exams or a site license
Certify your teachers
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
The MTA exams are delivered online. Product software is required only to teach the skills for certification.
What is the difference between MSDN AA and DreamSpark?
The MSDN Academic Alliance (MSDN AA) The MSDN Academic Alliance is program designed to bring professional-level software and tools to educational institutions teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Design) and VIDA (Visualization, Illustration, Design, and Art) disciplines. The goal of the MSDN AA program is to put the latest Microsoft technology into the hands of students and faculty and by doing so give them access to a powerful set of tools that allows educators to enhance the instruction they provide to students, and gives students valuable training, skills and hands-on experience using the most current technologies – technologies that they can use to achieve success in their professional careers. To be eligible to download any of the 500+ software products, tools and trainings included in the MSDN AA program a student must be registered in at least one course offered by a participating STEM or VIDA department.
DREAMSPARK The Microsoft DreamSpark™ program enables students currently enrolled in a university or high school to download and use Microsoft tools to unlock their creative potential, thus setting them on the path to academic and career success by advancing their learning in the areas of technical design, technology, math, science, and engineering. DreamSpark makes 10+ software programs, tools and trainings available for online download by students; it doesn’t matter what classes they are taking upon their enrollment, as long as they have proof of their current student status at a verified, accredited secondary educational institution or university and plan to use the tools in pursuit of advancing their education.

38. 5 basic steps to start a certification program
Register an Authorized Testing Center
Acquire required desktop software
Acquire a good textbook
Purchase exams or a site license
Certify your teachers
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.
John Wiley and Sons is the only publisher of the Microsoft Official Academic Courseware (MOAC).
ERKs and Student Study Guides are FREE from Certiport.

39. 5 basic steps to start a certification program
Register an Authorized Testing Center
Acquire required desktop software
Acquire a good textbook
Purchase exams or a site license
Certify your teachers
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
For most schools, Campus Licensing is the best value for delivering MTA exams.
Recommended Add-on Option:
Practice tests by MeasureUp
Price varies from $375 to $1, Contact Certiport for details.
Academic pricing for a single-use MTA exam voucher is $47.

40. 5 basic steps to start a certification program
Register an Authorized Testing Center
Acquire required desktop software
Acquire a good textbook
Purchase exams or a site license
Certify your teachers
Certify your teachers
The teacher is key to 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.
It is important to certify teachers before preparing students.

41. 5 basic steps to start a certification program
Register an Authorized Testing Center
Acquire required desktop software
Acquire a good textbook
Purchase exams or a site license
Certify your teachers
This slide summarizes the 5 basic steps to start an MTA 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!
This slide discusses ways to help students succeed.

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.
This slide suggests some ideas that schools across the USA are using to ensure their certification program is successful.

44. mta courseware and resources
4/15/2017 3:32 PM
MTA General Information and Student Study Guides
Available free at
MTA Exam Review Kits, Posters, Campus Licensing
Contact your Certiport rep at
MOAC Textbooks and Practice Tests
John Wiley & Sons (textbooks); MeasureUp (practice tests)
“Are You Certifiable (AYC)” Practice Game (no charge online game)
MSDN Academic Alliance and DreamSpark
This slide reviews the resources available to support the MTA program.
©2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
This presentation is for informational purposes only. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, in this summary.

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
“Rise to the Challenge” for MTA includes the following:
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)

46. Take an exam during stemtech – Free!
Get Certified at STEMtech
Register a timeslot at
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 Available Microsoft Technology Associate (all seven exams). Also, Microsoft Office, QuickBooks, Autodesk, Adobe, CompTIA Strata and IC3.
For details, see pg. 11 in your Conference Program!
Due to limited seating, conference attendees must pre-register to take a free exam.

47. To learn more about MTA certification:
This slide encourages participants to visit the exhibitor booth and the Certiport website.
Visit Exhibitor Booth #206

48. Questions? Please submit your paper evaluation to receive a T-shirt!
Debora A. Collins
Web :
Phone:
Mobile:
Please submit your paper evaluation to receive a T-shirt!
Q & A