A lot has changed for IT techs since the CompTIA A+ exam was released in 2009. People blinked and Windows Vista was gone. Windows 7 swooped in and became the smash hit that everyone was hoping Vista would be. This year (for the first time ever) CompTIA made drastic changes to the objectives of the A+ exam to accomodate the new popularity and new features of Windows 7. To help prepare you for all the new material, our CompTIA A+ LearnSmart Cloud Classroom course has been fully updated with everything you need to know about Windows 7. Mike Meyers is back with seven all new video chapters that prepare you for everything from installing Windows 7 to IPv6, networking and more. Check out Mike Meyers as he introduces you to the new additions to your A+ LearnSmart Cloud Classroom course.
*Video:new windows 7 introduction
In addition, we’ve updated your A+ practice exams, study guides, guide content, assessment quizzes, certificate of mastery exams and more. It’s like a whole new course! The brand new A+ is available for check out right now in your Ultimate Access library.
Looking to advance your IT career? LearnSmart offers the absolute best training materials for technologies including CompTIA A+, Network+, MCITP Certification, CCNA Training and more. The LearnSmart Cloud Classroom makes studying better and more convenient by putting your training in the Cloud and supporting compatibility with most mobile devices including the iPad 2, Android and many more.
Windows 7 has finally surpassed Windows XP as the most used desktop operating system in the United States. Described as the OS that would never die, Windows XP currently holds 31.25% of the US Market share, while Windows 7 takes the lead with 31.96%. Windows XP retained its status for so long due to a botched release of Windows Vista which most remember as a nightmare. Businesses spent millions to switch over to the new systems, only to have to revert back to the trusted Windows XP. This caused many issues and lead to what seemed like a quick introduction of Windows 7.
It appears the pain and suffering is over. Consumers are finally moving on, at least in the United States. Windows XP still maintains a healthy lead in Global share. Windows 7 has apparently proven its worth in the US market. While some die hard XP fans will express dissatisfaction with this news, it certainly is a positive for Windows.
Microsoft’s Born to Learn Blog reports a new item typed, called “extended matching”, will soon appear on Microsoft’s certification exams. While still in the process of phasing in this new question type, exactly which Microsoft exams will use extended matching is yet to be determined. And although extended matching is new to Microsoft, it is frequently seen on medical licensure exams. Here’s how extended matching item types work, as explained in the Born to Learn Blog:
Several questions are written using the same set of answer choices, but the list of answer choices is “extended” to include more options than you would see for a typical multiple choice question. In other words, more than four answer choices are presented for each question. The most important piece of information that you need to know about these items is that the same answer choice could be correct for more than one question in the set, and some answer choices may not be the correct answer for any of the questions.
These items appear together on certification exams. They are preceded by a brief introduction and instructions reminding you that an answer might be correct for more than one question or not correct for any. In some ways, this experience is similar to the experience you have when answering case study items–extended matching items with the same set of answer choices appear together on the exam because they are related to each other (i.e., they have the same set of answer choices); however, unlike case study items, these items are not timed separately, and you can return to these items at any point until you submit the exam for scoring.
Microsoft is adding the extended matching item type in order to better assess a candidate’s skills and abilities. Extended matching requires candidates to understand under what conditions certain actions are correct and when they are not (similar to how a person’s skill would be tested in the real-world). Opposed to traditional multiple choice questions that do not test a candidate’s skill in such a rigorous or practical manner.
Thinking about earning an MCITP certification? PrepLogic offers comprehensive MCITP training in the form of video training courses, study guides, practice exams and audiobooks. Call 1-800-418-6789 to speak with an account representative about affordable, IT certification training.
Recently released, the CompTIA study Employer Perception of IT Training and Certification reports employers are inclined to rely more heavily on professional certifications when hiring information technology (IT) workers, but are challenged by credential evaluation and validation issues.
Professional certifications are already viewed by hiring managers as a high-value validation of IT skills. The CompTIA study suggests certifications will grow in importance as organizations seek to fill tech jobs. Eight in ten human resources (HR) professionals surveyed believe IT certifications will grow in usefulness and importance over the next two years. But employers also expressed concerns about some aspects of using IT certifications in the hiring process. There is a perception among some hiring IT managers that the HR department does not have a solid understanding of IT certifications. Some firms also said verifying a job candidate’s credentials can be a challenge due to the time involved and effort required.
Experience, track record and accomplishments rank as the most important factors when evaluating job candidates, according to the study. But education and credentials such as certifications also rank high. For example, 86 percent of hiring managers indicate IT certifications are a high or medium priority during the candidate evaluation process.
The study suggests that certifications will become even more important as employers struggle to find individuals to fill job openings. Despite a virtual buyer’s market for hiring, roughly eight in ten HR executives in the United States said it’s challenging to find the right candidate with the right skill set to fill their openings. Many IT managers in the study share a similar view. Tim Herbert, vice president, research, CompTIA notes, “In an environment of needing to do more with less, organizations cannot afford the time and cost of bringing on a new employee who cannot contribute immediately.”
The CompTIA study Employer Perception of IT Training and Certification is the result of two separate online surveys: to 1,385 business and IT executives that made a recent IT hiring decision in the United States, United Kingdom and South Africa; and to 300 HR professionals in the U.S.
Some Microsoft PRO level exams will now incorporate “best” answer type multiple choice questions as part of Microsoft’s Certification Development department’s continuing effort to improve the rigor, quality and real-world relevance of their certification exam questions. Microsoft’s Born to Learn Blog says the difference between a “correct” answer question and a “best” answer question is:
“In a ‘correct’ answer item, only one answer is correct; in a ‘best’ answer item, more than one answer might solve the problem but there is one best solution. “
Here’s what to expect:
Best answer items will only appear on PRO level exams where being able to identify the best solution given a set of specific environmental characteristics or constraints is critical to planning, designing, and managing Microsoft technologies in organizations.
The best answer will be the solution that takes the least effort, requires the fewest steps, and/or is least costly AND solves the problem. Remember with a best answer choice item, more than one answer will likely solve the problem (others might not), but one answer will be the best solution from a resource (budget, time, people) perspective in that particular situation.
The best answer will be the best answer GIVEN THE SITUATION DESCRIBED IN THE QUESTION. It may not be how you would do it in your organization, but it’s how it should be solved given the situation.
At this time, only a small proportion of items on any exam will be best answer choice items; although this proportion is likely to increase over time, we are not to the point where every question on a particular exam will be a “best answer” question. Not all PRO exams have best answer questions yet, but we’re working on it.
You will know these items when you see them. The question statement will include words such as “best” or “most” (depending what is being asked) that make it clear that the question requires a deeper evaluation to determine the best answer. In addition, the following statement appears following the question: “(More than one answer choice may achieve the goal. Select the BEST answer.)”
Most important, the best answer has been vetted by many SMEs who agreed on what the best answer is. The best answer isn’t what Microsoft thinks is the best answer; the best answer is what many SMEs have agreed is the best answer.
Soon to graduate students from Canada, South Africa and the United States discuss how certifications distinguish you from the many others out there all applying for the same jobs in this slow-to-hire economy. Hear what these students have to say about the importance of Microsoft certifications:
A total of 67 exams were published in English in 2010. And a total of 278 exams were published in 2010 in a variety of languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese. PrepLogic offers high-quality training for over 80 Microsoft certifications, including LearnSmart Video Training, Mega Guides, Practice Exams and Audiobooks. If you have any questions about earning an MCITP certification or any Microsoft exam or certification,our career counselors would be more than happy to help! Give us a call at 1-800-418-6789.
Microsoft recently announced that a number of certification exams are being retired. With mainstream product support ending for SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005 and BizTalk Server 2006, the certifications for those products will no longer be offered. Here’s a few of the certification exams that will no longer be offered after June 2011.
70-431TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Implementation and Maintenance
70-441PRO: Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-442PRO: Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-443PRO: Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-444PRO: Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-526TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development
70-528TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development
(70-431)TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Implementation and Maintenance
(70-441)PRO: Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
(70-442)PRO: Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
(70-443) PRO: Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
(70-444)PRO: Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
(70-526)TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Windows-Based Client Development
(70-528)TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 – Web-Based Client Development
It’s important to note that if you have already earned these certifications, that credential will never retire. Retirement for these exams just means that new people will no longer be able to get certified in these skill. A full list of exams being retired can be found at the Microsoft Born to Learn blog. If you have any questions about Microsoft exams or certifications, please give our career counselors a call at 1-800-418-6789.
PrepLogic, an IT certification and skills training company with headquarters in Tampa, is one of the title sponsors of the 2nd Annual Golf Fore Kids’ Sake Scramble benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay, Inc. PrepLogic is making a $5,000 contribution to the Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser, which takes place on November 15th at Eaglebrooke Golf & Country Club in Lakeland. The donation from PrepLogic will go towards the Big Brothers Big Sisters children’s mentoring program. This donation is part of PrepLogic’s continuing initiative to support local charitable projects that help out children in need.
As a web-based IT training company, PrepLogic provides high level skills training and IT certification exam preparation to people all over the world. They offer computer-based and interactive training for such IT skills as system administration, networking, security, voice technologies and project management. Individuals and companies can choose from a wide array of well-respected IT certification vendors, including Cisco training, MCITP training and CompTIA training. PrepLogic has helped thousands of people earn IT certifications in their twelve year history.
PrepLogic’s $5,000 contribution will fund five “Big” and “Little” matches. “We are really excited and proud to take part in such a great organization,” said PrepLogic’s President Jay Gandee. “Big Brothers Big Sisters has really made a difference in the lives of children here in Tampa Bay. We are thrilled to be a part of that and help out however we can.”
“The lingering impact of the recession has affected children living with families at or below the poverty level the most,” said Stephen Koch, Big Brothers Big Sisters President and CEO. “PrepLogic’s investment in services for kids who need it the most is an inspiring example of corporate philanthropy at its best. We know from our documented outcomes that providing these children with a properly screened and trained volunteer will change their perspectives on life and consequently, change their lives forever. We applaud PrepLogic for their generosity and focus on the future……our children.”
To find out more about the 2nd Annual Golf Fore Kids’ Sake Scramble, call 813-769-3600 or visit the Big Brothers Big Sisters website.
For more information about PrepLogic, call PrepLogic at 1-800-418-6789 or visit http://www.preplogic.com/.
Exciting opportunity! Microsoft is creating a new online reality show called “Career Factor” (a clever play on words of the popular TV reality show “Fear Factor”). The basis of the show is centered on cast members documenting their five month journey to improving their technology careers with the help of Microsoft resources and training. The cast members will document their journey using web videos and social media outlets.
Microsoft seeks “outgoing, social media savvy individuals” looking to better or advance their IT careers. Each cast member will have their own story arc, in which he/she will set a specific career goal and work with the Microsoft team to achieve that goal. Microsoft seeks to cast the people for the following story arcs:
A few of the benefits a Career Factor cast member will receive include:
Free training materials to support your goal on Career Factor. This includes training courses, books, and certification exams that would be helpful in meeting your goal.
Free admittance to all Microsoft Certified Career Conferences (a series of online career fairs)
Personal attention through mentors and the Microsoft community
Filming equipment (Microsoft Webcam & Handheld camera) for you to keep
The casting application is due November 13, 2010. The application process includes a written application for each story arc a person is applying for and a short video (1-2 minutes) introducing yourself and telling the Career Factor team why you are the ideal candidate. Every story arc has a few requirements that must be met in order to be eligible for the role.
This a great, fun opportunity for anyone interested in a career in technology and a once in a lifetime chance to gain significant publicity throughout the tech world.
To apply for Career Factor or learn more about this cool, new reality show go to Microsoft’s Born To Learn blog.
PrepLogic offers a variety of Microsoft certifications and MCITP training.
