MIS 44095 Summer 2010 G. Howard

This is a three semester-hour credit-for-exam course designed to help you pass at least one Microsoft or other vendor's professional certification exam. You may choose the exam you wish to take, and the course will provide you with a supported self-study opportunity to prepare for the exam. The test you choose to take need not necessarily be a Microsoft exam. If you have not already done so, please read the introductory material by clicking here.

CONCEPT: This is a supported self-study credit-for-exam workshop. If you pass a certification exam during the period of the course, you'll be awarded an "A" and three credit hours. (You can quit coming as soon as you pass an exam, even if it is the first week!) You'll receive guidance on selecting which is the most appropriate Microsoft or other vendor's certification exam for you to take, will be guided in selecting study materials, and may then be grouped with other people who are preparing for that same exam. Class time will be devoted almost entirely to supervised group study. I'll be available for coaching. (I have multiple Microsoft certifications). You should have taken "Small Systems Technology" in order to succeed in this workshop if you choose to take a networking exam, but it can be done successfully if you have good Windows XP, 2000, Vista, or Windows 7 pre-knowledge.

PREREQUISITES: Junior standing or above; 2.5 overall GPA. To do well, you need to have a fundamental understanding of Windows XP, 2000, 2003, Vista, or Windows 7 and very good study habits.

COURSE MATERIALS: There are 18 of us in the course, and each person will select a Microsoft or other exam for which to study. Click on this overview link for a one-page graphic summary of the Microsoft exams and certifications from which you can choose. Click here for the list of suggested materials. After you have selected your "target" exam, you will need to buy the Visual CertExam Manager software for $25, which makes it possible to use a large number of free practice tests from http://www.examcollection.com . Also, you'll might also want to go to a commercial bookstore and buy the materials appropriate to your particular exam.

TEST FEES: You will be taking the certification exam at a Prometric testing center. KSU is not authorized to administer these exams. There is a $125 fee for each test you take, whether you pass or fail. Kent's Center for Information Systems is offering to reimburse certification exam fees for the first three full time students who pass an exam and apply for this benefit. Through June 30, 2009, Microsoft is offering a second chance promotion wherein you can take the test again for free if you don't pass the first time. Click here for details on how to get in on this second shot promotion. It may also be possible to obtain up to a 55% discount if your register as a student. Be sure to follow the steps very carefully and obtain a voucher in order for the second shot to be valid. You have to register for the second shot before registering to take your exam. 

CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR: I'm very responsive to e-mail -- ghoward@kent.edu . Don't hesitate to call me at home if you need something in a hurry. 330.628.5707

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is required. As I'll explain the first day of class, the forced group study model is very successful in preparing for certification exams. But to succeed, you have to show up. 

TEXT: Varies -- we'll discuss in class on the first day. If you have not yet done so, click here for text suggestions.

WHY MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION ? There is high demand in the employment marketplace for people who possess formal industry skills certifications. You earn certifications by passing a test or a series of tests that prove the depth of your conceptual and practical knowledge. The most important of these are the two main certifications available from Microsoft: the MCTS ("Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist") and the MCITP ("Microsoft Certified IT Professional.") Passing even only one of the exams gives you an edge in the job market and earns you MCTS or MCP status. 

DELIVERABLES: There are no papers, projects, homeworks, or tests except for the certification exam itself.

GRADING: Course grading is straightforward: If you pass one or more certification exams on or before June 11, you get an "A." If you take but do not pass a certification exam on or before June 11, you will get a "B" in the course. No exam attempted means a "C," unless you can show extreme financial hardship associated with the cost of the exam. Please check with me if you need help paying for an exam. Blatant failure to show up for class could result in a course grade of "D."

REGISTERING FOR THE EXAM: You can register on-line at http://www.prometric.com. They will require in connection with the registration process that you establish a web account with them. The process is clunky, but be patient and you will get through it. Be sure also to go through the process to obtain your "Second Shot" voucher number. It may be faster to register by phoning the Prometric registration hotline at 800.755.3926. You'll have to provide a credit card number to pay for the exam at the time of registration. Register at least a week in advance of your test date to reduce the chance that you will get closed out. 

UNIVERSITY BOILERPLATE

The Following Policies apply to everyone in this course.  

A.   Students attending the course who do not have the proper prerequisites risk being deregistered from the course.  

B.   You have responsibility to ensure hat you are properly enrolled in courses. You are advised to review your official course schedule (using Web for Students) to ensure you are properly enrolled in this course and section. Should you find an error in your course schedule, correct the error with your advising office. If registration errors are not corrected and you continue to attend and participate in courses for which you are not officially enrolled, you are advised now that you will not receive a grade at the conclusion of the semester for any course in which you are not properly registered.

C.   Academic honesty: Cheating means to misrepresent the source, nature, or other conditions of your academic work (e.g., tests, papers, projects, assignments) so as to get undeserved credit.   In addition, it is considered to be cheating when one cooperates with another in any such misrepresentation.  The use of the intellectual property of others without giving them appropriate credit is a serious academic offense.  It is the University's policy that cheating or plagiarism result in receiving a failing grade for the work or course.  Repeat offenses may result in dismissal from the University.

D.   Withdrawal: For Intersession 2010, the course withdrawal deadline is June 5. Log onto FlashLine from www.kent.edu and click on the Student Tools tab to access FlashFAST. Withdrawal before the deadline results in a "W" on the official transcript; after the deadline a grade must be calculated and reported.  

E.   Students with Disabilities: University policy 3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access to course content.  If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments.  Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through the Student Disability Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit www.kent.edu/sas for more information on registration procedures).