ITPCS gains Microsoft Education Partner status

The IT Providers Consortium Scotland (ITPCS) earns distinction through commitment to academic customers.

ITPCS has become a Microsoft Authorized Education Partner (AEP), demonstrating its ability to meet Microsoft academic customers’ evolving needs in today’s dynamic business environment. To earn a Microsoft AEP authorization, partners must complete a test to prove their level of academic licensing and market expertise.

ITPCS has been dedicated to improving uptake of vendor certification throughout Scotland for over 15 years and this Microsoft AEP authorization shows our commitment and specialism in the academic IT marketplace and demonstrates our knowledge of Microsoft and its academic products. We hope to accelerate our academic customers’ successes by serving as technology advisors for their IT requirements.

“By becoming AEPs, partners show themselves to be committed and trained in providing discounted Microsoft academic products to the education market,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president of Education for Microsoft Corp.’s Worldwide Public Sector. “This authorization, along with our other education partner initiatives, gives our partners recognition of their areas of expertise and our academic customers the confidence that they are buying from academic IT specialists.”

The Microsoft AEP Program is designed to authorize and equip organizations that deliver academic products and services through the Microsoft platform with the training, resources and support they need to provide their customers with superior experiences and outcomes.

Future Trends: The Evolution of Security, Mobility, Data Science and the Cloud

We recently hosted an event as Microsoft's Headquarters in Edinburgh The aim of the event was to provide attendees with skills, knowledge, tools and resources to help them deliver courses and units in the areas of security, mobility, data science and the cloud, which have been cited as the big four for growth.

The event saw the appearance of Linux International's Executive Director Jon 'maddog' Hall in a Microsoft building talking about open source software! This was interestingly backed up by Andy Nagle from Microsoft who outlined that Microsoft are moving towards open source.

Speakers included Microsoft, CompTIA, Linux International and Police Scotland Cybercrime Unit, Cheeky Pea, Prodigy Learning and Risual UK. I am sure all attendees will agree that it was an informative, stimulating and educational event.

Slides from speakers can be downloaded from here

There was a prize draw open to all attendees and the following prizes were won by; Paul McLaughlin - Windows 10 Tablet (on the right) Gary Hendry - GoPro Camera (in the centre) Stephen Duncan - NowTV Box (on the left)

Microsoft IT Academy is changing name!

We want to inform you that the Microsoft IT Academy program will be renamed to Microsoft Imagine Academy effective January 11th, 2016. This name change is part of Microsoft’s transformation in the way we reach and impact students in the education space. With this change, Microsoft Imagine will be the single identity used for all Microsoft programs, tools and initiatives aimed at students to drive technology, computer science, coding and employability skills. As a part of this change, in January we will transition to providing customers’ access to a digital Microsoft Imagine Academy Welcome Kit to enable easier and on demand access to all program marketing materials and resources We will also provide a new Microsoft Imagine Academy logo. We encourage you to start using it right away however Microsoft is providing six months transition time to allow customers to update marketing assets to the new Microsoft Imagine Academy logo. If you have any questions on the change in IT Academy naming to Microsoft Imagine Academy, please contact us. Thank you!

Free for ITPCS Members | Linux Professional Institute - Approved Academic Partner status

ITPCS Members can (for no extra fee) become a 'Linux Professional Institute Approved Academic Partner' (LPI-AAP). ITPCS has negotiated an umbrella deal that covers all consortium members. Benefits (other than the kudos!) include training materials for staff/students, reduced price exams and more. There is no commitment from you in terms of exam delivery and there is no requirement to put staff through exams either. If you deliver any Open Source HN units, LPIC-1 or are planning to deliver commercial training in Linux this is a perfect opportunity For more information on the LPI programme visit http://www.futurecert.com/ Background: The Linux Professional Institute is globally supported by the IT industry, enterprise customers, community professionals, government entities and the educational community. LPI's certification program is supported by an affiliate network spanning five continents and is distributed worldwide in multiple languages in more than 7,000 testing locations. Since 1999, LPI has delivered over 230,000 exams and 75,000 LPIC certifications around the world. The Linux Professional Institute promotes and certifies essential skills on Linux and Open Source technologies through the global delivery of comprehensive, top-quality, vendor-independent exams. Established as an international non-profit organization in September 1999 by the Linux community, the Linux Professional Institute continues to demonstrate recognized global leadership in the certification of Linux professionals. LPI advances the Linux and Open Source movement through strategic partners, sponsorships, innovative programs and community development activities. LPI's major financial sponsors are Platinum Sponsors IBM, Linux Journal, Linux Magazine, Novell, SGI, and TurboLinux as well as Gold Sponsors, HP and IDG.

Navigating the new IT Academy Website

IT Academy Overview

Want to review what the IT Academy offers?

View this short video outlining the solutions it can provide

Delivering Cyber Security - Microsoft Edinburgh

You are invited to the Delivering Cyber Security Event we are organising in Edinburgh on 12th December 2014.

The aim of the event is to provide you with skills, knowledge, tools and resources allowing you to deliver courses and units in the area of cyber security.

The event will bring together security experts to discuss the area of Cyber Security in computing, an area where many career opportunities exist.  The event will also show how SQA units and vendor certifications can be added to the curriculum that allow students to gain the requisite skills and knowledge in this area.

Confirmed speakers include ZoneFox, Police Scotland Cybercrime Department, Cervello Consultants and Microsoft. A full agenda will be forwarded nearer the event.

I hope you will be able to join us in what will be an informative, stimulating and educational event

Free places can be booked at - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/delivering-cyber-security-todays-learning-tomorrows-defence-tickets-14478636993

MCT Enrolment now open for this year

The Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) Program offers resources and benefits that help instructors prepare for and deliver top notch technical training. As part of your IT Academy benefits, you may enroll one of your technically qualified educators free of charge into the MCT Program and additional qualified educators may join at a 25% discount.

Your educators who are already members in the MCT Program are invited to renew their MCT membership any time between March 1 and April 30, 2014; however, we encourage all MCTs to renew quickly to ensure uninterrupted access to their MCT resources and benefits.  

Please discuss MCT renewal with your educators and make sure those who joined the MCT Program during a previous enrollment period plan for a swift MCT renewal.   

MCT Renewal actions

·         Review your educators’ certifications against the list of those that qualify for the MCT Program.  ITA MCTs who desire to renew in the MCT Program must possess a current qualifying Microsoft Certification or qualification eligible for the MCT Program.

·         Understand the MCT Program renewal requirements including the instructional quantity and quality requirement as validated by Metrics that Matter.

o          - NOTE: If you have concerns with your MCTs ability to meet the renewal requirements based on organizational rules or operations, please reach out to your Microsoft Regional Service Center. 

·         Access your voucher on the IT Academy Web site and send your voucher to the MCT you wish to renew free of charge. 

·         Provide your other MCTs with your IT Academy ID. They will need this to receive the 25% discount upon enrollment.  If you plan to pay the renewal fee for any of your MCTs, they can indicate that their employer will pay the fee when they  renew.

 Why join the MCT Program?

Joining the MCT Program will make your educators part of a thriving worldwide community; a community of educators that share resources and best practices. The MCT community is made up of trainers who actively deliver training and support other MCTs as they train students around the world.  The MCT Program offers a wide range of benefits and resources including a tailored MCT Software & Services subscription based on the type of training you deliver, discounts on certification exams, one free copy of every digital Microsoft Official Courseware (MOC), hundreds of hours of recorded readiness presentations, and much more. 

 Please discuss MCT renewal with your MCTs and make sure they plan for a smooth renewal.

·         MCTs can renew quickly and easily with the MCT Enrollment Tool 

Resource Kits

In addition, to the resources available to you on the Microsoft IT Academy website including the eLearning Library, DreamSpark are now offering the following Resource Kits at http://www.facultyresourcecenter.com/curriculum/ResourceKits/Default.aspx?c1=en-us&c2=0

These kits are grouped by subject and provide links to curriculum material and resources such as presentations, labs, exercises, software tools, programming tutorials, academic papers, research talks and reference material plus source code, documentation, specifications and more.

Measure Up

- Changes from the 26th March...


The 30 and 180 day licence is to be discontinued and will now be replaced by a 365 day Measure Up licence. To order a 365 day licence please email Ruby at rmichael@glasgowclyde.ac.uk 

Key(s) will be issued to you once your order has been processed. 

**All MeasureUp accounts will be deactivated on the 26^th March and you will no longer be able to order from MeasureUp.com **

Any further questions please contact Ruby.

Microsoft IT Academy Second Shot

Retake an Exam for Free

Microsoft IT Academy has brought back the Second Shot offer, which gives your students a free second chance to pass a certification exam.

The Second Shot special offer is limited to:

• Microsoft IT Academy students
• All 73 series exams (does not include Microsoft Technical Associate or Microsoft Office Specialist)
•  Available to June 30, 2014 and only valid for MCP exams delivered through a Prometric testing center.

For more information or to place an order for exams please contact Ruby Michael ruby@itpcscotland.co.uk

Wiley Instructor Materials for MOAC materials

Wiley Instructor Materials available on the ITA Member Site

 

We are very pleased to let you know that we have addressed your request to have MOAC instructor materials hosted on the ITA Member Site and the materials are now available on the Curriculum Resources page, under the “Accessing instructor supplementary materials” accordingly.  

 

Get started today at the IT Academy Member Site

Microsoft IT Academy Membership Benefit Update

IT Academy E-Reference Library

 

Each ITA membership includes five annual faculty subscriptions to the exclusive IT Academy E-Reference Library-an online selection of over 700 Microsoft Press books (in e-book format) published on topics that you can teach in your classroom as well as leverage for your own professional development. Microsoft Press e-books are hosted by Safari Books Online. Click here to activate your subscriptions.

 

 

Educators Receive Free Big Data Practice Exams for a Limited Time

 

You have the tools to prepare yourself and your students for a career where Big Data plays a Big Role. Whether your student becomes a consumer of Big Data in a Business or Operational capacity or an IT Professional planning data strategy, having that fundamental understanding of how data is stored, secured and used will be of benefit. Prepare yourself to prepare your students by including Database Fundamentals in your professional development plan.

 

For a limited time you can register here to receive a free Measure up Practice Test for MTA Database Fundamentals. This practice test is complementary to your IT Academy professional development benefits that includes- full Microsoft Official Academic Course Curriculum, Learning tools, and a Teacher starter kit that includes MTA exam vouchers 

ITPCS Event - Microsoft Headquarters 29th Nov 2013

You are invited to the prestigious Microsoft Headquarters in Edinburgh on Friday 29th November, 2013 at 10am for this free engaging event featuring expert presenters sharing their views on using vendor qualifications to bridge the skills gap in technology.
Not only is the event free, but each attendee will receive a FREE Microsoft exam pack, to allow you to kick start or continue your certification as well as resources to help you to deliver the new SQA HN Computing Framework!

 
In the face of staggering unemployment rates for young people around the world, the burden is on educators to provide students the necessary skills and opportunities for today’s workforce. Join Microsoft, employers and educators from across the country to learn how you can help students build the skills and credentials they need to achieve their academic goals.

As job roles are evolving, you will learn which technical specialties offer the most attractive salary expectations, and about the wealth of training and resources available to help you meet your students goals. 

 

Event Outcomes

• Learn about the skills gap facing employers and how to best prepare students for employment
• Participate in a Customer Immersion Experience to learn about the new technologies
• Learn about and receive resources to help you deliver HN Computing
• Receive a Free Microsoft Certification Exam Pack
• Network with Employers, Certification Bodies, Vendors and your peers

CompTIA Update

I recently had a meeting with Jane Dickinson of CompTIA who is responsible for supporting and developing their qualifications within Scotland.

 As you know as part of your consortium membership I currently support you in your delivery of CompTIA qualifications, Jane is keen to understand what CompTIA can do to help you to deliver their industry leading qualifications.

 

The following points came out of the meeting that you may be interested in;

The CompTIA CAPP Academy is now FREE to join and means you can access a host of benefits such as;

• Discounted pricing on student exam vouchers

• Special pricing for CompTIA Academic Events
• Access to leading IT industry research and best practices
• Instructor resources
• Marketing materials

If you are not a member – then you can apply now http://www.comptia.org/global/en-gb/capp/academy.aspx

There are numerous ways you can deliver CompTIA qualifications as an enhancement with no extra work.  If you are currently delivering the new HN Frameworks then CompTIA Security+ is mapped to SQA Unit Security Concepts H17V34 and Network+ is mapped to SQA Unit Network Concepts H17S34.

Cisco has recently become an authorised CompTIA Content Partner, given that IT Essentials v5 maps 100% to the exam objectives of the new A+. IT Essentials also incorporates two practice tests for A+. If you are a Cisco Academy, this represents a great vehicle for you to deliver A+ to full time, part time or commercial clients 

If you want any more advice on what you would require to deliver CompTIA qualifications in your centre including test centre requirement, please get in touch.

Finally, a video has been produced by CompTIA to help alleviate the stress encountered prior to sitting a certification exam.  The following link shows a potential candidate what to expect when they are in the test centre.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyTdN2GZiZ8

Price Grid 2013

Click this link for the ITPCS 2013 Price Grid

Thanks
Iain

Wiley Office Grader

OfficeGrader
Introducing OfficeGrader - It automatically grades your office task-based assignments.

Tired of grading student work? Looking to free up instructor time? Wiley's OfficeGrader corrects your students' task based assignments.  Your students' work on real-world problems, like the ones they will encounter in the workforce, ensuring they are ready for real professional challenges.

OfficeGrader works with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Office Grader is free when you adopt MOAC books for Office

See these links for more information
http://www.wiley.com/college/sc/office2010/swfs/officegrader.swf

http://media.wiley.com/assets/7002/78/OfficeGraderFAQ.pdf

ITPCS Presentations from meeting 16th Nov

Thank you for attending the ITPCS consortium meeting on Friday 16th and helping to make it a successful and useful event. It was great to see everyone.

If you couldnt make it, we will be holding another event in May and hope you can make it.

I look forward to catching up with you soon.

The presentations from the speakers are included in the link below.

Presentations from Friday

ITPCS Consortium Event Friday 16th

We are looking forward to welcoming you all to the consortium event on Friday. I hope it will be an interesting, informative and enjoyable session.

I'm particularly looking forward to the event, there will a lot going on. Its always great to get together with the members.
 

Its back!

The Microsoft Second Shot Promotion has returned.  Students that sit any Microsoft Certified Professional exam (full price or academic rate) will get a free second shot at that exam should they not pass first time.

Its available from now up to June 2013. Full details can be found by visiting Prometric here