IT Academy Program Information Update
From your Microsoft IT Academy Deployment Team
JANUARY 10, 2013
VOLUME 2/ISSUE 6
We are pleased to announce the digital Microsoft Official Academic
Curriculum (MOAC) series is now available for download from the IT Academy
member’s website! MOAC is an integrated program of e-books, lab manuals, and
instructor resources designed for classes that are taught over a period of 6 to 16
weeks. MOAC provides everything academic instructors need to plan, prepare,
and conduct hands-on classes. The courses are designed for students preparing for entry-level information
and communications technology positions and for Microsoft Office Specialist and Microsoft Technology
Associate certification exams. More information is included in the Program Administrator and Teachers and
Staff sections below.
IT Directors: check out the section below to understand the two ways for student accounts to be created
and content assigned. It is important to understand both options before deciding which method will work
best for you and your students.
We look forward to hearing your feedback and any questions you might have on the Microsoft IT Academy
program.
CONTENTS (CTRL+CLICK ON YOUR ROLE TO FOLLOW LINK TO YOUR CONTENT)
Program Administrators
IT Directors
Teachers and Staff
Certification
Professional Opportunities
Training
Links to Additional Resources
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS
We are pleased to announce the digital Microsoft Official Academic Curriculum (MOAC) series is now
available for download from the IT Academy member’s website! MOAC is an integrated program of e-
books, lab manuals, and instructor resources designed for classes that are taught over a period of 6 to 16
weeks. MOAC provides everything academic instructors need to plan, prepare, and conduct hands-on
classes. The courses are designed for students preparing for entry-level information and communications
technology positions and for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
certification exams.
Accessing the content requires a 2 step process:
Step 1. Download the MOAC student ebook files: Microsoft Office 2010 , MTA and .NET MOAC content
Microsoft Office 2010 , MTA and .NET MOAC content (log in to the IT Academy member site, click
Resources Curriculum to access the files)
Step 2: Register and download the Instructor Supplemental materials: www.wiley.com/go/msitacademy
For MOS this will be another tool educators can use in ensuring students have the skills required to be
college and career ready. For MTA this will be the curriculum they can use in the classroom. The three .NET
courses provide foundational .NET application development skills. Teachers are now able to download the
PDF versions of the content from the ITA Member Site. Schools will also be able to order print versions
from Wiley for a 50% discounted fee. For IT Pro titles not included in the free digital books, ITAs will still
receive a discounted price.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why make this a digital download from the member site when students don’t have access to the
member site?
A: Teachers can post the files internally for student use. This ensures only IT Academies have access to the
content as a benefit of the program.
Q: What about content for the next version of Office?
A: We are working with Wiley to have that content available as well. We will know more once the planning
for that content is complete.
Q: Can I share this content with my students?
A: Yes the following files can be shared with your students. Below are quick links to all of the MOAC
student ebook files that you can download, and repost on a school share, for student access.
Q: Can I print a copy of the book?
A: Yes, you can print one copy as an instructor book. For printed versions for all students, you can purchase
books at a 50% discount.
Listen to a Virtual Training Session Recording: in particular the Getting Started with the IT Academy
Program. Click Here to jump to the Training Section
As always, your support of the IT Academy Program is appreciated! Please contact 1-800-508-8454 or email
acadsupp@microsoft.com with questions or if you need additional information.
IT DIRECTORS
There are two ways for student accounts to be created and content assigned. It is important to understand
both options before deciding which method will work best for you and your students.
Student account creation and content assignment:
1.
The instructor imports (or manually creates) the student accounts in E-Learning Central
a.
Content assignment must be done via the Learning Plan assignment workflow
i. Requires that the instructor create a Learning Plan
ii. Requires that students have a fully functioning School E-mail address
b. When a Learning Plan is assigned to a student account, an automated Learning Plan
Assignment email containing an activation link is sent to the student(s) at their School Email address
c.
2.
When the student clicks on the activation link in the Learning Plan Assignment email and
signs in with their Microsoft account (formerly Windows Live ID), the user’s Microsoft
account is mapped to the E-Learning Central student account.
The student account is created when the student redeems an access code
a.
An access code can be for an Academic Library or a Learning Plan
b. Redemption of the access code will automatically create an account for the student on ELearning Central and map that account to the user’s Microsoft account (formerly Windows
Live ID)
NOTE: Do not pre-load students into E-Learning Central and then distribute access codes – this will not work
and will cause frustration for you and your students. You must choose one of the methods above for account
creation.
If they are using the Bulk Creator tool to create Microsoft Accounts, instructors can only use OPTION 2!
Listen to a Virtual Training Session Recording: in particular the Getting Started with the IT Academy
Program. Click Here to jump to the Training Section
As always, your support of the IT Academy Program is appreciated! Please contact 1-800-508-8454 or email
acadsupp@microsoft.com with questions or if you need additional information.
TEACHERS AND STAFF
We are pleased to announce the digital Microsoft Official Academic Curriculum (MOAC) series is now
available for download from the IT Academy member’s website! MOAC is an integrated program of ebooks, lab manuals, and instructor resources designed for classes that are taught over a period of 6 to 16
weeks. MOAC provides everything academic instructors need to plan, prepare, and conduct hands-on
classes. The courses are designed for students preparing for entry-level information and communications
technology positions and for Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
certification exams.
Accessing the content requires a 2 step process:
Step 1. Download the MOAC student ebook files: Microsoft Office 2010 , MTA and .NET MOAC content
Microsoft Office 2010 , MTA and .NET MOAC content (log in to the IT Academy member site, click
Resources Curriculum to access the files)
Step 2: Register and download the Instructor Supplemental materials: www.wiley.com/go/msitacademy
For MOS this will be another tool educators can use in ensuring students have the skills required to be
college and career ready. For MTA this will be the curriculum they can use in the classroom. The three .NET
courses provide foundational .NET application development skills. Teachers are now able to download the
PDF versions of the content from the ITA Member Site. Schools will also be able to order print versions
from Wiley for a 50% discounted fee. For IT Pro titles not included in the free digital books, ITAs will still
receive a discounted price.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why make this a digital download from the member site when students don’t have access to the
member site?
A: Teachers can post the files internally for student use. This ensures only IT Academies have access to the
content as a benefit of the program.
Q: What about content for the next version of Office?
A: We are working with Wiley to have that content available as well. We will know more once the planning
for that content is complete.
Q: Can I share this content with my students?
A: Yes the following files can be shared with your students. Below are quick links to all of the MOAC
student ebook files that you can download, and repost on a school share, for student access.
Q: Can I print a copy of the book?
A: Yes, you can print one copy as an instructor book. For printed versions for all students, you can purchase
books at a 50% discount.
Listen to a Virtual Training Session Recording: in particular the Getting Started with the IT Academy
Program. Click Here to jump to the Training Section
As always, your support of the IT Academy Program is appreciated! Please contact 1-800-508-8454 or email
acadsupp@microsoft.com with questions or if you need additional information.
CERTIFICATION
Microsoft Office Educator Tips
We hope your Microsoft Office course this quarter has been going well and your students are discovering
the many features of the Microsoft Office application you are currently teaching. You may be coming to the
end of the course and beginning to prepare for the Certification exam delivered by Certiport. If so, we
would like to provide you with some quick tips to help you easily and efficiently administer the Microsoft
Office Specialist (MOS) certification test to your students.
1.
Check to make sure the Certiport Console is on every testing machine. This version of the IQ
System eliminates the need for you to have administration rights when administering the
exam. The Certiport Console icon should be displayed on the testing machines.
2.
One week prior to testing day, click on the Certiport console, click on IQ System Tools and install
any updates if prompted.
3.
Your students should register at www.certiport.com and have their user name and password readily
available. Below is a quick reference guide.
4.
Create an exam group which allows you more detailed reporting by skill set and by student.
Quick Reference Guide
Students must register with their state-assigned unique, permanent 10-digit State Testing
Identifier (STI). This is the same identification number used with the Standards of Learning (SOL)
tests. (Tip 5)
Go to: www.certiport.com; Click on Register and follow the prompts.
Tip 1: The student’s name must be spelled accurately including capitalization. This field cannot be
changed. When the certificate is printed the name will appear exactly as it was entered.
Tip 2: Username: Use something that will be remembered easily. If the username has been
previously used, you will be prompted to use something differed. This username will be entered in
prior to taking an exam. This field cannot be changed.
Tip 3: Password: Use something that will be remembered easily. Passwords can be changed at a
later date.
Tip 4: E-mail: This is a required field. If student does not have an e-mail address, have them create
a free account with google, hotmail or use their parent’s e-mail or last resort they may use the
teachers (not recommended). The e-mail is used after the student registers, receiving their
welcome letter with their user name and password. It is also used to send a congratulation letter
when they pass their certification.
Tip 5: Student/Employee ID: This is not a required field from Certiport, however, it is a
requirement asked by the state.
Tip 6: Have the student unclick the “All Certiport to contact me via e-mail…..”
Tip 7: After clicking “Take an exam or prepare for an exam” students will be asked to register a
program. Once they register for Microsoft, a screen for Microsoft registration will appear. Have the
student select “use my Certiport profile data: and the information will populate the fields.
Tip 8: Have the student fill out the below table. Student keeps their half for their records and have
readily available when they are ready to take the exam, and have them hand you (the teacher) the
other half for record keeping in case the student loses their information.
For Student
For Teacher
Student Name
Student Name
User Name
User Name
Password:
Password:
PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
How to keep up with free ebook announcements
MSDN Blogs > Microsoft Press > How to keep up with free ebook announcements
We hear from a lot of you each week asking how to keep up with our free ebook announcements and
updates to new versions. Here are some handy tips.
1) RSS - Subscribe to our RSS feed (located on the right-hand side of the blog home page) and we’ll
always write new posts whether the ebook is new or updated.
2) Tag Cloud - We also have a tag cloud on the right side of our blog page where you can find “ebooks” as
a tag. All of our free ebooks are tagged this way. I use the tag cloud all the time to check on our posts for
free ebooks.
3) Summary Post - This is a handy catalog page for these ebooks http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2012/05/04/free-ebooks-great-content-from-microsoftpress-that-won-t-cost-you-a-penny.aspx
4) Ebook Gallery on TechNet – find Microsoft Press ebooks and much more
You can find an E-Book Gallery for Microsoft Technologies on the TechNet Wiki here http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/11608.e-book-gallery-for-microsofttechnologies.aspx
TRAINING
Virtual Training Recording Information:
Getting Started with the IT Academy Program
Are you new to the Microsoft IT Academy Program? If so, please join this session to learn all about
the program and the many tools and benefits now available to you! During this Live Meeting
webinar, we will give you a high-level overview of the program, where you go to access the
benefits along with a tour of the IT Academy websites, and a brief demonstration on how to set up
an e-Learning course.
Recording Link: Click Here (no Recording Key is required)
Getting Started Teacher First Steps – Planning your MOS Curriculum
Hear from North Carolina teacher, Ricky Hardy about best practices for using Microsoft IT Academy
(MSITA) curriculum in the classroom. Learn where to locate and how to use all of the needed
resources for your first day and first semester teaching MSITA. The session will cover the steps for
getting started and strategies for certification testing. We will discuss how to access and utilize
Microsoft Lesson Plans, E-Learning, Projects and other resources. Teachers will leave this session
with an understanding of how to pace learning in the classroom, and how to find the right balance
of resources to achieve optimal student performance. See calendar below for multiple dates and
times available.

Recording Link: Click Here (no Recording Key is required)
Getting Started with IT Academy E-Learning
Watch a demonstration of the new E-Learning Instructor and Student sites. Learn how to set up ELearning for your students. We will take an in-depth tour of the E-Learning Central Site where you
will create Learning Plans, assign courses to your students, organize students into groups, generate
reports on student progress and manage your overall E-Learning curriculum. We will also discuss
and review the student experience. See calendar below for multiple dates and times available.
Recording Link: Click Here (no Recording Key is required)
DreamSpark: Understanding and Activating your Benefit
Join this training to learn more about the DreamSpark benefit. With this benefit students and
teachers have access to Microsoft’s key developer tools and platforms for learning and research
purposes. Some of the DreamSpark software titles include Windows Server 2012, SQL Server, Visual
Studio 2012 Professional, Expression and the Kinect for Windows SDK. To learn more and
understand the step by step activation steps please join us for this session. See calendar below for
multiple dates and times available.
Recording Link: Click here (no Recording Key is required)
LINKS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Help teens stay safer online - and possibly win cool prizes!
Do the teens in your life know how to safeguard their online reputations? Do they share a little more than
you’d like online? Have they or their friends been exposed to online bullying? Help them get smart on
these issues, spread the word to their friends and communities, and maybe win some cool prizes by
entering Microsoft's Safer Online Teen Challenge.
The contest, open to 13-to-18-year-olds* in virtually every country, encourages teens to get behind one of
Microsoft’s online safety topics by creating a work of art in one of five categories: song, story/cartoon,
skit/presentation, survey, and video. If Microsoft’s Facebook community likes their entry, they could win a
first-place prize package featuring a new Samsung tablet, or the runner-up prize package that includes an
Xbox with Kinect bundle. Students may submit an unlimited number of entries. We must receive all submissions no
later than 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on April 12, 2013.
All submissions require English translations, but works are welcome in any language and from nearly every
corner of the world. Successful submissions may also be featured on Microsoft‘s web properties – visited
by millions. The Challenge starts right in time for the December holidays, so teens can imagine and create
their visions over the school break.
Please pass this information along to anyone whom you think might be interested.
(*Except where noted in the Official Rules.)
IT Academy Member Site This is the worldwide site where members go to access their benefits.
IT Academy Instructor Portal This portal is where teachers go to manage student access and create access
codes.
IT Academy Student Portal This portal is where students and teachers go to access e-Learning courses.
Stay connected with us through the new Microsoft IT Academy Blog. The interactive blog will provide
ongoing membership updates and offer you a great opportunity to get involved. We want to hear from
you!
Customer Support: For customer support, call 1-800-508-8454 or email acadsupp@microsoft.com.
Customer support hours are 9:30a.m. to 8:30p.m. EST. To validate your identity you will be asked to answer
three of the following questions regarding your school:
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ITA member ID number
ITA School Name
School Address
School Phone Number
Program Administrator’s Name (principal)
Program Administrator’s Email address (principal)