This one's for all our Microsoft educators. In a recent CERTIFIED Academy: Business webinar, we sat down with a panel of education veterans from middle school, high school, and higher education. 

Jan Went is a business technology instructor at Lakeview High School, a rural jr.-sr. high school of 469 students near Columbus, Nebraska. She is in her 40th year of teaching and is the organization administrator for the Certiport Microsoft Office Specialist Program. She was instrumental in their school becoming a part of the Nebraska Microsoft IT Initiative in 2016, and have qualified to remain members of the initiative for seven years. From 2017-present, Lakeview has been the home to seven state champions, one national champion, and one 5th place finish in the Worlds Competition in 2022. She currently has two state champions who will be competing at the national competition this summer in Orlando. Jan also served as a presenter at the Certiport Educator's Conference in Orlando in 2021.

Karen Coulombe has taught a variety of Career and Technical Education courses at the 8th -12th grade level as well as the Community College since the early 2000's. Her focus is on expanding hands-on and experiential learning in meaningful ways to add valuable "tools" to the students' toolbox, building confidence and a resume of tangible skills to market in the workplace. Karen has seen certifications used to enhance resumes for those who need to get right to work; as well as to differentiate students working towards competitive internships, scholarships, and college programs. The most significant connection from certification to the real world is understanding how to work to achieve goals using the resources available. Before teaching, Karen worked for over a decade as an Avionics Technician with Boeing, DynCorp Aerospace and the US Air Force on programs including Air Force 1, the B2 Bomber, and multiple F-16 deployments abroad.

Laurene Klassen is a Microsoft Certified Trainer and Assistant Director of IT Training & Communications at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. She took her first Microsoft Office Specialist exam in 2010 for personal development and has been hooked ever since. In 2017, she spearheaded the MOS program at SMU after attending her first CERTIFIED conference. Their program has now certified over 5,000 students within 4 years. Laurene oversees the administrative side of their program working with over 15 faculty members to integrate the MOS exams into their curriculum. She frequently teaches Office workshops to students. She is a native of Massachusetts but now calls Texas her home.

These ladies share strategies to harness the power of project-based learning and MOS certification, helping prepare students for the demands of the workforce and post-secondary education. Listen to student success stories, discover effective tools, and acquire practical insights to enhance student success rates, teacher effectiveness, and program efficiency.

Discover some valuable tips for getting started with MOS on the blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2023/May/Getting-started-with-Microsoft-Office-Specialist. 

Like our educators mentioned, connecting with industry is crucial to the success of your program. Get additional advice here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2022/November/Successful-Cert-Program-with-Industry-Education.  

Learn more about the MOS certification: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/Microsoft/MOS/Overview. 

Get other ideas for your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/blog. 

Connect with your fellow educators, like Jan, Karen, and Laurene, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.  

Is your student the next U.S. National Champion? Learn how to help students earn an invitation to compete with veteran MOS teacher, Kathy Schmit. Kathy is a 10-year veteran teacher with 25 years of firsthand experience applying Microsoft products in the business industry, now serving as the statewide Actualization Manager for CCI Learning, for the WA legislatively funded Microsoft certification support team. Kathy entered the Career and Technical Education field to prepare students for the rigors and realities of the work world. Having been passed over for workplace advancement because she lacked certification or college credentials, she understands the importance and value of certification.

Kathy taught Microsoft certification for 10 years. She has had the pleasure of witnessing 3 of her students compete at the Certiport Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship in Washington, DC, 4 students compete at the MOS U.S. National Championship, and several students win national and state championships through FBLA for Microsoft certification. Kathy takes great pleasure in the fact that, through their Microsoft certification and skills, many of her students have become mentors for local businesses and adults in their community, not to mention the jobs they have qualified for.  Kathy will be the first to tell, in her enthusiastic manner, that certification matters! But above all else she will share with you and make you a believer that certification is for EVERYONE!

In this episode, Kathy and Certiport's Corporate Events Manager, Dominique Delbar, sit down together to discuss all things competition. Learn how you can prepare students to compete, and how the competition can change lives. You can also discover resources that will help your students prepare. Prepare the next generation of MOS Champions!  

Learn more about the MOS Championship: https://moschampionship.certiport.com/us/. 

Get other ideas for your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/blog. 

Connect with your fellow educators, like Kathy, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.  

Students need to see that business, particularly entrepreneurship, is everywhere. In a recent CERTIFIED Academy: Business webinar, we learned from entrepreneurial education experts: Christina Deibler and Marjorie Mitchell. 

In this episode, Christina and Marjorie share why it's so important to teach entrepreneurship in schools (even if students don't open their own businesses). We dive into the skills students learn as entrepreneurs, and projects to help teach entrepreneurial expertise. Plus, Christina and Marjorie list some of their favorite free resources they use in the classroom. 

Get some valuable entrepreneurial teaching ideas on the blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2022/February/Bringing-Entrepreneurship-into-the-Classroom. 

Learn more about the Entrepreneurship and Small Business certification: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/ESB/Certification/Overview.  

Get other ideas for your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/blog. 

Connect with your fellow educators, like Christina and Marjorie, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.  

Year after year, communication consistently appears among the top skills requested by employers. In fact, LinkedIn just published its 2024 report of the most in-demand job skills. Is anyone surprised to see communication in the number one position? Clearly, teaching learners this crucial skill has never been more important.

In this week's episode, we revisit a CERTIFIED Academy: Business webinar from earlier this year. We sat down with Wake Technical Community College educators, Chad McKenzie and Brittany Hochstaetter, and Certiport's own Certiport Success Manager, Jennifer Stubblefield, to discuss the importance of embedding communication teaching into your curriculum. 

Chad, Brittany, and Jennifer shared how you can help empower students with valuable communication and soft skills. You'll also learn how to build students' digital emotional intelligence, making them effective communicators and employees in the modern workplace. Discover new and creative ways to teach this in-demand workforce skill. 

Get some valuable communication teaching ideas on the blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2024/February/Embedding-communication-teaching-in-the-classroom. 

Learn more about the Communication Skills for Business certification: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/CSB/Certification/Overview. 

Get other ideas for your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/blog. 

Connect with your fellow educators, like Chad and Brittany, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.  

Every day we use and interact with devices that use artificial intelligence (AI). Help your students understand and get excited about the power of AI technology with the Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior competition. The Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior (ICJ) is a global student competition for students ages 5-18. Through ICJ, educators utilize lessons to teach their students about AI technologies, students form teams, and apply these lessons to dream up a concept or idea to make a difference in their local community or world around them.

In this week's episode, we had the opportunity to chat about ICJ with Microsoft's Jeff Johnson. Jeff Johnson is Senior Business Manager for the Skills & Employability team in the Worldwide Public Sector Education group at Microsoft. In his role, Jeff leads the company skills strategy with K-12 and higher education institutions, government workforce agencies, educators, and partners around the world surrounding adoption and engagement with technical skills solutions for students including learning pathways and Microsoft's industry recognized certification portfolio. Jeff is instrumental in helping Microsoft form broad education alliances with schools, higher education institutions, and governments globally to assist learners in gaining future-ready skills and technical credentials for the digital economy.

We talked with Jeff about the importance of AI skills, and how educators can introduce students to the world of AI through the Microsoft Imagine Cup Junior competition. Jeff gave us all the details about ICJ, how students can compete, how educators can support them, and how to keep the AI momentum going after the competition has finished. 

Jeff mentioned several resources during this episode. Get everything you need to dive into ICJ here: 

• Imagine Cup Junior blog post: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2024/January/What-is-Microsoft-Imagine-Cup-Junior. 

• Imagine Cup Junior website: www.imaginecup.com/junior. 

• Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification information: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Certifications/Microsoft/MCF/Overview. 

• Free learning materials for Microsoft Certified Fundamentals certification: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/. 

• For teachers working with students over 18, check out the Imagine Cup: www.imaginecup.com. 

• For teachers looking for additional competition opportunities for their learners, check out the MOS World Championship: https://www.moschampionship.com/. 

• Get other ideas for teaching AI in your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2022/December/Tools-for-Teaching-Artificial-Intelligence.  

• Connect with your fellow educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.  

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a hot topic of discussion in nearly every industry. We are so excited that we were able to rally two experienced experts to help us dive into the world of AI, Jeff Felice and Joe Brutsche. 

As President of CertNexus, Jeff is responsible for advancing the company's mission of closing the emerging technology skills gap. With 25 years of experience within the training and certification industry, serving in general management and practice leadership roles, Jeff combines his passion for professional performance with technology to bring change within global organizations while improving the opportunities for individuals in emerging tech. When not working towards improving the lives of others Jeff can be found doing the same for his own as an avid reader and cycling enthusiast. 

Joe is a customer focused and data driven product management leader with a proven track record of successful product launches, fostering innovation and cross-functional collaboration.   Driven and strategic with a unique combination of Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) expertise, product management leadership and passion for analytics, Joe is responsible for determining Pearson VUE's Security & Compliance, OnVUE and Analytics & Reporting product roadmaps. In addition, he leads Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Committe, which promotes and oversees the responsible use of AI within Pearson VUE. Before joining Pearson VUE, he was a Risk Assurance Director at PwC, and held roles of increasing responsibility in compliance, auditing, security and third-party assurance. 

During this episode, we learned all about the impact of AI in the world of IT and beyond. We discussed what information individuals should know about AI, including machine learning, generative AI, and ethical practices. If you're looking to dip your toes into the world of artificial intelligence, this episode with Jeff and Joe will help you take the plunge. 

This episode is co-sponsored by the Microsoft Certified Fundamentals and IT Specialist certification programs. Get more information about Microsoft Certified Fundamentals at www.certiport.com/mcf and more information about IT Specialist at www.certiport.com/its. 

Looking for more? Here are some additional resources to get you started. 

Check out the full webinar recording on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_W6kV0dfvE. 

Get other ideas for teaching AI in your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Blog/2022/December/Tools-for-Teaching-Artificial-Intelligence.  

Connect with your fellow educators in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.  

Your students inherently understand play. Engaging in hands-on learning and gamification is a natural way to discover, learn, and retain information for learning, regardless of age. CERTIFIED Ambassador, John, sees that in his classroom every day. 

John Beale began his educational career working in museums including the Spanish Colonial Quarter, the Florida Agriculture Museum, and the Florida Maritime Museum. After more than a decade in experiential education he brought his experiences to the classroom, first at middle school level teaching science and STEM marine science before finding his place at Allen D. Nease High School in St John's County, Florida, teaching Introduction to Engineering and Design, Civil Engineering and Architecture, and Computer Integrated Manufacturing and sponsoring the Transportation Technology Club with a focus on Aerospace and Electrathon motorsports. He believes that industry certification creates a solid pathway to college, careers, and creativity and that collaboration and cooperation in and out of the classroom benefits all involved.

In today's episode, John shares why it's so important for educators to focus on play. However, it's not just play for play's sake. He teaches how you can make your learning objectives and assignments more playful and hands-on, helping drive student engagement and buy-in. You'll love John's practical advice for making your classroom more engaging and playful. 

Looking for more? Here are some additional resources to get you started. 

Bring play into the classroom with one of John's go-to tools: https://www.blooket.com/. 

Learn more from the Harvard study John mentioned, "A Pedagogy of Play: Supporting playful learning in classrooms and schools": https://pz.harvard.edu/resources/pedagogy-of-play-book.

Get other ideas for your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/blog. 

Connect with your fellow educators, like John, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.  

Research studies consistently demonstrate the power of active learning or learning by doing. Helping students become more engaged in the learning process means creating hands-on learning opportunities. CERTIFIED Ambassador and Autodesk educator, Brian Flores, is here to help you find a balance between theoretical concepts and hands-on activities. 

Brian Flores is a dedicated educator with a unique blend of experience and expertise, currently working as the Robotics and Engineering Teacher at JM Hanks High School. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science with a minor in Secondary Education and is currently working on his master's in educational administration. His professional journey is equally compelling, having worked as a Professional Aerial Videographer for the City of El Paso and spent four years at Apple, where he honed his technological acumen.

With certifications in Technology Education 7-12 grades, Microsoft Office, Google Project Management, and Autodesk Inventor, Brian ensures his students are well-prepared for the dynamic world of engineering and technology. Currently, Brian imparts his knowledge to 10-12th-grade students, teaching Engineering Design and Problem Solving, Robotics I and II, Digital Electronics, and administering Certiport certification in Autodesk Inventor and Fusion, making him an asset to both his students and the educational community at large.

In this episode, Brian talks about how he incorporates theoretical teaching and hands-on projects. He's built his own curriculum from scratch, and offers fabulous advice about creating personalized learning experiences, and meaningful hands-on activities. He also shares the value of learning opportunities outside the classroom. If you're ready to create a more hands-on classroom this year, this episode is for you. 

Get other ideas for your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/blog. 

Connect with your fellow educators, like Brian, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.  

Helping students succeed in the workplace is about more than just hard skills. It's about helping them understand how to be successful in a corporate environment, how to interact and communicate with others. But how can you give students the interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence they need to succeed, particularly in today's digital workplace? Chad McKenzie and Brittany Hochstaetter have collaborated on that very topic. 

Chad McKenzie is an Associate Professor in the Information Technology division at Wake Technical Community College in Raleigh and has 17 years of teaching experience within the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS). Chad's teaching style focuses on fostering relationships with his students and creating learning environments, both virtual and seated, that are engaging, positive, and personalized.

Brittany is an experienced Professor of Communication with over 15 years of experience in higher education. Like Chad, she's currently sharing her gifts and efforts with students at Wake Technical Community College. She's skilled in research, educational leadership, adult education, curriculum development, soft-skills training, administrative processes, and program development.

In this episode, we talked with Chad and Brittany about digital emotional intelligence, and why it's a focus at Wake Technical Community College. Together they share their experience in pioneering a new communication program. We discuss what they've learned, and how educators can successfully teach digital emotional intelligence in their classroom. 

Interested in learning more about digital emotional intelligence? Here are some of the resources that Brittany and Chad mentioned during the episode. 

• Community College Daily Article: https://www.ccdaily.com/2024/01/between-us/ 

• Inquisitive Culture Article: https://www.strategy-business.com/blog/Six-reasons-successful-leaders-love-questions 

• Employability Framework: https://cte.ed.gov/initiatives/employability-skills-framework 

• Rich Skill Descriptors: https://www.openskillsnetwork.org/rsd. 

Get other ideas for your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/blog. 

Connect with your fellow educators, like Chad and Brittany, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.  

Coming in with our second episode of 2024, and we're so excited to continue our series with our CERTIFIED Ambassadors. In our last episode, we covered student engagement. But what do you do if you're struggling to help students get started and stay motivated to succeed? Christina Davis, CERTIFIED Ambassador and educator, has some great ideas for you. 

Ms. Christina Davis is a teacher in Colorado Springs, CO. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of South Carolina – Columbia. She started out by spending her first nine years in the classroom as an English teacher in South Carolina and then moved to Colorado Springs where she has spent the last seven years. Even though her heart is in teaching Shakespeare to teenagers; she stumbled upon a computer lab in 2019 and has now transitioned completely to the world of business and computer science certification courses.

Christina has implemented a very successful Microsoft certification program. Since she started teaching Microsoft in the middle of the pandemic, she has had more than 400 students earn their Microsoft certifications. In addition, she runs a certification lab program for students to earn their Entrepreneurship and Small Business certifications and Communication Skills for Business-Professional Communication certifications for college credit. More than 100 students have been able to complete those credentials in the last few years!

Last year, Christina was named Certification Coordinator for her entire Charter School Network. She is fervently excited about creating new opportunities for her students to excel as their work towards earning their associate degrees while still in high school! 

In this episode, we talk with Christina about how to increase student motivation in and outside the classroom. She also talks about helping students motivate each other, so you're not the only one driving progress in the classroom. Covering everything from college credit to discovering your students' love languages, this episode is sure to give you some new ideas. 

Learn more about ACE credit for your students here: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/Educator-resources/College-Credit. 

To help discover your students' love languages and increase motivation in your classroom, you can visit https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language. 

Get other ideas for your classroom on our blog: https://certiport.pearsonvue.com/blog. 

Connect with your fellow educators, like Christina, in our CERTIFIED Educator Community here: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8958289/.

Don't miss your chance to register for our annual CERTIFIED Educator's Conference at https://certified.certiport.com/.