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Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications at NDSU!
Could you be certifiably Excel-lent?!!
Matt Chaussee!Technical Services Manager, VPFA Office!
Path to Excel-lence!• Investigating professional development
opportunities for MS Office applications!• Discovered Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
certifications through Certiport!• Dead end?!• Why can’t NDSU offer these certifications?!– Instructional Services and VPFA already instructing!– Counseling Center already proctoring tests!– MS Office running on all computers!– Training resources/practice exams inexpensive!– Applied and was selected to receive grant funds!
Why be Excel-lent?!• Initial focus on MS Excel through this
initiative for several reasons!– Widely used application, not fully utilized!– “Isn’t there a faster way to ______?”!– Formulas!– Formatting/Conditional Formatting!– Charts!– Pivot Tables!– Working with csv and text files!
Why Structured Training?!• Excel 2013 looks and feels different!• Many new features available !• Self teaching often effective, but frequently
only addresses immediate needs!• Structured training provides defined
objectives that introduces you to a wider scope of capabilities!
Current Approach to Excel Training!
• Targeted and topic based!• Knowledge “silos” within divisions/
departments!• Minimal ability to assess skill level and
suggest appropriate training resources!– Teach to the middle!– Advanced get bored!– Less experienced get frustrated!
New approach to Excel Training!!• Pursue MOS Certification!– Sets specific objectives for learning a standard
skill set!– Introduces many under-utilized features!– Familiarizes navigation within Excel 2013!– Develops comprehensive skills to work more
efficiently with spreadsheets!– Provides an inexpensive professional
development opportunity!– Increases number of “go-to” Excel resources
across campus!
How to get there!
Pre-‐test
Train
Official Cer1fica1on Exam
How to get there – Pre-test!!• Establish a baseline!– Gmetrix software provides practice problems
and exams, mimics live test environment !– Certification exams focus on 5 objectives!– Take a practice exam (requires account set up)!
Gmetrix Demonstration!
How to get there - Train!• Train - How do you learn best?!– Complete additional practice training/testing!
• Individually!• Emporium style learning/ TLMC availability!
– Self Study – many resources available!– Attend MOS objective based training classes!
• Collaborative effort between me and trainers in Instructional Services!
• Work through the MOS 2013 study guide and incorporate additional examples with relevant data!
• Classes and dates TBD!
How to get there – Official Exam!!
• Demonstrate preparedness!– Pass project based certification exam(s)
(testing mode)!– Consider taking official certification exam!
• Purchase voucher/register for exam!– Register an account with Certiport!– Purchase an exam voucher!– Set up a testing time with NDSU Counseling
Center!
Cost?!• Practice exams and training classes are free!!• Official Certification Exam: $100-$120!– Plus $10-$20 proctor fee!
• Potential for MOS site license that would drastically reduce costs per exam… dependent on level of interest!
• Either way, a modestly priced professional development opportunity (less than the cost of just the travel to take the exam elsewhere)!
• Strong interest and support from VPs of Finance and Administration and Information Technology!
Certification in other Office applications!
• Practice exams available for!– Excel, Excel Expert (2 part)!– Word, Word Expert (2 part)!– Access!– PowerPoint!– Outlook!– OneNote!
Certification Levels!• MOS: individual applications in Microsoft
Office 2013 (à la carte)!• MOS Expert: Word Expert and Excel
Expert (4 exams total)!• MOS Master: MOS Expert requirements
plus PowerPoint 2013 and one other Office application!
