Decided to turn the pilot light back on for the blog.

Any strategies or tips on how to be a more active blogger?

I came to the realization after more than two years in that role, that it wasn't what I thought it might be.   It didn't excite or energize me as I had hoped it would.

After some evaluation and consideration, I decided it was time to make a change again.  So I left that role and moved to our content development group.   Not as a Certification Planner but as a Technical Content Development Manager.   I still find the word "Manager" at the end of that odd as I don't "manage" anybody per se.  

In my new role, I will be working on planning content for our target audiences in the developer arena.  That means working with content development authors to write the content and manage that process.  While that is an important aspect of the job, the part that excites me the most is that I actually get the opportunity to author content too.  I've enjoyed writing technical content over the years and this seems like a natural fit for me.

Gerry

After looking at the offerings in the channel today, I think there may be some gaps in available training and think they should be filled.  My initial thoughts are around three potential courses;

1. Intro to Object-Oriented Programming
2. Intro to OOP Using C#, VB, C++. (no language decision yet)
3. Intro to C++ Programming

Why might I want to do this?   Mostly because I enjoy helping others reach their goals through education.  Education has been a big part of my life and I believe a person should never stop learning. 

Having taught at post-secondary schools in the past and seeing the students “get it” makes it worthwhile.  Also, getting feedback on the content that I have authored so far helps me to understand what students and trainers like and dislike about my courseware or others and helps me think about ways to improve it.

I may change this blog’s purpose to one focused on IT-based education and courseware authoring and provide insight into the processes and outcomes of my authoring experiences and that of others.  Hopefully it will also become a place where readers will post their thoughts on how they learn best and what makes a great learning experience for them.

Gerry

To get the latest information on Microsoft Certifications and Training, you should point your browser to http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/.  This is where you can find out what is taking place in the training and certification space around Microsoft Technologies and is the official place to get your information from.

This blog will be shut down in a short while.

Thanks

Gerry

I realized that there has been sparse postings here lately too.  Mostly because things are quiet in the dev cert world right now.  We’re in between releases of .NET and Visual Studio.  SQL certs are being formulated now for the next release of SQL Server.  We’re hosting a focus group in December on the BI track for some job role analysis around SQL BI.  As a result, look to see some changes in the SQL cert landscape coming.  I will still play a part in the design and review of what that looks like.

We are also working on the transitions plans as I move to my new role so cert related traffic on this blog will likely not include anything new.

For information on beta exams please make sure you book mark the Beta Exam blog, http://blogs.technet.com/b/betaexams/.

Also, for other updates, tune in to the Born to Learn blog as well.  http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/

It’s been a slice, but it’s time for a new pie.

All the best to you and I hope to still have a chance to interact with and meet you all again at some point.

Gerry

You are invited to take beta exam 71-583, Pro: Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications.

If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. The 71-xxx identifier is used for registering for beta versions of MCP exams, when the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration.
By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications.

Exam 71-583, Pro: Designing and Developing Windows Azure Applications counts as credit towards the following certification(s).

MCPD: Windows Azure Developer 4

Availability

Registration begins: October 11, 2010

Beta exam period runs: October 28, 2010– November 17, 2010

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately. Beta exams have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all beta slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.

Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.

Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China

Registration Information

You must register at least 24 hours prior to taking the exam.
Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: AZPRO
Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately.

To register in North America, please call:

Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact:

Test Information and Support

You are invited to take this beta exam at no charge.
You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.
Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-583&locale=en-us

Frequently Asked Questions

For Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) help and information, you may log in to the MCP Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/or contact your Regional Service Center: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/support/worldsites.asp.

You are invited to take beta exam 71-506, TS: Silverlight 4, Development.

If you pass the beta exam, the exam credit will be added to your transcript and you will not need to take the exam in its released form. The 71-xxx identifier is used for registering for beta versions of MCP exams, when the exam is released in its final form the 70-xxx identifier is used for registration.
By participating in beta exams, you have the opportunity to provide the Microsoft Certification program with feedback about exam content, which is integral to development of exams in their released version. We depend on the contributions of experienced IT professionals and developers as we continually improve exam content and maintain the value of Microsoft certifications.

Exam 71-506, TS: Silverlight, Development counts as credit towards the following certification(s).

MCTS: Silverlight 4 Development

Availability

Registration begins: October 11, 2010

Beta exam period runs: October 14, 2010– November 5, 2010

Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately. Beta exams have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all beta slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.

Testing is held at Prometric testing centers worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centers will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.

Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China

Registration Information

You must register at least 24 hours prior to taking the exam.
Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: SL410
Receiving this invitation does not guarantee you a seat in the beta; we recommend that you register immediately.

To register in North America, please call:

•	Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)

Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact:

•	Prometric: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

Test Information and Support

You are invited to take this beta exam at no charge.
You will be given four hours to complete the beta exam. Please plan accordingly.
Find exam preparation information: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?ID=70-506&locale=en-us

Frequently Asked Questions

For Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) help and information, you may log in to the MCP Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/or contact your Regional Service Center: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/support/worldsites.asp.

•	What is a beta exam?
•	Where can I learn more about the registration process?
•	Where can I learn more about the beta exam invitation process?
•	Where can I learn more about the new structure of Microsoft Certification?
•	Who do I contact for help with this beta exam or other MCP questions?

Monday, July 12th is the day for the live release of our new Microsoft SharePoint 2010 exams.  All four will release at the same time, two developer exams 70-573 (TS) and 70-576 (Pro) along with two IT Pro exams 70-667 (TS) and 70-668 (Pro).  Many thanks to those who took the beta exams and we do apologize for the comment SNAFU on the developer exams.  We did take a lot of feedback from folks who took the exams and as a result of the comment issue, sent their feedback directly to the SharePoint folks or us.    We also held a session here in Redmond for a final evaluation of every question on both exams to ensure validity, relevance, and accuracy.  These sessions were populated by your peers as well as Microsoft SharePoint product group Program Managers and Dev Leads.

What’s new?

We will finish a Silverlight 4 design this week and start development efforts shortly on our first ever Silverlight exam.  YAY!  We have an excellent group of subject matter experts in the design session, all recommended by the Silverlight group here at Microsoft.  I’m certain you will be happy with the outline we they are creating.  As usual, we can’t cover it all and we can’t satisfy everyone’s desires for content coverage, but this exam is shaping up to be a great first start at getting certified on Silverlight.

What else you ask?

We are getting together the resources necessary to create a developer exam for Windows Azure.  So if you’re ready to developer for the cloud, as I’m certain you all are anyway or at least have been developing for the cloud for awhile, you can look forward to an Azure certification later this year.  Well, likely early 2011 by the time we get it completed and released.

After that, we turn our focus on the database gurus among you as we start our way down the path for new certifications for the next version of SQL Server.  Of course nothing is written in stone yet but expect some coverage on these next exams of SQL Azure as well.

Finally, the discussions for a Software Tester certification are still ongoing so I’ll keep you up to date on how that progresses.

The last item for today is around PBT.  Performance-based testing.  We are still working hard on making this a reality for Microsoft Certifications and the developer community.  This month and next we will be hosting some feedback sessions for a proof-of-concept around a PBT for Web development using VS 2010 and .NET 4.   These sessions will be held at our internal training event known as TechReady as well as at VSLive this summer.

That’s all I have for today, hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far.  The Greater Seattle are is enjoying beautiful blue sky, sunshine, and temperatures in the high 80’s and low to mid 90’s.  For those in the metric parts of the world, that’s mid to high 20’s and low 30’s.  Yeah, sleep is not going well this week.   I need an air conditioner, or at least enough time to install the central unit I have sitting behind the storage shed. 

Gerry

Analyze your environment for installed add-ins and identify potential migration issues as you migrate earlier versions of Office to Office 2010. Learn how the Compatibility Inspector tools can perform an analysis of the code and suggest potential issues with this video on Channel 9. Additional videos and a lab are also available.

Gerry

Gerry