GREED Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 My company has just bought into this, to allow our delegates and apprentices to use Microsoft training materials and the likes, (and soon to become a testing centre) just wondering if anyone else has done this as well?
glennda Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 Nope but if you do testing do you do discount for edugeek members
featured_spectre Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 We did this, great benefits for our school. All the kids leave at age 13 with the Microsoft digital Literacy Cert (equivalent to GCSE in ICT grade D according to edexcel). Myself and Ashman91 become microsoft certified trainers (to train the digital literacy course) as well as a discount on some exams (MOS etc). All of our staff also took the digital literacy stuff and is now actually a prerequisite to getting a laptop in our place.
GREED Posted February 16, 2011 Author Posted February 16, 2011 Unfortunately all test centres have to charge the same, is part of the agreement with the provider, basically so you can do you test anywhere in the country and have the same experience. You do get tea and biscuits and a chat with me though
GREED Posted February 16, 2011 Author Posted February 16, 2011 We did this, great benefits for our school. All the kids leave at age 13 with the Microsoft digital Literacy Cert (equivalent to GCSE in ICT grade D according to edexcel). Myself and Ashman91 become microsoft certified trainers (to train the digital literacy course) as well as a discount on some exams (MOS etc). All of our staff also took the digital literacy stuff and is now actually a prerequisite to getting a laptop in our place. Awesome, that is a man with a plan!
featured_spectre Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 if you are employed by the establishment that becomes an MS academy, you get 15% off your exams, but you have to have proof of employment.
GREED Posted February 16, 2011 Author Posted February 16, 2011 if you are employed by the establishment that becomes an MS academy, you get 15% off your exams, but you have to have proof of employment. hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.... I didn't know that! Cheers nephilim very useful info!"
featured_spectre Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 You are most welcome...we signed up using prodigy learning (Certiport) 2 years ago, and that was part of our agreement, the academy down the road from us also has the same agreement and they signed up with Prometric in August 2010
GREED Posted February 16, 2011 Author Posted February 16, 2011 We spoke to Prodigy, but ended up going direct through the website. We looking for certification partnership so that we can deliver technical MS certificates (MCITPs and the likes) for our apprentices, I don't think Certipoint does that, and our SMT had an issue with prometric's agreement.
featured_spectre Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 If you are direct then you should speak with MS. They may do the same thing or it may be a sales thing by Certiport and Prometric (as it continues for the life of the academy).
GREED Posted February 16, 2011 Author Posted February 16, 2011 I'll check that out when i'm back in the office!
plexer Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 Those running the test centres don't the staff running it have to have no ms quals?
bondbill2k2 Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 Sorry to pain you with this question but what is a Microsoft IT Academy and what benefits for staff, students etc...
featured_spectre Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 Being an MS Acad allows you to teach the MS curriculums available up to MCITP (if you had a so qualified person at your establishment) and generates revenue based on courses you offer and how much you offer it for. Also with the advanced membership you get MSDNAA subscription which allows pupils and staff to have various softwares that MS offer, and they can have it for free.
mthomas08 Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 Very interesting topic. How did you all go about becoming a MS IT Academy? what kind of requirements are there?
featured_spectre Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 essential membership - £600 (or there abouts), not many benefits, basic technet etc advanced membership - £1105, MSDNAA, Technet Plus, 50 office licences, 100 windows licences etc We went about it by asking parents what they wanted to see from the school, overwhelming response was the kids coming out with good ICT, so we looked at the best route to do that, and it was the Microsoft academy so they come out with the Digital Literacy Cert.
nadeem Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 It is an annual cost - best way to this is to contact Prodigy Learning - that's how we set ours up Prodigy Systems Limited IT Academy Blurb - Microsoft IT Academy Remember all the resources are included the only additonal fee is *if* people want to take the exams. Also it is possible to sign for unlimited exams, so the cost need not be the same everywhere - if I recall correctly I am allowed to charge whatever I feel like
Sylv3r Posted February 17, 2011 Posted February 17, 2011 If your school is part of the SSAT you will get advanced membership for around £420 ex VAT.
GREED Posted February 17, 2011 Author Posted February 17, 2011 To answer an earlier question, only the registered administrator for the tests cannot be MS trained, everyone else is fine to have anything. Thanks for Nephilim for all the info entered in this post. 2
plexer Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 I've just been offered this at £450 from itskillsman.co.uk Ben
featured_spectre Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 something is wrong with that price, as MS simply don't do it for any less than £550 for standard and £1100 for advanced.
plexer Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Hmm or not it seems that the £450 is for some advanced package on top of the MS subs. Ben
plexer Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 @nephilim: If your school is part of the SSAT you will get advanced membership for around £420 ex VAT. Hows that work then? Ben
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