Adobe ACA certification and Microsoft Office certification tricks of the trade. Microsoft Office Specialist strategies and tools to start on Monday and test for MOS certification on Friday. Classroom structure, tools used, philosophy for project based teaching and more.

1. D. Michael Ploor
Teacher and Author
Hillsborough County Public Schools and Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
Microsoft and Adobe
Certification Magic

2. Who is this Character?

3. Character Elements

4. Start on Monday
• Microsoft Office
Specialist (MOS)
• 3 to 4 hours of
activities
• Explores content and
covers essentials

5. Test on Friday
• Word
• PowerPoint
• Excel
• Access
• Outlook

6. Start Week 1 Monday
• Adobe Certified
Associate (ACA)
• 8 to 12 hours of
activities
• Explores content and
covers essentials
• Lesson Review
Questions
are the
review for
the exam

7. Test end of Week 2
• Photoshop
• Dreamweaver
• Flash
• Illustrator
• InDesign

8. Industry Certification Lessons
C.O.R.E.
Word
2013
Outlook
2013
Excel
2013
PowerPoint
2013
Photoshop Flash Dreamweaver
Common Occupational Readiness Essentials
Adobe Certifications
Access
2013

9. MOS Certifications

10. Adobe Certifications

11. Insanity
• Insanity: doing the same thing over and
over again and expecting different results.
Read more:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes
/a/alberteins133991.html#ixzz1KgH3jq4T
•Do not dumb down.
•Make the learning process simpler and more effective
•Reverse engineer from desired outcome
•Scaffold learning to achieve objectives

13. Are we making students dependent?
Are we teaching the test?
Can students perform at a workforce ready level?
Challenge students
Do not make them dependent on your help!
Prepare them as life long learners
How do we do this?????

14. Eliminate IDK.

15. 4G Classroom
4G is a new educational model to provide project based
learning models into frequent use. Develops work place
ready skills
•Goal
•Gather
•Go
•Glory

16. 4G Classroom
Goal
• Objectives
• End Product
• What you are
expected to be able
to do.
• Were will students
be when finished

17. 4G Classroom
Gather
• Required materials
• Skills
• Knowledge
• Training
(reading, modeling,
guided practice, etc.)

18. 4G Classroom
Go
• Get to work
• Creating the end product
• Manage and support the
process – not the people.
(independent practice,
team project, application
and synthesis level activity)

19. 4G Classroom
Glory
• Assessment
• Presentation
• Certification
(celebrate success,
track success,
establish self assessment skills,
inspire to outperform, etc.)

20. Successfully Motivating Classroom Audience
1. Set Goals
a. 80% of classroom total or more
Goal

21. Successfully Motivating Classroom Audience
1. Set Goals
a. 80% of classroom total or more
2. Display Goals
a. Make it visible Goal

22. Successfully Motivating Classroom Audience
1. Set Goals
a. 80% of classroom total or more
2. Display Goals
a. Make it visible
3. Measure it
a. Allow for change
Goal

23. Successfully Motivating Classroom Audience
1. Set Goals
a. 80% of classroom total or more
2. Display Goals
a. Make it visible
3. Measure it
a. Allow for change
4. Make it personal
a. Have students sign it
b. Display certificates
Goal

24. Successfully Motivating Classroom Audience
1. Set Goals
a. 80% of classroom total or more
2. Display Goals
a. Make it visible
3. Measure it
a. Allow for change
4. Make it personal
a. Have students sign it
b. Display certificates
5. Show VALUE
a. Not just a grade
b. TJ Maxx Employment Application
c. College Applications
d. Success stories
Goal

25. Successfully Motivating Classroom Audience
1. Set Goals
a. 80% of classroom total or more
2. Display Goals
a. Make it visible
3. Measure it
a. Allow for change
4. Make it personal
a. Have students sign it
b. Display certificates
5. Show VALUE
a. Not just a grade
b. TJ Maxx Employment Application
c. College Applications
d. College Credit
e. Success stories
6. Reward
a. Hat Day
b. Mancakes!!!
c. Sundaes
d. Administration Support
Goal

27. How it Works!
• Quick turn around
– 1 to 2 weeks from start to exam
• Focus on knowledge level skills
– Explore all features quickly
• Narrow testing deadline (this counts!)
– Focus learning and accountability
• Review questions are the study guide for the
exam
– No simulation software to memorize answers
• Project based remediation
– Engage all learning styles

28. Better Tools
• Lessons designed 15 years ago
– No textbooks were available
– Not teaching to a test
• Cooperative learning failures
– Exhausted
– 5 groups asked the same questions
– Why not teach basics first
• Step by step instructions
• Certification testing came about
– Updated materials to standards and
software

29. Successfully Motivating Classroom Audience
Make it FUNTeach Content – CORE Guides
Integrate Student Interest (project based learning)
Build from one success to another
Animations
Character Development
Drawing
Games
Creating - - not just doing!
Let the Bears forage on their own!
Student becomes unteachable - independent

30. Integrating Office Technology
•PowerPoint Games
(Quiz show and Maze)
•Microsoft Word Asset construction
(2D and 3D; Design Documents)
•Microsoft Excel Games
(Crossword ,Tic-Tac-Toe, Battleship)
•Microsoft Paint or Open Office Draw
•Microsoft Clip Art
•Microsoft Sound Editor or Audacity
•Create Presentations, Brochures, Letters,
Charts using Office products for marketing

49. Activity 3-4:Physical Dexterity Puzzle
Objective: Students will be able to construct a simple puzzle game. Students will
demonstrate hyperlink and mouse over game features. Students will use a
variety of tools to build games. Students will understand the benefits of a
physical dexterity training game.
Situation: The Really, Really Cool Game Company needs to create a few puzzle
games to teach users how to correctly use a stylus (digital pen) on a handheld
organizer. Your team will create a prototype sample puzzle to test the concept of a
hand-eye coordination training game.
Each team member will create a different maze concept.

50. Click START
to begin.
Follow the
maze to get
the cheese.
Avoid
touching the
red or the
cats.

52. Please Try Again

53. Winner !

54. More Examples
Battleship Array Programming Vector Drawing

55. Crop coin image to edge.
Change line color to match
coin.
Rotate to 3D.

56. College Credit for
Industry Certification

57. Certification Return on
Investment

58. American Council on Education
• Recommends college credit for each exam
• Create an official transcript
• Not all exams listed
• Not all schools recognize the ACE credit
– Similar to AP tests
• Schools can refuse credit or apply to other elective
credits as they see fit
• http://www.bismarckstate.edu/current/learning/credit-for-industry-training/

59. Appling Credit to Major
• School based decision
• Must complete degree to have credit
awarded
• Grade of “P” or Pass awarded prior to
degree conveyance
• http://www.umuc.edu/students/support/exams/industryspecific.cfm
• http://www.spcollege.edu/CCIT_Credit_for_Industry_Certifications/
• http://www.mdc.edu/main/academics/certificationprocess.aspx
• Certifications do expire!
– Usually valid for only 4 years

60. ACE Transcript Process
As with the Internet, things change. Please check the links below for accuracy as some
may have changed.
American Council for Education – www.acenet.edu
Can provide you with an ACE transcript for your university based on the certification test
you have passed.
Create an Account
https://www2.acenet.edu/credit/?fuseaction=REGISTRATION.getRegistration
Certiport Exam Correlations:
http://www2.acenet.edu/credit/?fuseaction=browse.getOrganizationDetail&FICE=300514
Click on the exam you passed and it will give a description and the credit ACE
recommends.
Also, this lists the exam components and amount of content covered in each exam.

61. ACE Transcript Process #2
My Courses
ACE Number
Click to add
Adding a Course to your Transcript
1. Log in to begin the course addition process
2. https://www2.acenet.edu/credit/?fuseaction=transcripts.main
3. From the Home page, click My Courses in the left side navigation
box.
4. Click the [Add New Course] red button on the My Courses page.
5. Type in the ACE Number for the Certiport exam you passed
(example: CPRT-0049 for Outlook 2010)

62. ACE Transcript Process #3
Click to Add to
your transcript
6. Click the Exam Title to open the exam description.
7. Click the [Add To Transcript] button to have the certification
reviewed and added to your transcript.

63. ACE Transcript Process #4
Enter date
on
certificate
Submit for
review
•Enter the date from the certificate you received when
you passed the exam.
(can access that information from the www.certiport.com
website after you log in)
•Click the [Submit For Review] button to have ACE verify
the information and add it to your transcript.
•Wait a few days and check your transcript for updates.

65. ACE Transcript Process #5
Request a Transcript (Transcripts are $40.00 each)
1. Log in to begin the transcript process
2. http://www2.acenet.edu/credit/?page=transcripts
3. See the sample transcript
4. See FAQ section
5. Complete form to get a transcript from ACE sent to you
or your institution.

66. http://www.g-w.com/software-certification
Free Copy