Seek Learning

Skillsoft courses are specifically targeted at exam preparation for various certification programmes.

Course tested: MCITP Enterprise Administrator for Server 2008
Price: £2170

SEEK Learning is the UK re-seller of Skillsoft courses which are specifically targeted at exam preparation for various certification programs. The Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Training requires candidates to pass four MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) exams plus one MCITP Pro exam. The cost of the exams is not included in this package but there is a money back guarantee - the cost of the course is refunded if you fail the exam a second time within 60 days of the first failure.

We looked at the MCITP Enterprise Administrator Certification, the three pre-requisites for which are Exam 70-640, MCTS Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuring; Exam 70-642: MCTS Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuring and Exam 70-643: MCTS Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuring. The choice of electives is between Exam 70-620: MCTS Windows Vista Configuration and Exam 70-624: MCTS Business Desktop Deployment. Having passed the four MCTS exams the final hurdle is PRO Exam 70-647: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator. The course covers all of these so that you can choose your option.

Once enrolled you have 12 months access to all the resources and the outline suggests that six months of self-paced study is required. To use the courses, you log on to a "SkillPort", a portal showing your customisable personal leaning plan, along with "Search and Learn", a search facility that gives quick access to available resources. For the duration of their subscription students have access to additional resources including Books 24x7 which enables you to consult other reference books.

Each module has information that allows you to determine its appropriateness. As well as an overview it outlines the target audience, prerequisites, and expected duration. This is typically 1.5 hours to make it possible to complete in a single session. The objectives of the lessons are itemised, and the lessons themselves presented in a sophisticated-looking but relatively small window. When information is being conveyed you can both hear and read the content which is delivered together with helpful animations.

The interface allows you to determine the pace making it easy to move to next page or previous page and to repeat specific points by selecting items and audio can be toggled on or off. The presentations are interactive; when a Try it box appears you can either follow the instructions using the on-screen prompts or press the Show Me button to have the required actions completed.

Having covered a topic in theory you next complete a practical exercise. Not only does this give an opportunity to perform the task but also to appreciate the considerations involved. At each step in the exercise you are provided with feedback and shown the correct answers with explanations available. There are also simulation exercises in which you perform tasks with the safety net of the "Show Me" button in case you get stuck.

There is plenty of test material incorporated in the course and this is designed to prepare for the exams. So, in line with Microsoft exams, you'll find lots of multiple choice questions where identifying the correct answer is not at all straightforward so that you get practice in noticing the deliberate traps.

Mentoring is an important component of SkillSoft courses. Mentors are available by phone and via email. They are there to mark more open-ended scenario-based exercises and to provide information, advice and support. There's plenty of feedback about your progress in a My Report section that maintains a record of past activities and shows scores on simulations and practice tests. You can even generate certificates for completion of components.

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