Piggybacking Certifications

Wow, with just $$ I can double my A+, Network+, and Security+ related certifications.
https://www.eta-i.org/information_technology.html

I provide this information with two questions in mind:

Does this action by the ETA increase or decrease the value of these CompTIA certifications?

Does this action by the ETA decrease the value of certifications in general?

Thoughts?

Free Azure Course and Free Exam Voucher.....

Another useful holiday gift for my fellow instructors. The following link useful since it provides for 2-days of free training and those completing the "VIRTUAL: Microsoft Azure Virtual Training Day: Fundamentals" course can take the Azure Fundamentals certification exam at no cost.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/tra...d=_yxrujvy3kskftm1hkk0sohzibm2xs6z96ppuv0n900

Free Kindle Computer Science Ebooks

Time to increase your computer science electronic bookshelf holdings. For Christmas I've arranged for you to get a library of Kindle ebooks. Order the ebooks quickly as I'm not sure how long they will be available for free.
Link: https://slickdeals.net/f/14684135-f...yProvider:Control|Feature:isPersonalized:true

Very interesting and educational read on the latest major attack you're all hearing about...

SolarWinds attack explained:

Last Minute Christmas Suggestion for Fellow Instructors

Need that perfect last minute gift for a fellow instructor! Invite them to join CIN! This is a gift that will benefit them all year. 1607987950766.png

Join the worldwide community of instructors who provide CompTIA certification training. Our dedicated platform allows instructors and paraprofessionals to collaborate, share best practices and receive complimentary training and tools from CompTIA.

Joining CIN they will:
  • Connect with Instructors Worldwide
  • Discuss teaching Strategies
  • Access Complimentary Training
  • Join Train-the-Trainer webinars
  • Network with Peers
  • Learn Best Practices
It is the perfect gift for IT instructors! Wishing all of you a great holiday break and great start to 2021! CIN will have a lot of new features and events rolling out next year, not to mention a lot of Train-the-Trainer events on the horizon! We look forward to seeing each of you in the community!!

CompTIA A+ Online Instructor Needed to start Jan. 30

Hi there, we need an instructor to teach CompTIA A+ online, asynchronously using our Canvas LMS and Zoom. The class has 20 students and will begin on Jan. 30. The course must conclude by April. The students would receive the official textbook (Official CompTIA® A+® Core 1 and 2 Guides (Exams 220-1001 and 220-1002)) and vouchers for the two parts of the test. I need a stellar, experienced instructor who can source the content, populate it in the LMS and teach the class for us. Our regular instructor is teaching the first section of the class, as this is a second one that filled up as well. Is this a good fit for you? Let me know your experience and interest: [email protected]. Thank you!

Thoughts on Ghost CompTIA Certifications

@Stephen Schneiter and I have an interesting conversation going on that relates to CompTIA certifications that are no longer available. Having obtained both the Home Technology Integration (HTI+) certification and the Healthcare IT Technician certificate, they provide "bragging rights" since I continue to hold more CompTIA designations than @Lee McWhorter has <grin..>. The business of certifications necessitates achieving that "industry-recognized" designation, and unfortunately, neither of these apparently achieved this goal. With the increase of IoT, I think some consideration should be given to revising the HTI+ certification. I point to my home network, with more than twenty devices attached and the Steve Gibson three router security solution in place, as evidence of its relevance. For those not familiar with HTI+, I detail it in a Certification Magazine article I wrote in 2004. As to those twenty-plus IOT devices on my home network, it turns out they are an income producer for me (see the draft article I'm writing).

Moving over to the Healthcare IT Technician certification, we "Steves" agree this was a certification that arrived before its time. With today's focus on security, coupled with the fact that healthcare providers are primary targets for bad actors, I suspect the certification would have the value it deserves today. As interest expands (see Futuro Health article), perhaps this certification should be revived.

Something we as Instructors can do for CompTIA

As I work towards an eventual retirement, I keep pushing that off because I believe that I still have something to offer students and organizations like CompTIA. I want to give you a sense of what I'm talking about because I firmly believe all of us, as teachers, need to provide learning content support for those who we work for (students), and those who support us. A couple of weeks ago, Debra McCraw with CompTIA, asked if I'd be interested in providing content relating to CompTIA's blogging efforts. Given what CompTIA has done for me over the past couple of decades, I was more than willing to do so. Published on their blog today was the product of that request. Titled "Understanding Network Data Delivery: Layers 2 and 3 of the OSI Model", it served as an attempt to provide learners with a simplified version of addressing at these two layers. Hopefully, it proves useful.

I point to this effort because I think all of us should consider giving back to great industry organizations like CompTIA. I encourage you to reach out to Debra if you are interested in volunteering in a similar effort to promote our role in education.

Steve

IT Industry Outlook 2021

The US IT Industry Outlook 2021 Report: LINK


  • Digital operations are more important than ever, with many transformative changes accelerating over the past year.
  • Fair treatment for all is an absolute mandate, making diversity, equity and inclusion a top priority.
  • The influence of technology is massive, forcing new approaches to regulatory behavior.

As the industry emerges from a chaotic year, it will begin a rebuilding phase, but this rebuilding goes beyond restoration. There is little opportunity to return to the old way of doing things. Thanks to changes that no one would have wished for and fueled by the requirements of a digital society, the technology industry will doubtless take a new shape in the coming year. This isn’t rebuilding to reclaim the past; this is rebuilding for the future.


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Teaching Networking Using GNS3

We had a great session today, introducing the Instructor Toolbox webinar series! Many thanks to @Lee McWhorter for his walk through of GNS3 and how it can be used as a teaching tool. If you missed the session today you can catch the session on-demand and the resources Lee discussed in the Resources area.

Another heart warming story, from my own neighborhood.

Another heart warming story, this time from my own neighborhood in North Austin. My wonderful wife Kris McWhorter spearheaded a drive to put up a food pantry. Her Dad built it, friends helped paint, and the outpouring of support from neighbors has been amazing. So proud of her I had to share! :) pantry-post02.png

Central Texas story that warmed my heart

Central Texas story that warmed my heart.

#autism #football #goodnewsstory


Had to share. :)

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