MCITP Server Administrator

Course

Online

£ 1,386 VAT inc.

Description

  • Type

    Course

  • Methodology

    Online

integrated: learning is a set of courses and online learning services for people working, or seeking to work, in various areas of technical IT support.

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Course programme

1. What is integrated:learning?
integrated: learning is a set of courses and online learning services for people working, or seeking to work, in various areas of technical IT support.
Typically, these include:
  • PC Repair and Maintenance
  • Help Desk Support
  • Installing and Maintaining IT Networks
  • Day-to-day Management of IT Networks
You will find more information about jobs and careers in IT in Section 4 - IT Career Options. All our courses are geared to preparing students to pass exams that lead to relevant industry-recognized qualifications. The exams and qualifications are run by industry organizations. Some are proprietary, like Microsoft and Cisco, who have certification programmes for their own systems. Others, like CompTIA (Computer Technology Industry Association) are vendor-independent.

We provide training leading to the following qualifications:
CompTIA
  • A+ IT Technician
  • Network+
  • Security+
Microsoft
  • Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) - XP Professional, Windows 2003 Server etc
  • Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
  • Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
  • Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)*
  • Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)*
Cisco
  • Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician (CCENT)
  • Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
You will find more information about qualifications and the courses that lead to them in Section 5 - The Certification Process.
Note - these industry-recognized qualifications are also referred to as certifications as well as credentials.


2. Why integrated:learning ?
Today, there are many online training packages available; what makes integrated:learning so special? Many providers have rushed to create online learning systems because it was the thing to do. Many of these offer little more than online reading backed up by video recordings of tutors delivering lectures. All too often students are left to their own devices and struggle when they encounter difficulties.

-integrated:learning is different, it is designed to give students the best of instructor-led training combined with the convenience (and lower cost) of self-paced learning.
-integrated:learning is flexible. There are a number of different online services which can be provided. The full package is known as Interactive Extra, and this is the one that we would recommend for most students, especially those new to technical IT training. It comprises the following materials and services.
Course Manual
The course manual contains all the technical material that the student needs to know for the exam. The online study guide will tell the student which section of the manual the student needs to work through to prepare for each online tutorial.
Course CD
The course CD contains a video guide on how to use the online system. There is also an electronically searchable PDF copy of the manual, as well as useful information on how to prepare for the certification exams.
Online Tutorials
All Interactive Extra courses provide five or six scheduled 2-hour tutorials, spread over five or six weeks, given live by an experienced instructor, who will deal with the trickier topics as well as answering students' questions.
Online Mentoring
Students can post questions online to tutors at any time, and get a reply by the next working day at the latest.
Online Progress Tests
After each tutorial, students can take a quick online test to check their understanding of the topics covered.
Online Virtual Labs
Students can get practical hands-on experience on computer systems that they do not have at home by using the online Virtual Lab Environment (VLE).
Online End-of-Course Tests
At the end of the course, students can evaluate their learning, before taking the real exam, by taking up to three online End-of-Course Tests.
Student Monitoring System
All online student activity, including tutorial attendance, time spent on virtual labs, test results and mentor questions, are recorded. This information is available to the tutors, the student and their centre, as well as to Head Office.
Summary
integrated:learning combines the best features of Instructor-led Training An experienced instructor to guide you through the course and answer your questions. Input from other students. Self-paced learning Study where you want... ...from home. ...from the office. ...from a Training Centre. Study when you want... ...courses conveniently scheduled for afternoons and evenings. ...online virtual labs available 24/7. ...or completely self-paced with Online Extra.
With integrated:learning You are not alone Online mentor support 5 days a week. You can check that you're learning From progress tests and tutor feedback. integrated:learning is a flexible, efficient, user-friendly way to further your career in IT It provides a supportive and friendly learning environment. More than 90% of students who start a course finish it. The majority of students enrol on further integrated:learning courses.
It's easy to use
All you need is access to a PC, with a broadband Internet connection, running Windows XP or Vista and Internet Explorer 6 or later. Interactive Extra students will also need a soundcard and headset with built-in microphone. Set-up is easy and full support is provided (by N+S).
Try before you buy
By booking into a free live online demo tutorial - running each Friday at 3 pm.
Other Points
integrated:learning is not a substitute for instructor-led training - it's better
Although integrated:learning provides excellent value for money, you should emphasise the quality of the training when selling it, in particular the fact that it is not a substitute for instructor-led training (ILT).
In fact, Interactive Extra has a considerable advantage over most ILT. In a typical 5-day classroom-based course, a lot of time is wasted by going over fairly simple material, which our students can cover themselves in the week before the tutorial, leaving the tutor free to concentrate on the more difficult topics, and on the questions that the students raise themselves.
Students learn at different rates
In an ordinary classroom environment, with the pressure to fit everything into the five days, this can mean that slower learners get left behind while the faster ones find the pace too slow. By giving students a week to prepare for each tutorial, slower learners can put in extra time to catch up, and get help from the online mentoring service, without slowing the overall pace of the course. This is one of the features that make integrated:learning such a user-friendly way of learning.
Quality of the tutors
All our tutors have at least 10 years experience in delivering technical IT training; some have over 20 years. They all have real-world experience in one or more of the following areas: IT support; network management; database design; web design and programming.
A proven technology
N+S integrated:learning technology has been used successfully since 2002 to deliver high-quality training online.
Pass Rates
It is not at present possible to give pass rates for integrated:learning. Most students take their exams at external testing centres making it difficult to collect meaningful statistics.
However, the high completion rate, and the fact that most students choose to do more than one course with integrated:learning, should offer prospective students some reassurance.

3. IT Career Options
You can use the following material in this section to discuss career options with your students. It is addressed directly to someone considering a career in IT.
There are many jobs leading to rewarding careers in IT support, from PC and computer hardware maintenance technicians to Information and Communications Technology (ICT) specialists responsible for corporate IT networks. Typical support roles include:
Building and maintaining IT systems
You will be responsible for installing new IT systems on customer premises as well as testing, servicing and repairing existing systems.

IT Support Technician/Helpdesk Technician
You will deal with IT problems reported by clients. This will involve talking to clients to determine the exact nature of the problem and then fixing it. You will also be responsible for recording the problem and its solution. Your work will usually include installing new IT systems as well as maintaining and upgrading existing ones. As a Level 1 IT Support
Technician/Helpdesk Technician, you will handle the initial request from the client and fix relatively simple faults. More complex problems will be referred to higher-level IT Support Technicians.
Network Administrator
Your role will be to ensure the overall running of your organization's network. In particular, you will be responsible for security. Your tasks will include: setting up users and managing their access to your organization's data and other network resources; protecting the network from unauthorized access and attacks from viruses and other malicious software; scheduling regular maintenance tasks, especially data back-up. You will also monitor the use of the network and advise senior management on planning and implementing future developments.
How much can I earn?
Salaries can vary considerably from organization to organization as well as from region to region. The following is a rough guide to pay levels in the industry.

What do I need for a career in IT support?
Employers will look at three key areas.
Technical Knowledge
Sound knowledge of your subject area is essential if you are going for a job in IT. A prospective employer will probably quiz you during the course of an interview, but most employers will not have the time, or perhaps the skill, to test your knowledge thoroughly during the course of an interview. Most will rely on one or more industry-recognized certifications, like MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator), CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) or CompTIA's A+ Certified IT Technician.
Good Communication Skills
Knowing your stuff is not enough. You have to be able to talk to your clients and colleagues clearly and effectively, without alienating them by assuming knowledge that they do not have and using jargon that they do not understand. There's still room in the industry for geeks, but they have to be user-friendly geeks.
Experience
This matters as much, if not more, than the others. If you can demonstrate that you have been doing a similar job successfully, that will rate highly with a prospective employer. Good news if you are already working in the industry and are looking for promotion, or a new job, based on your newly acquired certification. Not so good if you are trying get into the industry for the first time.
So, why get a certification if employers look for experience?
The industry is not closed to new entrants. In fact, there is a shortage of IT skills in most UK organizations. If you are new to the industry, you need to be realistic about the first job that you apply for. You may need to start as an entry-level Helpdesk Technician even if you have qualified as an MCSA. Once you have gained some experience, you will find it easier to progress to a level that makes full use of your knowledge and skills.
One thing is certain; if you have neither experience nor qualifications, your chances of working in this sector are significantly diminished.
Certification will not guarantee you a career in IT support, but you are unlikely to succeed without it.
Which certifications fit the job?
This is a quick guide to the certifications typically required for various IT support roles. It is not meant to be definitive - different employers may have different requirements.

4. The Certification Process
You can use the following material in this section to discuss IT certifications with your students. It is addressed directly to someone considering study towards a professional certification in IT support.
Professional IT certification
A professional IT certification is one way of showing a prospective employer that you have the knowledge and understanding required for the position you are seeking. To gain an IT professional certification, you will usually need to pass one or more exams set by the certification provider.
Certification providers
Many producers of IT products and services, such as Microsoft or Cisco, will offer exams leading to certifications for their own products or services. There are also vendor-independent certifications in IT, offered by organizations like CompTIA (Computer Technology Industry Association), an international body representing the IT industry.
How do I get certified?
Each certification involves taking one or more exams. Most professional IT certification exams are computer-based, online tests comprising a number of multiple-choice questions. In some cases, you may also be asked to carry out tasks using simulation software. There are currently two organisations which provide testing centres for most of the online certification exams - Prometric and Pearson VUE. To take the exam, you will have to attend a Prometric or Pearson VUE authorised test centre. You will need to book your exam at least 24 hours in advance on line. London College of Business & Computing is both a Prometric and Pearson VUE authorised centre.
Certification Paths
Some certifications are straightforward. Network+ for example requires that you study just one of our courses and take one CompTIA exam. Others are more complex; MCSE for example requires that you study five courses and take seven Microsoft exams. With this in mind we have provided guides to certification, showing which courses you must study, and which exams to take. In this section we take as examples just two of our most popular certifications, A+ and MCSA with CompTIA electives.


5. How integrated:learning works
In this section, we are going to describe how a student uses integrated:learning to study. There are two main study options, the full package - Interactive Extra, and Online Extra. We start with Interactive Extra.
Interactive Extra Study Cycle
This is the typical sequence of study activities that your should follow.

1 Book to attend a scheduled course.
The course will typically have five Study Units, each with a 2-hour online tutorial, scheduled at the same time and day of the week, over five consecutive weeks, eg every Tuesday from 6.30 to 8.00 pm. The scheduled Start Date is seven days before the first tutorial.

2 Receive the Course Manual, Course CD and the Course Enrolment Key on, or before, the scheduled Start Date.

3 Register online through the integrated:learning portal.
Students only need to register once, before their first course. During the registration process, they will be given a unique numerical Student ID and will create their password. They will use their Student ID and password to access the integrated:learning system in future. As part of the registration process they will also be asked to provide a contact telephone number and e-mail address, which will be stored in their online profile.

4 Use the Enrolment Key to gain access to the online services for the course.
This needs to be done before the date of the first scheduled tutorial. The services will usually include access to the scheduled tutorials; 90 days of Mentor Support; 16 hours of access to the Virtual Lab Environment (VLE); access to five Progress Tests and three End-of-Course Tests; as well as indefinite access to the online record of their study activities. For Interactive Extra courses the 90 days of Mentor Support is measured from the course start date, which is 7 days before the first tutorial.
5 Prepare for the Course.
Check the online Study Guide for the course. This will tell you what material you need to read through in the manual, and any other work you should do, to prepare for each Study Unit and its associated tutorial. Make a note of any questions that you may wish to ask the tutor.

6 Attend the online Tutorial.
Log in to the tutorial 10 minutes before the start if you can, especially for the first tutorial. This will allow the tutor to carry out a quick sound check with you and also ensure that the tutorial starts promptly. If you have any difficulty logging in, you should immediately phone the Help number shown on your Course page. This number should only be used for help with logging in to the tutorial. The tutor will cover the important and more difficult topics in the Study Unit, as well as answering any questions that you raise. Be prepared to ask questions. You will get more out of the tutorial if you do.
7 Use the Virtual Lab Environment (VLE) to carry out any practical work you have been asked to do.
You can access a VLE session at any time. If the system is busy, you may be asked to try again later. Each session lasts up to two hours. If you wish to work for more than two hours at a time, simply start a new session once the first has ended. You can save your work from one session to another. Most courses come with 16 hours of VLE time. Any time that you do not use within a session is automatically credited to your allocation.
8 Post a Mentor Question
If there is anything that you do not understand, after the tutorial, post a mentor question. It is important to clear up any unanswered questions before the next tutorial. An answer will be posted by the next working day, and you will receive an e-mail telling you when the answer has been posted.

9 Take the Progress Test
At the end of each Study Unit, you should take a Progress Test. This is a quick online test lasting about 10 minutes. It will highlight any gaps in your knowledge, which you should address before moving on to the next Study Unit. If there is anything that is still unclear after taking the Progress Test and reviewing any questions that you got wrong, post a Mentor Question to get further help.

10 Prepare for the next Tutorial.

11 At the End of the Course revise for the exam.
You should allow one or two weeks for this, so that the course is still fresh in your mind. The longer you leave it, the harder you will find the revision. As you revise, post Mentor Questions to get help with anything that you still find difficult. Once you have revised all the material, assess your readiness for the exam by taking an online End-of-Course Test. Unlike the Progress Tests, these cover material from the entire syllabus. You will have three attempts at the End-of Course Tests. You should take these under exam conditions, without referring to any course materials or other sources of information, and without pausing the test. You should be able to answer all the questions correctly. If you get more than one or two questions wrong, you should revise those topics again carefully. Make sure that you understand why you have got any questions wrong. If you do not, post a Mentor Question to get the problem resolved. Then attempt another End-of-Course Test, posting Mentor Questions to resolve any problems you may still have. Repeat this process a third time if necessary. If you still do not feel ready to take the exam after three attempts, you should contact your centre to discuss how to proceed. Once you feel ready to take the exam, you should contact us.
Online Extra Study Cycle
This is the typical sequence of study activities that your student should follow.
1 The student buys an Online Extra course. The course will typically have five Study Units. The student will work through the material at their own pace.
2 Receive the Course Manual, Course CD and the Course Enrolment Key.

3 Register online through the integrated:learning portal. Students only need to register once, before their first course. During the registration process, they will be given a unique numerical Student ID and will create their password. They will use their Student ID and password to access the integrated:learning system in future. As part of the registration process they will also be asked to provide a contact telephone number and e-mail address, which will be stored in their online profile.

4 Use the Enrolment Key to gain access to the online services for the course. This needs to be done just before the student intends to star studying. The services will usually include 90 days of Mentor Support; an optional 16 hours of access to the Virtual Lab Environment (VLE); access to five Progress Tests and three End-of-Course Tests; as well as indefinite access to the online record of their study activities. The 90 days of Mentor Support is measured from the date that the Enrolment Key is activated. Students should not activate a key until they are ready to start studying. It is important that they only activate each course as they are ready to start it so that the Mentor Support does not expire before they have finished studying and revising.
5 Prepare for the course. Check the online Study Guide for the course. This will tell you what material you need to read through in the manual, and any other work you should do, to prepare for each Study Unit.
6 Use the Virtual Lab Environment (VLE) to carry out any practical work you need to do. You can access a VLE session at any time. If the system is busy, you may be asked to try again later. Each session lasts up to two hours. If you wish to work for more than two hours at a time, simply start a new session once the first has ended. You can save your work from one session to another. Most courses come with 16 hours of VLE time. Any time that you do not use within a session is automatically credited to your allocation.

7 Post a Mentor Question. If there is anything that you do not understand post a mentor question. It is important to clear up any unanswered questions before moving on to the next Study Unit. An answer will be posted by the next working day, and you will receive an e-mail telling you when the answer has been posted.
8 Take the Progress Test. At the end of each Study Unit, you should take a Progress Test. This is a quick online test lasting about 10 minutes. It will highlight any gaps in your knowledge, which you should address before moving on to the next Study Unit. If there is anything that is still unclear after taking the Progress Test and reviewing any questions that you got wrong, post a Mentor Question to get further help.

9 Prepare for the next Study Unit.
10 At the end of the course, revise for the exam. You should allow one or two weeks for this, so that the course is still fresh in your mind. The longer you leave it, the harder you will find the revision. As you revise, post Mentor Questions to get help with anything that you still find difficult. Once you have revised all the material, assess your readiness for the exam by taking an online End-of-Course Test. Unlike the Progress Tests, these cover material from the entire syllabus. You will have three attempts at the End-of Course Tests. You should take these under exam conditions, without referring to any course materials or other sources of information, and without pausing the test. You should be able to answer all the questions correctly. If you get more than one or two questions wrong, you should revise those topics again carefully. Make sure that you understand why you have got any questions wrong. If you do not, post a Mentor Question to get the problem resolved. Then attempt another End-of-Course Test, posting Mentor Questions to resolve any problems you may still have. Repeat this process a third time if necessary. If you still do not feel ready to take the exam after three attempts, you should contact your centre to discuss how to proceed. Once you feel ready to take the exam, you should contact your centre who will be able to book the exam for you.


Also available extra courses for student who require additional mentor support:
  • MCITP Server Administrator - £ 570.00



MCITP Server Administrator

£ 1,386 VAT inc.