News from the iFair

This week I was able to attend the iFair at the Harley-Davidson University Building. While there I was able to see many schools and companies share what they have to offer in the world of technology and engineering. I was pleased to see so many young people learning and showing an interest in such a growing industry.

One of the first things I encountered was a dissection and explanation of a typical computer and its parts. The group was in the middle of teaching several very engaged students the location and function of the most important components. The heat sink had been removed and excitedly passed around. I was happy to see that they also had a laptop for me to play with. A minute or two of pulling things apart and replacing them and I decided it was time to move on.













The MATC Logo caught my eye and of course I wanted to see what my school had to offer. I was very impressed with the display and how they presented themselves. They had samples from the digital art and engineering departments. They had utilized the 3D printer do display both the internal structure of 3D printed objects and the medical applications of printed prosthetics. They also had representatives from the programming and the support programs. As I walked past I could see a a page of code going by on one screen and the program on another. This particular booth was very popular and it was hard to get close, so I made way for some prospective students and headed to the next booth.

Simple task robots are some of the most charming contraptions in my opinion. This robotics school had prepared a few for the event, and I was very exited to see them move. Unfortunately I had came late to the event and it appeared that most of the people running the booth had left. They only had one person and he was engaged with a group of high schoolers. While I respect the choice to focus on the perspective students, I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I waited for a little while browsing the pamphlets and posters before giving up and moving on.

There were many other interesting and creative groups represented here, And this gives me a lot of hope for future students. It feels as though every year there are more and more new technology programs beginning or expanding at schools all over. From what I could see most of the student were very engaged and genuinely interested. Attending the iFair made me proud to be one of many people exploring and perusing a future in the IT field.

Preparing for A+

As an IT professional I know the importance of certifications. The CompTIA a+ certification is the beginning when climbing the computer support ladder. Soon I will be going in to get my Cert and I have created a list of everything I did to prepare.

The Start:
The Very beginning for me, and the logical Starting point, Was to enroll in the A+ class at MATC. This class covers everything you need to take the Exam, as well as gives you hands on experience. I have yet to complete the class, but so far everything has been very clear and helpful. The added bonus with this class is that the textbook is a great review tool.

Purchase the Voucher:
I purchased mine directly through my teacher which gave me half off on both parts of the exam. But if you are not enrolled in the class you can purchase the Cert vouchers directly through the CompTia website. Depending on your employer, they may also provide a certification Discount.

Read and Read again:
You should never go into any test unprepared. Alongside the class you should have some kind of study guide. This can be in the form of books or web resources, I have used both with great success. Besides knowing the material you should also get to know the test-taking rules, such as what you are allowed to bring in with you, how much time you have, and whether you can return to questions. This changes often and should be reviewed a few days before the set date.

Lets do it:
Get a good night sleep, Eat a good breakfast, Relax and get your A+ Certification.