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Microsoft developer |
Training |
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Arete Systems functions as Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT). Microsoft Certified Trainers are certified by Microsoft as experts in providing Microsoft Official Curriculum (MOC) and Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) training courses. MCTs are required to pass a series of comprehensive exams in their subject area, as well as demonstrate instructional skills.
Microsoft Certified Trainers work in conjunction with Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers (CTEC) and Microsoft Certified Partners (formerly Microsoft Certified Solution Providers) to deliver Microsoft certified training material.
Arete Systems provides training in five major subject areas. Click on one of the colored boxes to learn more:
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Microsoft's new vision for developing any kind of application using a common set of tools (Visual Studio.NET, including Visual Basic.NET) and a common Framework. |
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| Web and web-related technologies, including XML and e-commerce |
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Microsoft's Visual Basic programming language |
| Courses in systems analysis and design, ala Microsoft |
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Microsoft's premier database is SQL Server |
In addition, Arete Systems offers custom training in these four subject areas as well as other areas.
We have been training for many years, and over that time have developed some clear ideas on how people learn, and the best way to teach them. We have found that the balanced application of some basic concepts makes our training style and approach more effective than others.
The author and developer Dan Appleman, truly a guru in the field of Windows software development, explained the importance of the basics in the introduction to one of his books:
We wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Appleman: you have to understand the fundamentals of a topic to really master it. While we don't claim to transform our students into experts overnight, we do try to start them on that road by emphasizing the basic fundamentals of a topic. Once a student understands the basics, then they have a conceptual framework in which to place the additional knowledge they gain. Thus, future learning on that topic is easier and faster, since the new knowledge has a place within the student's existing paradigm of knowledge about that topic.
Teaching can be frustrating at times. Students don't seem to get it, or they don't participate, or they need extra attention that can delay the pace for other students.
When we're in the classroom, we always remember that each student is a unique, individual, human being worthy of our respect, patience, and constant effort.
There is an Asian phrase that we keep in mind:
One of the basic concepts we have found important in technical training is knowing your subject. We intentionally limit the number of courses we teach in order to maintain a high level of knowledge about a subject. With Arete Systems you'll never have an instructor just 'reading from the book'.
Students today are under tough time pressures, and do not have the luxury of listening to long lectures on possibly irrelevant materials. They want to be involved, and to have hands-on. We try to do that to the maximum extent possible. However, that doesn't mean that we don't present material, or that we don't talk; we have to. We simply try and ensure the students learn in the most effective way possible, and that means keeping them involved.
We also involve students by asking questions. Sometimes our questions are simple, and are just designed to bring student's attention to a particular topic or difficult item. Sometimes we ask leading questions in order to transition to a new topic, or to prepare to deliver a particularly important idea. And sometimes we ask difficult questions to test a student's knowledge, or to make sure they understand a point.
Humor also helps keep students involved. We are not comedians, but sometimes a light touch or a joke can make the learning environment more comfortable, and the students more relaxed and open to learning.
We think taking a course through the Internet, or an interactive CD, or any self-study mechanism can be worthwhile. However, we don't think any one solution can provide everyone's education needs. In our experience, many students don't have the time or the motivation to learn a complex subject without some expert assistance at some point. As one student of ours put it:
"I read that over and over in the book, but I didn't really understand it until you explained it to me."
We are instructors because we want to be, not because it's a temporary assignment while we're waiting to do something else. We enjoy the challenges and thrills of teaching, and take the bad days with the good.
If you truly enjoy what you're doing, then you will be better at it, and people will notice the difference. That's what aretê is about.
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