There are many ways to work through the material in this course. The sequence outlined in the first alternative below, represents the comprehensive approach to preparing for the MOS certification exams for MS Word 2002, Core and Expert levels. Those who have minimal experience with MS Word 2002, may want to follow the comprehensive approach by carefully covering all Skill Sets in the textbook, in TOM and in SAM. A second approach for those who have some experience with MS Word 2002 would be to begin immediately with the process of reviewing and practicing; those who choose this approach might choose to start with TOM in order to prepare, observe, practice and apply Word skills with the aid of the computer. A third alternative for those who have significant experience with MS Word 2002, would be to begin with SAM; those who choose the third approach would take the practice exams one by one, create SAM Exam Study Guides for each exam taken, and link from the SAM Exam Study Guides directly to the TOM for review of any particular skill represented on the Exam Study Guide. There is no single approach that is right for everyone. You must assess you own comfort level with materials at hand and experiment with a variety of approaches. Perhaps the one that is right for you will be a unique combination of the three approaches represented below.

 

1. Start with the Certification Circle Textbook
   1. Review all web pages for this course linked from the web portal.
      1. Syllabus
      2. Introductory material
      3. Certification Circle: textbook:  Getting Started
      4. Certification Circle textbook: Skill Sets 1 to 13
      5. Using TOM and SAM
      6. Alternative Sequences
   2. Work through the Certification Circle textbook.
      1. Work through all Skill Sets one by one.
      2. Do all Projects one by one, each Project after its corresponding Skill Set.
   3. Work through all Skill Sets in TOM.
      1. Prepare.
      2. Observe.
      3. Practice.
      4. Apply.
   4. Take all practice exams in SAM.
      1. Take each of the Skill Set practice exams, one by one.
      2. Use the Reports function to create SAM Exam Study Guide Reports for each exam taken.
      3. Link back to TOM for any particular skill represented in the SAM Exam Study Guide Report.
         1. Prepare again.
         2. Observe again.
         3. Practice again.
         4. Apply again.
   5. Return to any previous step and repeat the process as needed.
       
2. Start with TOM.
   1. Review all web pages for this course linked from the web portal.
      1. Syllabus
      2. Introductory material
      3. Certification Circle: textbook:  Getting Started
      4. Certification Circle textbook: Skill Sets 1 to 13
      5. Using TOM and SAM
      6. Alternative Sequences
   2. Work through all Skill Sets in TOM.
      1. Prepare.
      2. Observe.
      3. Practice.
      4. Apply.
   3. Take all practice exams in SAM.
      1. Take each of the Skill Set practice exams, one by one.
      2. Use the Reports function to create SAM Exam Study Guide Reports for each exam taken.
      3. Link back to TOM for any particular skill represented in the SAM Exam Study Guide Report.
         1. Prepare again.
         2. Observe again.
         3. Practice again.
         4. Apply again.
   4. Browse through the Certification Circle textbook.
      1. Work through any Skill Sets you identify as useful for you.
      2. Do the corresponding Projects for any of the Skill Sets you have chosen.
   5. Return to any previous step and repeat the process as needed.
       
3. Start with SAM.
   1. Review all web pages for this course linked from the web portal.
      1. Syllabus
      2. Introductory material
      3. Certification Circle: textbook:  Getting Started
      4. Certification Circle textbook: Skill Sets 1 to 13
      5. Using TOM and SAM
      6. Alternative Sequences
   2. Take all practice exams in SAM.
      1. Take each of the Skill Set practice exams, one by one.
      2. Use the Reports function to create SAM Exam Study Guide Reports for each exam taken.
      3. Link back to TOM for any particular skill represented in the SAM Exam Study Guide Report.
         1. Prepare.
         2. Observe.
         3. Practice.
         4. Apply.
   3. Browse through the Certification Circle textbook.
      1. Work through any Skill Sets you identify as useful for you.
      2. Do the corresponding Projects for any of the Skill Sets you have chosen.
   4. Browse through the Skill Sets in TOM.
      1. Prepare as needed.
      2. Observe as needed.
      3. Practice as needed.
      4. Apply as needed.
   5. Return to any previous step and repeat the process as needed.
       
4. Create your own customized plan to suit your particular needs
    

1. Start with the Certification Circle Textbook
   
   The comprehensive approach outlined in this sequence covers everything in the textbook and on the SAM XP CD. You will have enough time to do everything if you budget your time carefully. A good suggestion is to allocate one month of this three-month course to work through all Skill Sets and Projects in the Certification Circle textbook. Use the second month to work through the Skill Sets in TOM. Use the third month to take ALL Certification Circle practice exams in SAM and to identify gaps in your knowledge through the SAM Exam Study Guide Report. Since the SAM Exam Study Guide Reports link back to each individual skill in TOM, you can precisely target your weak skills review them again in TOM.
   
   You will be able to continue this process for three months after the course ends, since your account on the Thomson server will be maintained for a total of six months. After your account on the server has been disabled, you will still be able to use the Certification Circle textbook, data files and the TOM software on the CD; you will not, however, have online access via the server to either TOM or SAM. 
   
   Remember that you can return to any part of this sequence at any time. Success on the MOS exams is matter of discipline, focus and practice. If you remember this, you will pass the exams you choose to take.
    
2. Start with TOM
   
   If you already have had some experience with the Core and Expert level MS Word 2002 Skill Sets , you may wish to start using TOM immediately, even before you begin using the Certification Circle textbook. The Skill Sets in TOM are directly related to the Skill Sets in the Certification Circle textbook in a one-to-one relationship, as are the Skill Sets in the MOS certification exams. This means that you can prepare, observe, practice and apply those skills in TOM and then target specific weaknesses in your knowledge by reviewing those skills in in the Certification Circle textbook, doing only selected Activity Steps and Projects to reinforce your learning.
   
   After you have reviewed the Skill Sets in TOM and/or the Certification Circle textbook, you should take the practice exams for ALL Certification Circle Skill Sets in SAM. Even if your experience with MS Word 2002 is extensive, you should not skip any of the Certification Circle exams in SAM. The more practice you have taking exams in a simulated Word environment, the better prepared you will be to take the MOS certification exams themselves. After you take a SAM Certification Circle Exam for any one of the thirteen Skill Sets, immediately call up a SAM Exam Study Guide Report for it; the report will identify your weaknesses and hyperlink back to the specific training module in TOM for any particular skill on the report.
   
   Remember the that you will be able to continue this process for three months after the course ends, since your account on the Thomson server will be maintained for a total of six months. Also remember that practice makes perfect; the more you practice taking exams on SAM, the better prepared you will be to pass the MOS certification exams themselves.
    
3. Start with SAM
   
   If you have extensive experience with MS Word 2002, you may decide to jump into the assessment process immediately. This would entail taking each Certification Circle exam in SAM, running a SAM Exam Study Guide Report after you take each exam, and linking immediately back to those specific skills in TOM that you failed or that you wish to review. If you choose this approach, once again be sure that you take ALL Certification Circle exams in SAM, since extensive practice will be the best way to prepare for the actual MOS certification exams themselves. Even after you take the exams and link back to TOM to prepare, observe, practice and apply those skills in which you are weak, you may still want to review the Skill Sets, Activity Steps and Projects in the Certification Circle textbook for more practice.
   
   Once again, remember the that you will be able to continue this process for three months after the course ends, since your account on the Thomson server will be maintained for a total of six months. Also remember that practice makes perfect; the more you practice taking exams on SAM, the better prepared you will be to pass the MOS certification exams themselves.
   
    
4. Create your own customized plan to suit your particular needs
   
   Essentially, you must decide which approach or which sequence is best for you. You can only do so intelligently, however, if you first spend sufficient time studying the course web pages and exploring the material (Certification Circle textbook, TOM and SAM) carefully before jumping into whatever process you choose to follow. That is why each of the suggested approaches outlined above begins with the task of reviewing all web pages for this course linked from the web portal (Syllabus, Introduction, Certification Circle: Getting Started, Certification Circle: Skill Sets 1 to 13, and TOM and SAM).
   
   Finally, once again, ad infinitum, remember the wisdom in the phrase: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT! The more time you spend using MS Word 2002 and taking the practice exams, the better prepared you will be to pass the MOS certification exams themselves.
   
    

© 2004 Bruce Yelovich