100% MOS Pass Rate Continues :-) Have To? Choose To!

The past month was the most challenging portion of IS101 Introduction of Information Systems. Microsoft Excel is often the least familiar or most superficially used Microsoft Office application. Students worked hard in learning syntax, cell references, functions, generating charts but I hope the traits that the students will retain and continue to hone are paying attention to details, critical thinking, and perseverance!

In addition to the lesson, labs, domain practices, and exam practice forms in LabSim, students also had A4 Fun with Functions Workbook, A5 More Fun with Functions Workbook, and A6 Spreadsheet Analysis with Trailer also help students practice and bolster their Excel skills. This weekend, their hard work culminated in MO-210 Excel certification exam. Twelve students took and passed their second Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification exam and all passed. The prior weekend, Conner qualified for -- ahead of schedule --, took the MO-210, and repeated his perfect-score performance from MO-110 Word certification exam a month earlier. I hope he will repeat this next month on MO-310 PowerPoint certification exam ^_^

In the past month, two trailing students qualified for, took, and passed MO-110, joining their seventeen classmates. One more trailing student may join the duo soon. Focusing back on this past month, these are the accolades:

Dilanga, Jorge, Christian all earned the highest score on Bonus Quiz 8 - DNS Registration, ccTLD Hack, and URL Parts.

Christian alone earned the highest score on Bonus Quiz 9 - SEO Hats, Techniques, Consequences and ccTLD and URL Parts Re-visited.

Jorge and Dilanga earned bonus credit on Impromptu Bonus 1 - URL Parts On-The-Spot.

Dilanga alone earned bonus credit on Impromptu Bonus 2 - Excel Charts.

Skyla and Bezhan both earned the highest score on Bonus Quiz 10 - Internet Search Engine and $21.5 Million Business Email Scam.

Conner became the first student of mine to earn a perfect score on MOS certification exams twice.

Katelyn earned the highest score for A6 Spreadsheet Analysis with Trailer.

Jorge earned bonus credit for A3 Slideshow Presentation not for his slideshow or his presentation but for unintentionally eliciting an emotional response from an audience member during his Q&A session.

Since my previous blog post and returning from Spring Recess, five students gave their A3 Slideshow Presentation while I gave two in-class demonstrations and two lecture/presentations.

i. My Second Demonstration – Straight vs. Weighted Average

ii. Ashley – Apple TV Show: Severance

iii. Dilanga – My Home Country Sri Lanka

iv. My Third Lecture – L3: Charts 

v. Arthur – Visit The Philippines

vi. Conner – The Global Love for Skiing/Snowboarding

vii. My Fourth Lecture – L4: More Charts

viii. My Third Demonstration – A6 Spreadsheet Analysis with Trailer

ix. Geradline (Getty) – Coca Cola

Click on the image for a larger/clearer view

Click on an image for a larger/clearer view

Click on the image for a larger/clearer view

With A4, A5, A6, and MO-210 behind us, we are crossing into Phase 3. Only three things/tracks are required to finish IS101-3025, Spring 2025 strong: (1) A7 Mail Merge, (2) Chapter 6 PowerPoint & MO-310, and (3) finishing the few remaining discussions & blogging. These tasks are either pressure-free (a properly submitted A7 will be 100% as long as a student reached 100% on A5), easier (when compared to Word or Excel), or familiar (something they have done since the beginning of the semester).

Phase 3 is about (a) showcasing one's individuality & creativity, (b) polishing one's digital footprint from IS101 to the professional world, and (c) go above-and-beyond what are required to actualize one's potential. Based on past experiences, most students will reach a "B+" or an "A-". Ambitious students do at least one track, many two, some all three to boost themselves to an "A":

--Track 1--: Bonus Quizzes 12 & 13 (heavily based on A6 and can boost course grade by 5%), BQ14 (partially based on A7 and can also boost by 5%), and BQ15 (as part of my final blog post and can boost by 2%).

--Track 2--: MOS Expert certifications MO-111 Word Expert and MO-211 Excel Expert. These certification exams/certificates will NOT boost one's IS101 grade but will definitely elevate one's resume and help one standout from other IS101 students and job candidates.

--Track 3--: Bonus Assignments A8 Improved Slideshow Presentation (can boost by 2%), A9 Query Options and IF Statement (a direct continuation of A7 and can boost by 5%), and A10 Workbook Investigation (can boost by 5%).

As I draft this blog post, Christian has already sent in his Bonus Quiz 11B and A7. Along with another student, Christian declared that he downloaded the exam objectives for MO-111 and MO-211 and will earn his MOS Expert distinction.

Students,

How do you think you did in Phase 2?

How will you approach Phase 3?