My MCSA Course has stuffed up

[MorseLady]

I have been too stressed to get back to you all on my previous thread because of my continuing MCP fiasco. I apologise to all my friends on here. I have not yet done any exams and I have stuffed up but it's not all my fault but let's go back to the beginning.

Our Course Instructor is a fairly new MCT who ran his first course as such year 2003-2004 with just seven one day a week out of work retrainers etc
This year 2004-5 he is running two classes, one day a week for MCSE which I was invited to join but 9am start is too early with my disabled husband to help dress etc. the other course was one evening a week for MCSA as there will not be time to do the three electives and this is ther course I enrolled for. As an unwaged dependent who is an OAP anyway I am funded by the College for both fees and resources and exams.

It was obvious from the timetable that the course was badly arranged and very hurried and the Instructor told us we were doing twice the work recommended. Some of the modules were set as self study and some class modules were hurried and things skipped and we were even dragged away from doing labs because he said he had to move on. He used to be a good teacher but his style is now dull and rote fashion or maybe that is how Microsoft want it. I was told before the course started that I should not ask too many questions or expect as much support as I got on the W2K Server course because it was a class of 20 with many students being paid for by their firms and he had to get results and could not stop and talk to everyone who needed it.

I missed two classes because of migraine and I did email the Instructor but he said he never received them and thinking I had lost interest was about to throw me out. I persauded him to reinstate me but he insisted that I must attend the next class whatever. As it happened I had the beginnings of a cold that day but turned up scared of losing my place. The College is too warm and the network classroom is very dry and warm as you can imagine with 20 computers with big processors and 1GB of RAM plus the classroom servers and smart wall computer and the big cupboard at the back which is used for CISCO routing and all sorts of things, all are running all the time and the windows are always closed. I started to cough but I left the room when I thought I was going to have a coughing fit. He asked me to go home but I said I felt fine and wanted to carry on because I needed to catch up. I was sipping from the bottle of tap water I always take with me and I choked and he got angry and said I was disturbing the other students and I must go home. Fair enough but no one offered to call my husband, no one called a First Aider and I was left to see myself out and walk about quarter of a mile to the bus stop with that very heavy book.

It turned out to be flu or a very bad cold but it took me a couple of weeks to get over it and the Instructor said I was not to return until I was free from coughing but it was a cold which you have a cough for ages. I started to lose interest and confidence after that as I had missed more than half my classes and when I did go back I could not catch up and felt silly. The Inbstructor was making out that the exam was easy and we should all pass first time because he did and he was slagging down Wave Boot Camps! Mr.Superbrain has all the CISCO and Microsoft stuff and reckons he passed all his exams first time? I used to like him when I did my Server 2K course but since he became an MCT he has become hard and uncaring but he has had to ask for advice and help from the students when he is not sure of something, some of the class are already IT Managers who are upgrading their MCSE.

When I went for my interview last August he said he was very happy to enrol me for the class despite the fact that he already knew about my commitments with caring for my husband and also my migraines and so on and even that I get stressed easily.

We had a month long Christmas break because he decided to go on a course which was not work related and no one else was available to take us nor was the lab available for us to use for self study and not all of us have access to networks or Server 2003.

I found I had lost so much ground and even forgotten what I had learned before Christmas. I was convinced everyone one else was doing fine and would pass and I lost confidence. I declined the exam on 9th January which had been arranged for us to take whilst the Instructor was absent and without any class that week or any support and only nine candidates from his day and evening classes did the exam and only one passed! We had a chance last week but apparently only one person booked the exam and did not turn up! We are supposed to revise for 70-290 whilst studying for 70-291 and now the course is over and the XP core module starts on Monday and we all have our exams for Server 2003 to do and we have been offered 70-290 on 23rd February. I have been excluded from the rest of the course unless I pass at least one exam and he says only then will he will enrol me but I will have missed two classes by then and XP is only a four week course because it's two modules per evening for exam 70-270. After that is Comptia Security Plus to make up the four core exams for MCSA.

What am I supposed to do? I told him I did not want to start the XP class late and already behind but he won't budge, says it's his Manager's decision and so I suggested I buy some materials from Amazon but he says not to worry bout XP as I can catch up and just concentrate on my 70-290 exam. He said the reason he cannot enrol me for XP unless I pass my exam is because of my absence and he is worried about my stress.

Anyone reading this imagine you are my Instructor and knowing what I have just told you what would you say or do please? I have two ways of thinking about it either I can push myself to the absolute limit and cram just to show them I can pass and maybe crack up or I can say give it up now and forget the exams or trying to get back on the course and just forget the whole thing.

I have just found out that Microsoft deliberately trick and confuse you in the exams so they are so hard to pass they only get highly intelligent and motivated professionals, is that true? I find the style of questions very strange and makes every exam I have ever done look easy.

Will I ever be an MCP, I think not!

[NooNoo]

Wow, what a ride. Have you spoken to this guy's manager? Customer services at college? You need to find out what your other options are. Clearly you take this MCT's advice with a heavy pinch of salt, why not go and get a second opinion?

I have never taken any mcse/mcp/mcsa or even an A+

I have taken the cisco IT Essentials course and am qualified to teach it as well and I do know what you mean by their phrasing of the questions. I think this is why so many come out of that type of course knowing how to pass the exam rather than fix a computer.

Do you not qualify for extra time because of your vision problems? I know that the dyslexic kids that I teach are entitled to longer exam times and much more learning support - perhaps there are similar rules (which have not been applied in your case) that would give you some room to breathe and catch up?

[MorseLady]

Noo the Instructor's Manager backs him up and I have spoken to a student advisor who is going to take it up but she is not hopeful. I have no choice I have been dumped from the course unless I take and pass 70-290 Server 2003 on 23rd and then I will have missed two weeks classes.

I do not have vision problems as such although I find it hard to do any close work and I am continually having to swap my glasses from reading for the computer and distance when the Instructor uses the board but I do have problems with hearing and mobility and I get migraines and have back problems and I cannot sit for more than ten minutes at a time or I get stiff and I need to pay a visit very often but they say every time I leave the exam room my exam time keeps running. They will not give me extra time they say Microsoft do not allow it.

The Instructor told us so long as we could remember the questions on our test preps and practice exams we would be OK and pass but woiuld that make us fit to run servers. I admit I have not learned much and much of it remains beyond me.

[confus-ed]

..The Instructor told us so long as we could remember the questions on our test preps and practice exams we would be OK and pass ..

I think that's about the size of it ! Imho nearly all the M$ exams are virtually a test of memory & it probably explains why they word the questions so daftly in an effort to trip up the un-wary as I guess there's only so many ways you can ask the same things..

..but I do have problems with hearing and mobility and I get migraines and have back problems and I cannot sit for more than ten minutes at a time or I get stiff and I need to pay a visit very often but they say every time I leave the exam room my exam time keeps running. They will not give me extra time they say Microsoft do not allow it...

If thats true, then Billy Boy & his M$ minions are guilty of flouting the Disability Discrimination Act

The Act defines a disabled person as someone with "a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities."

& you can find 'clarification' here
& without dwelling on any aspect of your circumstance - if you read it you'll see you qualify (on a few points I think) & I'm sure a letter from your doctor will soon back you up !

If you are a provider of goods, facilities or services you have duties under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), which makes it unlawful to discriminate against members of the public on the grounds of disability...

..Key to the Act for service providers are the concepts that it is unlawful to discriminate against disabled people by: ...

..failing to make reasonable adjustments to the way services are provided for disabled people.

Taken from here

I think the problem you are hitting is that these M$ courses will be run almost seperately from your college & like a little mini-business, that mightn't have all the controls & procedures in place it perhaps should, as someone higher up the chain in this training organisation probably expects the college to look after that bit & vice versa ...

Your funding is from your LEA is it not ? I'd try them - I think 1/2 the battle here is finding someone who knows which strings to pull on your behalf - because if I ever came accross someone who could do with being 'cut some slack', its you

[TripleRLtd]

I think 1/2 the battle here is finding someone who knows which strings to pull on your behalf - because if I ever came accross someone who could do with being 'cut some slack', its you

Aye!
And, with a little help, there'd be one less stressor hindering your achievement.
Good luck and good health MorseLady.

[MorseLady]

Aye!
And, with a little help, there'd be one less stressor hindering your achievement.
Good luck and good health MorseLady.

Thank you you everyone, I knew I would find my friends on here and you have all given me a few things to think about.

Con-fused, I had thought about the Disability Discrimination Act especially as I used to work in the legal field and was training to be a Legal Executive(which can leads to becoming a Solicitor). My husband is very well up on disability rights as he is severely disabled. But I cannot approach my Doctor because he once advised me not to attempt intense or exam oriented courses! But there again it was up to the College knowing my age and about some of my problems to ask for a medical certificate before enrolling me - hmmmm have to think about that one. If I play my cards right I could sue and get enough money to go on a Wave course! I used to be good in County Courts and before the Master in Chambers at the High Court. I can conduct my own case with the support of the NUS.

Since last night I have realised what this throwing me out is all about, it is not really about me or what I can or cannot do.

The College are under pressure because they have to show results to get fun ding both for concessionary students like myself and paying students. Yes my fees are funded by the LEA but my exams and books are funded by a special College fund from which my Instructor personally arranged for me to get help and this meant him recommending as a deserving case who would benefit from the course so now I suppose he thinks I have let him down and indeed I know he is in trouble over it and I feel terrible about that. But again I think his MCT career is on the line because of 29 students from his day and evening MCSE/MCSA classes only nine have taken 70-290 Server 2003 so far and only one passed and I am not the only one who is not ready. The exam has been booked for 23rd February and we have yet to do 70-291 and meanwhile the new XP course, the one I have been banned from, starts tommorow and the exam for that 70-270 is in a few weeks and then the class do SecurityPlus. I feel sorry for most of the class who have jobs and have to cope with all this as well and some are IT Managers who are upgrading.

I have worked out that the Instructor is under pressure from his Manager and possibly M$ or the exam provider and he in turn is under pressure from the College IT Manager or campus Deputy Head (it is a big four campus College spread over the whole of North Herts)and he is certainly not the same very approachable and laid back and excellent Instructor that he was two years ago when I did my Server 2000 course and gained certificate for successfully completing the course. I declined the City and Guilds level three assessment but he said I would have passed.

The College in turn are under pressure from OCR because they only obtained Microsoft Academy status in 2003 and I understand this could be withdrawn by OCR or M$ if they don't show results, ie exam successes. I understand the decision to dump me was from the Dept Manager on the recommendation of my Instructor and neither will interview me and I have been told off for emailing too much but I want justice and explanations! I have become persona non grata! I am the only woman in the class and the only senior by many years and they have a waiting list. Work it out, they will enrol those most likely to pass the exams. I even offered to pay instead of applying for more funding but they don't want me.

My husband would like me to forget the whole thing because I am mega stressed and I am thinking along those lines now. It is spoiling what was a very enjoyable hobby and maybe I should leave it like that, a hobby.

At the moment revision is out of the question as I am so stressed and feel so hopeless knowing I cannot go to class I have a mental block and after even two questions I go crazy and have to stop.

[confus-ed]

..Since last night I have realised what this throwing me out is all about, it is not really about me or what I can or cannot do..

& remember that bit ! .. I think thats entirely what this is about, making sure they keep their pass rates up with the most likely students, who have got time & energy to make up for their obvious lack of care & teaching standards.

I really do hope you can do well 'despite' & maybe just to spite them too, huh ? but you & your hubby's health & welfare are what's really important here, not some poxy M$ qualification which seem to get obtained by the strangest folks. I know many a 'brilliant' techie who couldn't pass many of the M$ exams in a month of sundays, yet spotty nerds with no other apparent skill than being able to memorise endless tosh fly through them with apparent ease (a bit like trained monkeys!), but I know which ones are, by far, far, far .. (how many far's would you like ? Lots anyway!) .. more useful at work !

Good luck with whatever you finally decide on anyway

[MorseLady]

Aye!
And, with a little help, there'd be one less stressor hindering your achievement.
Good luck and good health MorseLady.

I can't do this. I cannot eat, sleep or relax and I am getting dreadful rages and crying. I don't need Certification do I but if I carry on like this I will get another kind of certification it's like this blasted course and exam has taken me over completely. So much pressure on me because the tutor says I must pass in order to be allowed to progress and the more I do my revision the worse it gets and last night my score was zero on practice tests.

Edited later having calmed down a bit: sent an email to the College telling them to stuff their stupid course and advising them I am going to contact the course and exam providers. I will not do the exam, no point in it. I will keep computing as a hobby, no more courses or exams and I really must update my websites.

[confus-ed]

..Edited later having calmed down a bit:..

Aye ! I can see .. (the board's mechanism mails the first reply made after your own if you've ticked the box, so I've got a copy of what you first put in my mailbox !)

Definitely ... definitely ! .. don't go letting your college's lack of understanding & pressure to perform for the tutors on this course, start making you think such things about yourself, definitely . (& I was so definite I spelt it wrong 3 times ! )

I think you are right with your 'calmer approach' .

[MorseLady]

The College are completely ignoring my mails! I have marked them Priority and Read Receipt and mailed myself two copies and I got a read receipt from the College and both copies to myself got sent no actual reply from the College yet. I don't know if I have the strength at the moment to complain to OCR, LEA etc as I feel very depressed, weak and have a headache and want to cry all the time. So much for trying to improve myself, this way I will end up a nervous wreck. The forecast of snow does not help, I am paranoid about snow, hate it! Feel like jumping on a train to wherever there won't be any.

At least I have sorted most of my computer problems, thanks to Noo's advice on the Virus forum sticky. I had to do quite a lot of work in safe mode with various tools and a manual registry edit and the course must have helped because I feel very confident about such things now. I had six trojans and spyware, over 400 corrupt registry entries and all sorts of other things like missing drivers and freezing which was probably memory block because I when I used performance monitor I was very surprised at the fact that quite small single tasks were taking up all my Intel P4 2.2GHZ processing power and my 512MB RAM with a lot of paging, that would be the trojans doing their nasty work! However, I will still do a format and reinstall later.

Looking at things objectively, I have definitely benefited from the course in that I know a lot more about my own computer and at the end of the day I don't need a p[iece of paper which says I was able to decode Microsoft Speak and pass the exam and as Noo herself said she hasn't got all these pieces of paper but no one can doubt that Noo is an expert in many fields and no doubt many others of you have gained your expertise more by experience and hands on than sitting examinations in how to interpret the most convulated exams I have ever seen and I was a teacher once! Was training for ILEX and working in Law before that and even Law exams from what I remember were easier to understand. By the time you have read an M$ question you are totally confused as to what they are actually asking