MARYLAND BUSINESS EDUCATION RESOURCE PAGE
Over the past four years the MSDE and BMF Program Affiliate have developed and/or gathered a number of useful resources designed to support BMF programs in Maryland. These resources include MSDE BMF Program Affiliate developed resources to support students and teachers preparing for the Microsoft Office Specialist exams, CLEP teaching resources, and capstone course planning and design resources. In addition to the BMF Program Affiliate developed resources a selection of relevant Web links and other resources has been provided as well as books useful to the MOS and CLEP preparation processes. Finally, a Why Business Education promotional video has been included. For individuals interested in accessing the curricula for our pathways, please visit our curricula page and for anyone looking for presentations from our annual Maryland State Education Association professional development day, please visit our presentations page.
MSDE BMF AFFILIATE DEVELOPED RESOURCES
MICROSOFT OFFICE SPECIALIST RESOURCES
Most people greatly overestimate their technical skills. For example, when it comes to the use of Microsoft Word and Excel, the average user is only proficient with less than 25% of the capabilities of the software. By preparing or the MOS tests you will find that you will greatly increase your familiarity with the software. You will discover tools and features that you may not have previously known existed and which may be extraordinarily useful. You will also learn that the software is capable of more than you had expected, which may in turn increase your daily productivity.
By earning Microsoft Office Specialist certifications you will be receiving a globally-acknowledged and industry-recognized credential. Delivered by Certiport, this is the only credentialing program endorsed by the Microsoft Corporation. When you pass a
Microsoft Certification exam, you become a member of the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) community with access to all of the benefits provided through the Microsoft Certification Program. You can use your Microsoft account to access the MCP member sites, where you’ll find lots of ways to keep your skills relevant, applicable, and competitive.
Exams you pass and certifications you earn become part of your official transcript, which you can allow potential employers to access directly. A Microsoft Certification is an industry standard that is recognized worldwide. Microsoft Office Specialist certification demonstrates proficiency in individual Office applications such as MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, MS Excel, etc. MOS certifications can assist learners in the earning of college credit, in demonstration of content mastery, and by enhancing their career prospects in a competitive job market. Specific information about the MOS exams can be found at the Certiport MOS Page with information about the exams available. The page includes a number of resources including a
Microsoft Office Learning Plan assessment tool.
Microsoft identifies the objectives that should be measure on a certification exam. Using the identified objectives as a base, Certiport invites a group of experts to determine the tasks that should be included on the certification exams. Once identified the tasks are used by Certiport’s test generation team to be developed into performance based questions. For each task 3 versions of the question are developed. As such, the same tasks tend to be found on almost all exams. Further, questions must be of similar difficulty. What this means is that every certification test is inherently the same as every other certification test whereas each test is comprised of the same tasks with variations in the wording of the question and the task specifics. Finally, if does not pass the
test on their first attempt and elects to take the retest, the retest is essentially identical to the first attempt.
Videos, presentations, and detailed handbooks have been developed to support individuals in their MOS preparation. Tips and tricks for passing the test as well as other best practices have been identified.
The UMES Center for Student Technology Competency and Certification offers MOS workshops year round (with a particular emphasis in summer trainings) as well as books, test preparation software, and manuals to assist you in your certification preparation. The Director of the Center, Mr. Magdi Elobeid, avails himself to Maryland Business Educators. He, and his staff, are available for one on one and small group trainings, MOS technical support, GMetrix assistance, test delivery, and to respond to questions about test administration.The Center is located on the UMES campus in Princess Anne, Maryland. Click on the banner below to access the website for the Center.
By earning Microsoft Office Specialist certifications you will be receiving a globally-acknowledged and industry-recognized credential. Delivered by Certiport, this is the only credentialing program endorsed by the Microsoft Corporation. When you pass a
Microsoft Certification exam, you become a member of the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) community with access to all of the benefits provided through the Microsoft Certification Program. You can use your Microsoft account to access the MCP member sites, where you’ll find lots of ways to keep your skills relevant, applicable, and competitive.
Exams you pass and certifications you earn become part of your official transcript, which you can allow potential employers to access directly. A Microsoft Certification is an industry standard that is recognized worldwide. Microsoft Office Specialist certification demonstrates proficiency in individual Office applications such as MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, MS Excel, etc. MOS certifications can assist learners in the earning of college credit, in demonstration of content mastery, and by enhancing their career prospects in a competitive job market. Specific information about the MOS exams can be found at the Certiport MOS Page with information about the exams available. The page includes a number of resources including a
Microsoft Office Learning Plan assessment tool.
Microsoft identifies the objectives that should be measure on a certification exam. Using the identified objectives as a base, Certiport invites a group of experts to determine the tasks that should be included on the certification exams. Once identified the tasks are used by Certiport’s test generation team to be developed into performance based questions. For each task 3 versions of the question are developed. As such, the same tasks tend to be found on almost all exams. Further, questions must be of similar difficulty. What this means is that every certification test is inherently the same as every other certification test whereas each test is comprised of the same tasks with variations in the wording of the question and the task specifics. Finally, if does not pass the
test on their first attempt and elects to take the retest, the retest is essentially identical to the first attempt.
Videos, presentations, and detailed handbooks have been developed to support individuals in their MOS preparation. Tips and tricks for passing the test as well as other best practices have been identified.
The UMES Center for Student Technology Competency and Certification offers MOS workshops year round (with a particular emphasis in summer trainings) as well as books, test preparation software, and manuals to assist you in your certification preparation. The Director of the Center, Mr. Magdi Elobeid, avails himself to Maryland Business Educators. He, and his staff, are available for one on one and small group trainings, MOS technical support, GMetrix assistance, test delivery, and to respond to questions about test administration.The Center is located on the UMES campus in Princess Anne, Maryland. Click on the banner below to access the website for the Center.
Manuals have been prepared to help teachers and students in Maryland prepare for the MOS exams. These manuals cover the exam composition and delivery, general and specific objectives, as well as identifies the specific tasks a candidate is required to complete in order to pass the exams (we can find no other resource available that goes into this level of detail. Tips, tricks, and strategies for passing the exams are also included.
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RESOURCES TO COMPLIMENT THE MOS 2013 CERTIFICATION EXAMS SERIES ARE CURRENTLY UNDER PREPARATION. THE MOS 2013 EXAMS PRESENT TESTING CANDIDATES WITH A SINGLE PROJECT THAT THEY MUST COMPLETE, RATHER THAN POSING A SERIES OF ISOLATED TASKS. THIS REPRESENTS A BETTER INDICATOR OF REAL WORLD USAGE OF OFFICE 2013. TO DATE MANUALS TO SUPPORT THE MOS POWERPOINT, AND MOS EXCEL CORE 2013 CERTIFICATION EXAMS HAVE BEEN PREPARED.
MOS WORD AND MOS EXCEL 2010 CONTENT HAS BEEN COMBINED AND PLACED INTO A SINGLE LARGE MANUAL THAT COVERS THE CORE AS WELL AS THE EXPERT LEVEL EXAMINATIONS,
TRAINING MATERIALS FOR THE MOS POWERPOINT, MOS OUTLOOK, AND MOS ACCESS OFFICE 2010 EXAMS CAN BE FOUND BELOW
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In addition to the MOS training materials, an advanced Excel handout and a mastering PowerPoint handout have been prepared. These were designed to greatly enhance the productivity of users and cover a number of highly valuable, yet commonly overlooked, features.
| ADVANCED EXCEL HANDOUT |
| MASTERING POWERPOINT |
In conjunction with the UMES Center for Student Technology Competency and Certification a series of videos have been produced covering the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification Examinations. Click the botton on the lower left hand corner to view in full screen mode.
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MSDE BMF AFFILIATE DEVELOPED
CLEP TRAINING RESOURCES
We have several CLEP resrouces available. The CLEP Training PowerPoint file includes an accurate review of the specific CLEP business exams and their acceptance at all Maryland Community Colleges and Public Universities.Please note, information on the CLEP Website is highly inaccurate. Information about the CLEP tests, teaching strategies, and a CLEP unit are also included.
| CLEP TRAINING 2014 FULL PRESENTATION |
| CLEP TRAINING WORKSHOP 2012 POWERPOINT PRESENTATION |
Following is a file where I identified 250 Concepts That Can be Used to Create A Management CLEP Review Glossary. This same activity can be done easily for the marketing and accounting pathways. Once completed the there are tools such as Flash Card Machine and ProProfs (see links below) that can be used to generate flash cards, glossaries,and quizzes. You may also want to check out some of the links to the game generating tools.
| CLEP MANAGEMENT EXAM CONCEPTS |
Jason Konyar from Worchester County has contributed a highly informative presentation that includes a number of best practices.
| SUCCESS WITH CLEP |
Mary Metzler and Sean Griffin from Howard County advocate using Cornell Notes as a an effective method for helping prepare students for the CLEP exam and have shared with us the resources they have gathered.
| Cornell_Notes.pptx |
| Cornell Notes Template.docx |
| Grading Rubric.docx |
Mary and Sean also advocate aligning your book with CLEP Concepts the following as an example template
| CLEP Cross Reference Example Marketing.docx |
CAPSTONE TRAINING MATERIALS
A capstone course is a transformative educational experience predicated on student-centered pedagogy. In a capstone experience learners are required to apply higher-order thinking, authentic learning, and multilayered decision-making while engaged in an experiential learning activity. Allowing students to make autonomous decisions regarding the direction of learning, capstones are offered near the conclusion of a program of study and are organized around a comprehensive, intensive and integrative project. The methodology employed in the completion of these projects is purposeful so as to satisfy multiple targets (e.g. educational objectives that a student is expected to have mastered). The outcome of which is an opportunity for students to showcase knowledge, skills, and abilities in a unique and individualized manner. The following image created by the MSDE Program Affiliate Director, Dr. Buzzetto-More, presents the Capstone Experience Model.
Published in the Journal Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology in Education (Buzzetto-More, 2013).
In 2009 it was decided by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), under the advisement of the MSDE’s BMF State Advisory Committee, that a capstone experience would be added to the BMF high school completer programs in Maryland. A wide net was cast and a number of capstone courses in higher education business programs as well as community colleges were
examined. Additionally, the capstone literature was reviewed. A comprehensive search was conducted in order to examine various, albeit limited, practices in capstone instruction in K-12 education, in particular the Memphis City Schools Capstone Project, Rhode Island Skills Commission Capstone Requirement, and the State of Tennessee Capstone Project were reviewed. As a result, I identified the best practices in capstone-based instruction around which the course was developed. This model was presented at the 2013 Society for Information Technology in Teacher Education Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana as well as
published in a volume of best papers under the tile Fostering Flexible Education Through Capstone Experiences.
examined. Additionally, the capstone literature was reviewed. A comprehensive search was conducted in order to examine various, albeit limited, practices in capstone instruction in K-12 education, in particular the Memphis City Schools Capstone Project, Rhode Island Skills Commission Capstone Requirement, and the State of Tennessee Capstone Project were reviewed. As a result, I identified the best practices in capstone-based instruction around which the course was developed. This model was presented at the 2013 Society for Information Technology in Teacher Education Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana as well as
published in a volume of best papers under the tile Fostering Flexible Education Through Capstone Experiences.
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Teaching a capstone course is an exciting and ever changing experience. It requires an ongoing and meaningful dialogue to occur between tutor and tutee, the unique nature of which stimulates learning in a way that is without parallel.
A video has been created about the Capstone Course (see right). Most importantly, an official guide has been developed to compliment the Maryland BMF Capstone Initiative, which can be downloaded below. Additionally, you will find the training presentation delivered during the summer of 2014 below.
OFFICIAL CAPSTONE GUIDE
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A Capstone Training Workshop was offered to teachers in the Summer of 2013.The Handbook used in the training is available for download below as well as some exemplary materials produced by participants.
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CAPSTONE TRAINING HANDBOOK
SAMPLE CAPSTONE PLANNING DOCUMENTS
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SAMPLE BENCHMARKS
UNIT PLANNING
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WEB LINKS AND RESOURCES FOR BUSINESS EDUCATORS
A selection of excellent Web-links and other resources for business education that provide information, curriculum, lesson plans, and other teaching resources has been compiled below. The list is organized by topic/use.
Microsoft Certification Resources
Microsoft Office Specialist 2010 Series exams are proctored exams and must be taken at a Certiport Center (Microsoft Certified Exam Provider).
UMES Center for Student Technology Certificationa and Training
MS Word Exam- Overview, Skills Measured, and Preparation Materials
MS Excel Exam- Overview, Skills Measured, and Preparation Materials
UMES Center for Student Technology Certificationa and Training
MS Word Exam- Overview, Skills Measured, and Preparation Materials
MS Excel Exam- Overview, Skills Measured, and Preparation Materials
MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Maryland State Department of Education
MSDE Career Cluster
Dual Enrollment The MSDE has prepared an excellent dual enrollment question and answer fact sheet to help address Frequently Asked Questions about the Dual Enrollment Provisions of the College and Career Readiness and College Completion Act of 2013 click here to access the fact sheet
Maryland Skills 2Compete
Financial Literacy Education
Maryland Race to the Top
MSDE Career Cluster
Dual Enrollment The MSDE has prepared an excellent dual enrollment question and answer fact sheet to help address Frequently Asked Questions about the Dual Enrollment Provisions of the College and Career Readiness and College Completion Act of 2013 click here to access the fact sheet
Maryland Skills 2Compete
Financial Literacy Education
Maryland Race to the Top
STANDARDS AND CURRICULUM FOR BUSINESS EDUCATION
State Curriculum
National Standards for Business Education
National Education Technology Standards
IC3 Global Standard For Core Computing and Information Literacy
National Standards for Business Education
National Education Technology Standards
IC3 Global Standard For Core Computing and Information Literacy
BUSINESS EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Maryland Business Education Association
National Business Education Association
National Association for Supervisors of Business Education
Association for Career and Technical Education
National Business Education Association
National Association for Supervisors of Business Education
Association for Career and Technical Education
MAJOR BUSINESS STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
BUSINESS CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
Questgarden
Microsoft Partners in Learning (includes classroom activities, tutorials free tools,, and other learning resources)
Course Sites (a free and easy to use Learning Management System [LMS] made available through Blackboard)
Rubistar
Skinners Business Lesson Plans and Resources
Teachnology (an outstanding array of worksheets, lesson plans, rubrics, graphic organizers, etc)
The Homework Zone - Post your homework online!
Lesson Plan Central
Zunal Webquest Maker and Search Engine Business
NEFE Financial Planning Program
Teaching Kids Business
Thinkfinity (standards based lesson plans and activities)
EconEd Link (EconEdLink is the leading source of online economic & personal finance lessons & resources for educators, students and afterschool providers.)
Flash Card Machine (create to use to build a glossary of CLEP terms that can be put in glossary and/or flash card form)
ProProfs (site for creating surveys, quizzes, flashcards, etcetera)
Sticky Sorter by Microsoft (Brainstorming tool)
Ribbon Hero 2 (invites students to learn about features of Microsoft Office by playing—and competing in—clever, fun games.)
Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum
Small Basic (Help your students start writing their first programs quickly and easily. With only 15 keywords and an inviting development environment.)
Money Instructor
Microsoft Partners in Learning (includes classroom activities, tutorials free tools,, and other learning resources)
Course Sites (a free and easy to use Learning Management System [LMS] made available through Blackboard)
Rubistar
Skinners Business Lesson Plans and Resources
Teachnology (an outstanding array of worksheets, lesson plans, rubrics, graphic organizers, etc)
The Homework Zone - Post your homework online!
Lesson Plan Central
Zunal Webquest Maker and Search Engine Business
NEFE Financial Planning Program
Teaching Kids Business
Thinkfinity (standards based lesson plans and activities)
EconEd Link (EconEdLink is the leading source of online economic & personal finance lessons & resources for educators, students and afterschool providers.)
Flash Card Machine (create to use to build a glossary of CLEP terms that can be put in glossary and/or flash card form)
ProProfs (site for creating surveys, quizzes, flashcards, etcetera)
Sticky Sorter by Microsoft (Brainstorming tool)
Ribbon Hero 2 (invites students to learn about features of Microsoft Office by playing—and competing in—clever, fun games.)
Microsoft Digital Literacy Curriculum
Small Basic (Help your students start writing their first programs quickly and easily. With only 15 keywords and an inviting development environment.)
Money Instructor
COMMUNICATION/COLLABORATION RESOURCES FOR BUSINESS TEACHERS
The following links foster either communications, collaborations, discourse, critical thinking, and or self expression/reflection.
Shared View Share your desktop with multiple students or teachers in real time using Microsoft SharedView. It's a free utility that lets you connect and share your
screen with up to 15 other computers in different locations—ideal for in-class collaboration across multiple schools, remote instructions, or collaborative
homework projects between students.)
Interactive Classroom (free polling tool made by Microsoft)
Voice Threads
Edublogs
Wikispaces
Glogster (too cool to explain)
Shared View Share your desktop with multiple students or teachers in real time using Microsoft SharedView. It's a free utility that lets you connect and share your
screen with up to 15 other computers in different locations—ideal for in-class collaboration across multiple schools, remote instructions, or collaborative
homework projects between students.)
Interactive Classroom (free polling tool made by Microsoft)
Voice Threads
Edublogs
Wikispaces
Glogster (too cool to explain)
MULTIMEDIA DEVELOPMENT
Audacity
Free WIndows Movie Maker
Vokis
Voice Threads
Edublogs
Wikispaces
Glogster (too cool to explain)
Teacher Tube
Jeopardy Labs
Microsoft Learning Suite (fee set of tools)
Microsoft Auto Collage
Windows Movie Maker
Free WIndows Movie Maker
Vokis
Voice Threads
Edublogs
Wikispaces
Glogster (too cool to explain)
Teacher Tube
Jeopardy Labs
Microsoft Learning Suite (fee set of tools)
Microsoft Auto Collage
Windows Movie Maker
MORE RESOURCES/INFORMATION FOR BUSINESS EDUCATION
Microsoft Pathfinder School Program (Microsoft Innovative Pathfinder Schools help to transform education in a scalable, replicable way by influencing other schools within their own community, country, and around the world. After your school has become an actively participating Partners in Learning School, you may choose to apply
to the Pathfinder program.)
Free CLEP Practice Tests and Resources http://www.free-clep-prep.com
CLEP EXAMS
Certiport K-12 Site License Program
Free MOS Training Resources
Certiprep
MOS World Championship Competition
MS CERTIFICATION
GLOGSTER
SITES FOR TEACHERS
Cool Sites for Teachers
JumpStart
Moodle
National Financial Literacy Challenge U.S. Dept of Treasury
Edutopia
JISC on Assessment
to the Pathfinder program.)
Free CLEP Practice Tests and Resources http://www.free-clep-prep.com
CLEP EXAMS
Certiport K-12 Site License Program
Free MOS Training Resources
Certiprep
MOS World Championship Competition
MS CERTIFICATION
GLOGSTER
SITES FOR TEACHERS
Cool Sites for Teachers
JumpStart
Moodle
National Financial Literacy Challenge U.S. Dept of Treasury
Edutopia
JISC on Assessment
BOOKS
These are just some useful books available. It does not represent all books available. Editions change frequently so links are not provided.
CLEP
REA (Research & Education
Association) Publishing has a series of CLEP review books that come with two
printed sample tests as well as a CD with 2-3 additional sample tests. These
books are quite effective and can be purchased via Amazon or direct from the
publisher. (I have found that with coupons and free shipping options Amazon is
usually cheaper). Make sure to purchase the most current edition.
Brent Knapp and CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform offer a book of sample exam questions for the Management exam that retails for around $8.
Comex Systems produces study guides that while less comprehensive than the REA guide, is still useful.
The College Board publishes "official" study guides. These resources are quite generic, make no attempt to build content knowledge, and have less than a handful of sample questions available. As such, they are not endorsed.
REA (Research & Education
Association) Publishing has a series of CLEP review books that come with two
printed sample tests as well as a CD with 2-3 additional sample tests. These
books are quite effective and can be purchased via Amazon or direct from the
publisher. (I have found that with coupons and free shipping options Amazon is
usually cheaper). Make sure to purchase the most current edition.
Brent Knapp and CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform offer a book of sample exam questions for the Management exam that retails for around $8.
Comex Systems produces study guides that while less comprehensive than the REA guide, is still useful.
The College Board publishes "official" study guides. These resources are quite generic, make no attempt to build content knowledge, and have less than a handful of sample questions available. As such, they are not endorsed.
Perfect Score for Accounting
While only available (at the time) for the financial accounting test, the Perfect Score system includes a review book, a software testing system with over 300 questions, and more. Better yet, the price tag is around $20.
MOS Certification
The best exam review/reference book is the Microsoft® Certified Application Specialist Exam Reference for Microsoft® Office
2010, 2nd Edition Cengage Course Technology
ISBN10: 1-111-96977-9,
ISBN13: 978-1-111-96977-6
© 2012
Additionally, the Cengage New Perspectives series of text books work effectively with the Business Administrative Service curriculum.
2010, 2nd Edition Cengage Course Technology
ISBN10: 1-111-96977-9,
ISBN13: 978-1-111-96977-6
© 2012
Additionally, the Cengage New Perspectives series of text books work effectively with the Business Administrative Service curriculum.
MSDE BMF PROGRAM AFFILIATE CREATED PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
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A MSDE BMF PROGRAM AFFILIATE VIDEO CREATED TO HIGHLIGHT THE VALUE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION.
Feel free to reuse at open houses, with students, and in meetings with stakeholders. |
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