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Overview
Welcome to the WiderNet Project
Technician Training program!
This program focuses on two
certifications: CompTIA's A+ and Network+
certificates. CompTIA is a non-profit organization
sponsored by many computer industry leaders, including
Microsoft, Cisco, Compaq and others, to develop
vendor-neutral certifications for people in information
technology fields.
The A+ certification will test your
computer maintenance and support skills. The
Network+ certification will test your network server and
infrastructure skills. These certifications are
recognized worldwide and are especially popular for entry
level technicians in the United States.
Most of the formal
training of the WiderNet Project Technician Training Program
will consist of self-paced computer-based training (CBT) software.
The training software, ranked as the best in the indusrty, is made by LearnKey, Inc. and
is
contained on CD-ROMs that will need to be installed on a
computer. You will need to have access to this computer
for the full length of your
training.
LearnKey Training Software
LearnKey, Inc. is a United States
based company that makes primarily CD-ROM based training
software. They are the makers of the A+ and Network+
training software that you will be using as the primary
source of training for the WiderNet Project Technician
Training Program.
The WiderNet Project staff has done
a great deal of work in trying to find the best source of
training software on the market and making it available to
you. We have found that the critically acclaimed LearnKey training software is some of the best software on
the market. The LearnKey training software contains
all of the information you will need to successfully pass
CompTIA's A+ and Network+ certification tests. Passing
these tests will be the critical factor in successfully
completing the WiderNet Project Technician Training Program.
This reference CD-ROM will be a second
source of information and a third source of information and
experience will be offered through periodic classroom based
training sessions put on by WiderNet staff in Nigeria.
CompTIA Certifications
CompTIA, headquartered in the United
States, is a company that issues several different kinds of
vendor-neutral certifications including A+ and Network+
certifications. CompTIA certifications have become an
industry standard in the United States for measuring the
skills of entry level technicians.
The A+
Certification training will focus on the areas of computer
hardware, maintenance, and operating systems and is step one
of the two part Technician Training Program. Once you
pass CompTIA's A+ certification test, you will receive the
LearnKey Network+ training software. The Network+
training program will teach the skills necessary to
configure and operate a variety of networking products.
After this the Network+ training program you will be
expected to pass CompTIA's Network+ certification test.
Information on where to go to take the CompTIA certification
tests will be given to you later on by a WiderNet Project
representative or will be arranged with the help of the
WiderNet Project through your university.
Reference CD-ROM
The Reference CD-ROM is the CD-ROM you
are currently viewing. The information on this CD-ROM
provides background and reinforcement of the information you
will need to know for the A+ and Network+ certification
exams. It also contains lots of information that will
allow you to further you education beyond the A+ and
Network+ certifications.
One example of this is the
extensive educational material about the Linux operating
system that is located on this CD-ROM. Also located on
this CD-ROM are training materials for beginner level
computer skills. These include information about the
Internet and many end user programs. These materials
may be used to train others on your campus who are just
getting started with computers.
Remember that the
certification exams will only test over information that can
be found on the respective A+ or Network+ LearnKey training
CD-ROMs. Some of the information is repeated on this
CD-ROM to help you review, but
most of your focus should be on the LearnKey A+ and Network+
CBT CD-ROM's.
The information on this reference CD-ROM is meant to
eventually broaden your knowledge beyond these
certifications and help you as you begin to work as a
technician on campus. You may keep this reference
CD-ROM for your own personal use, unlike the LearnKey
training CD-ROMs which belong to the university. You
will need to give the LearnKey training software back to the
appropriate person at your university or to a WiderNet
Project representative when you take the certification test.
Getting Started
As I have mentioned you will begin
with the A+ certification training program...
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What is A+ Certification? The WiderNet Project Technician Training
program will begin with LearnKey's A+ certification
preparatory software. An
A+ certification is a CompTIA-sponsored testing program that
proves that you possess the knowledge and the skills
essential for a successful entry level (6 months
experience) computer service technician. The A+
Certification training will focus on the areas of
computer hardware, computer maintenance, and operating
systems. The certification test will be multiple
choice and will contain situational, traditional, and
identification types of questions that are based on a
broad range of hardware and software technologies that
are not bound to any vendor-specific products.
To learn more about the A+ exam click
here and you will be taken to CompTIA's website
located on this CD.
What is Network+ Certification?
After you have passed the A+
certification test the training will continue into the second
phase with LearnKey's Network+ certification preparatory
software. You will not receive the Network+ training
software until after you have passed the CompTIA A+
certification exam. A Network+ certification proves that
you possess the knowledge of a networking professionals with
18 - 24 months experience in the IT industry. The
certification test will be multiple choice and will contain a
wide range of question on vendor and product neutral
networking technologies. To learn more about the
Network+ exam click
here and you will be taken to CompTIA's website located on
this CD.
What are the steps I need to take in the
training process?
The following section outlines the
suggested steps you should take in the A+ training process.
Each step is hyperlinked. Click on each step to find out
more information about how to do that particular step.
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Install the A+
training software on a computer
Click here to learn how to
install the LearnKey A+ certification software
-
Start the LearnKey A+
training
-
Use the
materials in the A+ section of this CD-ROM to review
concepts
Click
here to view A+ certification reference
materials
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Email
questions or problems to
techsupport@widernet.org
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Retake the post tests and look at the
review PDF's (both located on the LearnKey training CDs)
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Email the WiderNet
Project at
techsupport@widernet.org to set up a time to take
the test
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Take the
A+ certification test
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Receive
the Network+ training software from the NUC
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Repeat
steps 1-7 using the Network+ training materials
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After
passing the Network+ certification test you will
receive a Network+ certification plus a WiderNet
Project Technician certificate
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