One of the goals that administrators at Hastings High have is to help the students to prepare for their lives outside of high school. This goal drives the administrators to look for extra opportunities for its students that can be offered in addition to the regular coursework.
Recently, students in the information technology two class took the Microsoft Word portion of the test. Students had 50 minutes to complete the task on the test. Since the test is based on projects, the students were given step by step instructions to follow in order to get to the final product. Teacher Darci Karr said that there were different ways in which she prepared the students.
“I review the skills and teach the advanced skills that aren’t taught in info tech one. I have extra materials so they can get extra help,” Karr said.
Earlier this school year, the Nebraska legislature passed an initiative that set aside around $250,000 to be given to a school so that they would be able to administer the Microsoft Office User Certification (MOUS) test to students. Given through the company Certiport, who administers many professional and CPA exams, the MOUS tests normally require participants to pay money. This initiative would allow the recipient school to administer the exam for free to its students. Hastings High filled out the application and was selected to receive this money.
Freshman Dylan Lockling was one of the first students in the school to pass the Word test. He said that the test was very similar to their class work.
“We go over lessons about word and we go over one by one things we can do to get ready. The test was similar to our labs, so we already knew what the test was like,” Lockling said.
Karr says that this certification is something that a lot of businesses and colleges like to see on resumes as these are skills that are valuable in today’s workforce.
“I think getting that certification is something they can utilize when their applying for jobs, college, and scholarships,” Karr said. “It shows they are proficient in these skills and software. A future boss won’t have to show them how to do something.”
Lockling echoes this idea.
“If I want to go into business or other careers that I need to use Word or Microsoft a lot, it will look good on a resume,” Lockling said.
Karr thinks that this is an excellent opportunity that she hopes more students get the chance to have.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for our students,” Karr said. “It’s nice that when you work in a class like this and work in the software, they can show that they have the skills. I hope the legislature keeps appropriating dollars because students can take it for free now. I don’t want students to have to pay for it.”
Lockling says that he would definitely suggest that other students take advantage of being able to get the MOUS certification for free.
“It’s a really cool thing to accomplish,” Lockling said. “You know that all your hard work is appreciated and it’s something that not a lot of people get to do.”
