Just as I did with IT Fundamentals I the process is to first read the course of study which will tell me which learning resources are available and a detailed week by week guide to gaining competency. The timeline is very generous and most computer savvy people should have no trouble passing early. I don't know, you'll find out since this is a real time account of my experience.
Then like I did with IT Fundamentals I, I'll take the pre-assessment to see how much I already know and where I should focus my attention. Remember, WGU is competency based so if you already know enough to prove competency (i.e. you are already a tech or have industry experience) they won't waste your money making you take courses you already have the knowledge to pass.
But for now I am going to go into the WGU communities and see what tips and techniques my fellow students have for me.
Update:
Just took a first look at the learning resources and am extremely pleased. The primary text based learning resource is a set of two texts and another is a good sized workbook with fill in the blank questions, short answers, etc. While there are multiple choice sections of the workbook as well, having to "know" the material by providing answers that aren't in front of you will help you pass the certification exams which contain questions worded in ways you're not familiar with, etc.
There are also 36 hours of interactive training videos covering all the material that I recognize from Mike Meyer's Sixth Edition A+ guide which is regarded as one of the best on the subject. I bought Meyer's book a few months before enrolling at WGU and remember the agony of lugging that 1100 page hard cover monster around. Sure, there is a pdf version (a nice touch) but staring at an online book for hours on end can strain the eyes.
Note: Meyer's monstrous book is listed as an optional resource that you can purchase, but from experience I can say the learning resources included from WGU are more than enough.
I had just gotten started into the videos when I had the strong desire to blog about my satisfaction with the materials. There were certain things in Meyer's book I had trouble retaining (due to its print format) that I am certain will become clear as I watch and learn.
Update 2:
I am currently set up to take my exams for the entry level A+ certification after which I will take one more course to complete this term.
For those of you who have enrolled at WGU I wanted to share a few pointers that will help you accelerate your progress:
- Enroll in the learning resources at least a week before you start a course as texts arrive by mail. This also includes signing up for any exam databases you'll need.
Let's say you are set to begin IT Fundamentals I on the 1st of the month and have a required completion date of the 30th. So on the 1st you sign up for all the learning resources and find out the primary texts will arrive by mail and in one week they get to your house. You just lost an entire week of study time. Then a few days before your exam you're ready to begin taking practice tests but, whoops, you forgot to sign up for those. So you submit your request which can take between 2-7 business days. You're pacing the floor knowing you have an exam coming up with fewer practice exams at your fingertips. Sure, you can re-schedule the exam, but then you've lost another week.
So to make life easier and accelerate your progress, read the course of study and make sure you have everything you need BEFORE you start a course. You don't want to be waiting around for learning resources or exam databases which is the equivalent of forgetting to go to the student bookstore to get your textbooks.
