MCTS .NET Framework 2.0 Certification Questions

[Keith Russell]

Hi, everyone.

After 19 years working in the computer industry, I went through
two downsizings and have been severely underemployed for the past
5 years. During my career, I performed a variety of job roles,
including several years programming in Pick Basic and two years
using C. I have done some reading in C++ and a few other
languages, but have never actually worked in an object-oriented
environment.

I have finally convinced myself to upgrade my skills through the
certification process, and am considering the MCTS certification.
I have checked into the local training schools and gathered all
the information I could, but am still confused on a couple of
points.

The owner of one school recommended that I take a C# class to get
me started in OOP. The course he recommended was 2124. I have
also found a course 2609 that teaches C#. The two classes appear
to be very different, and I'm not sure why he recommended 2124.
The course descriptions are very detailed, but I am having a hard
time understanding the essential differences between the two and
how their purposes differ. The owner is not available for the
next few days for me to ask him. Can anyone tell me why, with my
background, 2124 would or would not be a better choice for me?

The other problem I am having is finding classroom training for
these courses. While two local schools have scheduled all the
MCTS exam-related classes, only one school has scheduled 2609
(and not 2124). (This is another reason that I am wondering
whether or not I can substitute 2609 for 2124.)

Can anyone tell me if these courses are available online, either
through distance learning or e-learning? I have been unable to
find either of them. Are they only available in the classroom?

Thanks very much for your help. I'm hoping to make my plans very
soon, as the next series of classes is about to start (at both
schools).

 

[Alberto Poblacion]

The owner of one school recommended that I take a C# class to get
me started in OOP. The course he recommended was 2124. I have
also found a course 2609 that teaches C#. The two classes appear
to be very different, and I'm not sure why he recommended 2124.
The course descriptions are very detailed, but I am having a hard
time understanding the essential differences between the two and
how their purposes differ. The owner is not available for the
next few days for me to ask him. Can anyone tell me why, with my
background, 2124 would or would not be a better choice for me?

Hi, I am a Microsoft Certified Trainer and have taught both 2124 an 2609.

The courses are quite different. 2124 goes into a very detailed
description of the language itself (variables, statements, loops, methods,
properties, indexers, end so on), but tells you very little about how to use
it to write dot net applications (windows, web, console, services, etc).
2609 is just about the reverse: It has chapters on windows applications,
web services, web applications, using ADO.Net, and so on, but is very light
on the features of the C# language.

I am not sure which would be best for you. It is possible that 2609 will
give you a better general overview of how to work on the .Net platform. You
will be missing a detailed knowledge of the specific features of the C#
programming language, but since you have already worked with C and C++, it
should be quite easy for you to pick up this knowledge from reading a book.

Note: These courses target the Framework version 1. Most of the content is
still valid for Framework 2, but if you intend to get certified there are
several new features in version 2 that you will need to learn (for instance,
the exams contain questions about Generics).

 

[Keith Russell]

Hi, I am a Microsoft Certified Trainer and have taught both 2124 an 2609.

The courses are quite different. 2124 goes into a very detailed
description of the language itself (variables, statements, loops, methods,
properties, indexers, end so on), but tells you very little about how to use
it to write dot net applications (windows, web, console, services, etc).
2609 is just about the reverse: It has chapters on windows applications,
web services, web applications, using ADO.Net, and so on, but is very light
on the features of the C# language.

I am not sure which would be best for you. It is possible that 2609 will
give you a better general overview of how to work on the .Net platform. You
will be missing a detailed knowledge of the specific features of the C#
programming language, but since you have already worked with C and C++, it
should be quite easy for you to pick up this knowledge from reading a book.

Note: These courses target the Framework version 1. Most of the content is
still valid for Framework 2, but if you intend to get certified there are
several new features in version 2 that you will need to learn (for instance,
the exams contain questions about Generics).

Thank you very much for the reply, Alberto. That's exactly the
kind of information I was looking for.

I assume there are no comparable courses for Framework 2? Would
generics and the version 2 features be covered by the other MCTS
courses?

Which of the two courses would best complement 2956 (or the new
5160/5161) and 2541-2544? Does 2609 duplicate information that I
would be getting in the other courses, anyway? If so, would I be
better off concentrating on the language features with 2124?

Or does the .Net coverage in 2609 provide an important
background for the other courses?

Note that I have worked with C but have very little C++. Would
2124 give me a lot better grasp of object-oriented programming?

And do you know if either (or both) of these courses is offered
online?

 

[Alberto Poblacion]

[... 2124 and 2609 ...]

I assume there are no comparable courses for Framework 2? Would
generics and the version 2 features be covered by the other MCTS
courses?

Based on Framework 2, there is a series of courseware numbered from 2541
to 2549 which cover Data, Web, Windows and Distributed applications, each of
them covered by two courses, one of them "core" and the other "advanced".
However, all of these are "Workshops" rather than "Courses", meaning that
they contain only 10% lecture and 90% practice. You may or may not like
this. I get the impression that my students tend to prefer real courses over
workshops, but this may be due to cultural differences in this part of the
world.
None of these materials cover the language itself. Rather, they deal with
how to use it to write a specific kind of applications on .Net.

Which of the two courses would best complement 2956 (or the new
5160/5161) and 2541-2544?

5160 and 5161 are e-Learning (online) courses. I've never taught or
studied them, but looking at the list of topics I am under the impression
that they provide an excellent coverage of the most interesting Framework
features, including a few things (like System Types or Generics) that are
closely related to language features.
2956, on the other hand, is an instructor-led course. It seems to cover
much less matter than the other two. I've never taught this one, either, but
I've taught 2349 which covers all the subjects of 2956, and many more, but,
alas, is based on Framework 1.

Does 2609 duplicate information that I
would be getting in the other courses, anyway?

The overlap is minimal, they cover different subjects.

If so, would I be
better off concentrating on the language features with 2124?

Not necesarily. 2124 does have more overlap with the Framework courses.
For exemple, "delegates and events", which are in module 9 of 2124, are also
in Module 7 of 2956. And "Types and Interfaces" (Module 1 of 2956) are also
covered in 2124. On the other hand, 2124 does cover the language features
step-by-step, which you won't get in any of the other courses.