1. The Courseware Clearly States The Specific Certification It Relates To. If you are working to achieve a professional certification, look for courseware specifically designed for the credential. Without a clear understanding of whether the course will help achieve professional certification, the course becomes less valuable to the pursuit of professional certification.

2. The Courseware Provides A Complete List Of The Exam Objectives. It is important that you understand the objectives upon which the course and the exam are based. Courseware objectives are the specific learning points that relate the courseware to the exam. The objectives are often defined by the relationship between the technology and the job function is serves.

3. An Exam Objective Is Stated In Each Section Of The Course. On a more incisive level, when each section contains a specific reference to the exam objective that is to be covered, the section becomes more meaningful. In addition, the course becomes an effective reference that facilitates review and focused learning of specific exam objectives.

4. The Course Addresses All Of The Exam Objectives Required By The Exam. Aside from merely listing the exam objectives, make sure the course actually covers each one specifically. This is your key to learning the content covered in the exam. A complete review of every exam objective is the only acceptable minimum in a courseware product designed to facilitate professional certification.

5. The Course Provides A Description Of The Target Audience For The Course. In order to assure relevance of the course content and methodology, effective courseware identifies the type of person, by job roles, interests and objectives as well as skill level and experience, which the courseware is designed to teach. As a candidate, you can become confused and even disgruntled when you discover the course is well above or below your level of interest or experience.

6. The Course Specifically Identifies Whether Prerequisites Are Required. Courseware should clearly state whether or not there are prerequisites to the course or the certification that the course covers. Looking for prerequisites based on level of experience is an excellent way to identify other course materials that will help in your pursuit of professional certification. An indication of prerequisites in the courseware will help you map out your plan to achieve professional certification.

7. The Course Includes A Comprehensive Table Of Contents. Navigation throughout the course should be made as easy and understandable as possible to facilitate an understanding of content flow and logic in the learning process. A foundational table of contents is a critical element in demonstrating that content is presented in an understandable, logical and navigable manner.

8. The Course Includes A Foreword. You should always read the foreword to get a clear and concise direction for the course. Understanding the context of the information, the flow of the instruction and the goal of the learning is a critical factor in your ability to absorb and understand new concepts.

9. The Course Includes An Index. An index enables cross-referencing of concepts and facilitates the finding of specific topics and references. As you learn and use the course as a reference tool, finding information should be made as easy as possible so that interruptions and distractions to the learning process are reduced to a minimum.

10. The Course Includes A Glossary. In the context of learning, new terms, phrases, acronyms and naming conventions are normally introduced as new concepts are described. While you learn the definitions of terms in the text of the courseware, it is also the function of a courseware product to be a ready reference for continued learning and referral. A glossary is a useful tool in the learning process as terms are continuously referenced throughout the text, providing an easy resource for learning refreshment if questions arise during additional study.

11. The Course Includes A Related Pre-Assessment Exam. Learning is most effective when you (and your instructor) establish a point of origin. With an assessment of your knowledge and understanding of the subject, focused and productive learning is optimized as you are empowered to concentrate on areas of weakness with supplemental reviews of areas that you are more comfortable with.

12. The Course Includes A Post-Assessment Exam. Post assessments are important to the serious learner because they help identify the level of comprehension. Post assessments, when combined with a pre-assessment, can improve the learning experience by identifying areas of improvement, and where improvement is still necessary. Post assessments are an essential component of the certification process because they indicate your readiness to challenge an exam, and ultimately your ability to perform the skills required by the related job role.

13. The Course Includes A Quiz Or Assessment At The End Of Each Section. Continuous assessment provides a constant challenge to retention and allows for goal-based learning. Information is retained in permanent memory more readily when it is challenged and applied as it is learned. Quizzes and other assessments at the end of each chapter help you solidify the concepts associated with each exam objective, and provide a basis for memorization.

14. The Course Contains Lab Assignments Or Experiments. Information is retained more permanently when it is applied in a real-life situation. Additionally, application and experimentation leads to familiarity with learned solutions as well as abstract application of learned solutions to unexpected situations. Achieving success on a certification exam is highly dependant upon your experience and involvement with the skills being tested.

Understanding your courseware is the first step in using it effectively.