Email is one of the primary means of communication in today’s workforce. Yet if students don’t understand how to use this technology and its features, they’re missing a valuable skill that will help them as they prepare to enter the workforce.
As a CTE teacher, you may be seeking opportunities to sharpen students’ communication skills before they enter the career world. One way students can set themselves apart from their peers is by earning the Microsoft Outlook certification. But what is this certification, and how can you ensure your students are successful?
As a host of multiple industry certifications and a provider of preparation materials, educators often ask us what students need to be successful on the Microsoft Outlook certification. Don’t worry we’ve got you covered!
In this article, you’ll discover two of the most common questions teachers ask about the Microsoft Outlook certification, including:
- What do my students need to know for the Microsoft Outlook certification?
- How do I prepare my students for the Microsoft Outlook certification?
By better understanding the purpose and components of the Microsoft Outlook exam you’ll be able to more effectively prepare students to earn their certifications.
1. What Do My Students Need to Know for the Microsoft Outlook Certification
The Microsoft Outlook certification validates the ability to enhance professional correspondence, create calendars, and schedule appointments in Outlook. The MO-400: Microsoft Outlook (Office 2019) exam measures competency to customize the user interface, format message content, create or insert graphic elements, and send and respond to emails and meeting requests.
The Microsoft Outlook certification is one of four certifications an individual must earn to become certified as a Microsoft Office Specialist: Outlook Associate.
The certification is designed for all ages as long as the candidate possesses the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful on the exam.
The exam consists of 40-60 questions based on the following domains:
- Manage Outlook settings and processes (15-20%)
- Manage messages (30-35%)
- Manage schedules (30-35%)
- Manage contacts and tasks (15-20%)
By understanding what your students will be tested on, you’ll be better able to prepare them effectively.
1. Manage Outlook Settings and Processes
The first skill domain tested on the Microsoft Outlook certification focuses on customizing Outlook settings and is composed of four objectives including:
1.1 Customize Outlook Settings
- change the display of messages, calendar items, contact records, and tasks
- add accounts
- configure automatic replies
1.2 Configure mail settings
- Specify default fonts for new messages and responses
- Customize reply message settings
- Create, assign, and modify signatures
1.3 Perform search operations
- create search folders
- search for messages, calendar items, contacts, and tasks
- search by using advanced find
1.4 Print and save information
- print message, calendar, contact, and task information
- save message attachments
- preview message attachments
- save messages in alternative formats
After completing this domain, individuals will be able to successfully customize Outlook as well as navigate the and understand where to find important information within the application.
Understanding the inner workings of Outlook and how to customize the application to meet your needs equips an individual with the foundational skills necessary to learn more advanced skills tested for in the certification exam.
2. Manage Messages
The second domain of the Microsoft Outlook certification is geared toward message management. Being able to effectively construct and deliver clear messages via email is an important facet of careers across every industry.
This domain includes the following objectives:
1.1 Create messages
- add or remove message attachments
- designate recipients by using courtesy copy (CC) and blind courtesy copy (BCC)
- use @mention to get someone’s attention
- forward and reply to messages
- flag outgoing messages for follow up
- set the importance and sensitivity of outgoing messages
2.2 Insert message content
- insert hyperlinks
- insert images
- add signatures to individual messages
2.3 Organize and manage messages
- sort messages
- create folders
- move messages between folders
- categorize messages
- flag received messages
- ignore conversations
- change the display of messages
This domain focuses heavily on message construction, message features that can be added to enhance communication and clarity as well as inbox management.
3. Manage Schedules
Time management skills in the workplace allow an individual to deliver work in a timely manner and produce higher quality work more efficiently. Being able to manage a schedule is a critical skill in today’s workforce as collaboration and independent planning play a role in every career.
The third domain tested for on the certification exam focuses on calendars and includes the following objectives:
3.1 Create and manage calendars
- set calendar work times
- manage multiple calendars
3.2 Create appointments, meetings, and events
- create recurring calendar items
- cancel meetings
- create calendar items from messages
- set calendar item times and time zones
- set up meetings by using the scheduling assistant
- set availability for calendar items
3.3 Organize and manage appointments, meetings, and events
- forward calendar items
- configure reminders
- invite meeting participants
- respond to invitations
- update individual or recurring calendar items
After completing this domain, individuals will be able to successfully manage their Outlook calendars by scheduling meetings, setting reminders as well using Outlooks scheduling assistant feature.
4. Manage Contacts and Tasks
The final domain includes three objectives focused on contacts and task management. The objectives include:
4.1 Create and manage contact records
- import contacts from external sources
- edit contact information
- share contacts
4.2 Create and manage contact groups
- create and delete contact groups
- add contacts to existing contact groups
- update contacts within contact groups
- delete contact group members
4.3 Create and manage tasks
- Create and manage tasks
By understanding the principles of effective contact management, students will be able to maintain a clean, organized email presence that will help them manage their professional communications throughout their careers.
2. How Do I Prepare My Students for the Microsoft Outlook Certification?
Exposing your students to the knowledge and skills tested for in an industry certification is the best way to prepare them to be successful. To effectively prepare your students for the Microsoft Outlook certification, you need the right preparation materials to support their efforts.
iCEV offers a Microsoft Outlook certification prep curriculum designed to help students effectively prepare for the certification exam. This comprehensive course includes pre-built lesson plans, multimedia videos and slideshows, and everything you need to set your students up for success.
Does iCEV sound like a good fit for your classroom? Explore iCEV’s Microsoft Outlook certification preparation content to set your students on a path to certification success.
