A Close Up Look at Lab Simulation Software

When it comes to succeeding in the highly competitive IT industry, there is simply no substitute for real hands on experience. Training and classroom learning are certainly important, but practical experience is highly valued throughout the computer industry.

We all know that business and industry demands that those students who are entering the IT world come armed not only with training and learning, but with practical hands on experience. Students will need to prove not only their knowledge of technology, but it is important for any curriculum to go beyond classroom learning and gain practical and realistic experience with the products they will be using.

In addition, major players within the IT industry, like Microsoft, Novell, Cisco and others, are now using innovating product simulators as part of their testing and certification criteria. Therefore, those who possess practical experience with those products are more likely to score well in those tests. These new adaptive tests include not only the typical multiple choice questions but methods for proving practical knowledge as well. Through these methods, the vendors help to ensure that those who hold their certifications possess the in depth knowledge they will need to solve real world problems.

In order to help students get the hands on and in depth knowledge they need to succeed, Thomson Course Technology has created the unique Lab Simulation Software product. This unique and innovative product has been developed by TestOut, who has long been a pioneer in the development of applied multimedia and simulation technologies. The new Lab Simulation Software product is designed to allow students to simulate the operating system and networking configuration on the home computer, providing a realistic learning environment for students.

What is Lab Simulation Software?

The Lab Simulation Software product is designed to allow students to work in a practical and true life computing environment, much like the environment the student would encounter while on the job. The intelligent simulations which are built into the product allow those students to apply the skills they have learned and the knowledge they have gained during their study, providing for a more well rounded education, and greater value to potential employers.

Open Simulations

The open simulations is what gives Lab Simulation Software its edge and makes it such a powerful part of the overall learning experience. These open simulations help to model a real system, allowing students to perform the same tasks they would perform on a real system in a real workplace environment.

These open simulations allow students to quickly and easily explore several different solutions in order to complete a task, and to just as easily view the results of each of those alternatives. This allows students to learn through trial and error, without putting a real world system at risk. This trail and error learning is one of the most valuable parts of the IT world, and employers will appreciate that those they hire have already gained this important knowledge and real world experience.

Video Demonstrations

Demonstrations are another important part of the Lab Simulation software program, designed to teach students to perform real world tasks using a series of clearly defined steps. These demon rations are powerful learning tools, especially when combined with the open simulations.

Expert Opinion Scenarios

Also included in the Labsim software product are expert opinion scenarios. These scenarios are designed to require students to think through a particularly difficult administration or computing problem. These expert opinion scenarios allow students to advance their troubleshooting and problem solving skills.

Multimedia Tools

The Labsim software product also contains a variety of multimedia tools, including video, audio, illustrations and animations, all of which are used to present complex subjects, topics and tasks in a user friendly visual manner.

Technical Glossary

The included technical glossary is designed to help students make sense of the many unique terms used within the IT industry, a must for any new student.

Bookmarks and Notepad

The bookmarks and notepad features are designed to allow students to quickly reference those areas of study they may wish to revisit at a later time. The convenient notepad allows students to record notes or questions for further review, providing real value for students of all disciplines.

The Lab Simulation software product is currently available for the popular MCSE and MCSA courses, along with the A+ Core Hardware and OS technologies and Network+. The product is available in CD-based standalone versions, allowing students to work on any PC. It is just like taking an interactive learning lab with you.

Site license versions of the Lab Simulation Software product are also available for the lab environment, and those versions include an Administrative Tool which is specifically designed with the instructor in mind. The product is designed to be a teaching tool which provides essential training and mastery of skills which only true experience can provide, all in a safe and convenient environment.