Dimitris Vergos Authorized Instructor Certifications Earned Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³), Authorized Instructor   Employer Owner of Technokids-Technoplus AG Paraskevi Location Athens, Greece

In his own words: "I support IC³ over other computing skills assessments because it includes all of the basic skills individuals must have to use [Information and communications technology] quickly and efficiently."

TECHNOKIDS-TECHNOPLUS AG PARASKEVI

Greek Certiport Center Capitalizes on Benchmark, Mentor Tools to Win IC³ World Cup
Certiport assessment tools and IC³ credentials add up to big win in 2007 competition

October 2007

Technokids-Technoplus AG Paraskevi, a technology-learning center in Athens, Greece, was announced the winner of the 2007 IC³ World Cup Competition in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region at the Certiport® Pathways conference in July. Capitalizing on the valuable Certiport Internet & Computing Benchmark™ and Internet & Computing Mentor™ tools and enthusiastically promoting Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³®) to his students, IC³ World Cup team coach Dimitris Vergos was thrilled to win the 2007 competition and plans to contend again in 2008.

BACKGROUND

Last year, 100 youth and 50 adults participated in computing skills training programs at Technokids-Technoplus. Bridging the Digital Divide by combining technology and education, Technokids-Technoplus prepares students for the future and encourages daily use of computers as tools to improve and transform lives.

Vergos, IC³ Authorized Instructor at Technokids-Technoplus, has worked in the technology field since 1983, studying information and communications technology (ICT) at the university level and taking extra training courses throughout his career. In 2003, he opened Technokids-Technoplus to teach others about the value and importance of ICT. "I knew quite a lot, so I have been able to 'transmit' this knowledge to my students successfully," he said.

Shortly after opening Technokids-Technoplus, Vergos learned about IC³, the world’s only globally recognized standards-based certification for basic computing skills. "I realized this program certified the knowledge and skills I had gained through my years of study and experience," he said. Vergos earned IC³ and became an IC³ Authorized Instructor so he could provide the credential to his students.

In March, Vergos heard about the 2007 IC³ World Cup Competition, a team-based contest through which schools, businesses, community organizations and Certiport Centers around the world competed for more than $30,000 in prizes by earning points for using Benchmark and Mentor and passing IC³ exams. "I have always been supportive of IC³, " Vergos said. "When (Certiport Solution Provider) Infotest announced that Greece would participate in the IC³ World Cup, I grabbed the opportunity."

PROCESS

To set up Technokids-Technoplus' IC³ World Cup team, Vergos logged into the Certification Pathway System, created an administration account and an exam group and added accounts for his students.

Two weeks before IC³ exams, Vergos encouraged his students to prepare with the Benchmark and Mentor tools. "Benchmark and Mentor are very good tools to help individuals pass IC³ exams," Vergos said. "I told students that using these tools and passing all three exams would help our team earn points and give us all an opportunity to win prizes."

To win the IC³ World Cup, a team must simply score more points than its opponents. Teams earn points by answering every question in the three Benchmark assessments, passing IC³ exams and earning the certification, applying for and earning the IC³ Authorized Instructor credential and establishing a Certiport Center.

Approximately 80 students participated on the Technokids-Technoplus IC³ World Cup team. Vergos said every participant completed at least a portion of the Benchmark assessments and 20 students earned IC³. "My team’s pass rate was 78 percent, although some students passed on their second try," he said. "We also scored points because I am an IC³ Authorized Instructor."

A few days before the end of the 2007 IC³ World Cup Competition, Vergos took note of his team's position posted on the official competition Web site. "Our team was in second place for the EMEA region," he said. "With only five days left, I contacted students who were preparing to test and asked them to use the Benchmark and Mentor tools in their preparation. Shortly after the conclusion of the competition, I received an e-mail that announced the final results. We had conquered the EMEA region!"

The Technokids-Technoplus win surprised Vergos. "I did not participate in IC³ World Cup expecting to win," he said. "I knew other training centers in Greece had more students than I did. But, I did know I was doing my job well."

RESULT

Vergos said he is very proud of his team's win. "Winning first place in the 2007 IC³ World Cup Competition for the EMEA region will attract students to my training center," he said.

For his students, the knowledge and skills gained from preparing for IC³ are especially significant. "Our adult students have used their certifications and skills to apply for jobs in various government posts and secure better employment," Vergos said.

"I have always believed in IC³ and have supported the program and proposed it to individuals who want to attain computing standards," Vergos continued. "I believe IC³ is the first step toward learning computers."

Technokids-Technoplus recently created a new learning section, "Techno-Start," which is based on the IC³ exam objectives. "I support IC³ over other computing skills assessments because it includes all of the basic skills individuals must have to use ICT quickly and efficiently. In addition, IC³ is the least expensive certification and requires less time than other evaluations."

As the first-place winner of the 2007 IC³ World Cup Competition for the EMEA region, Vergos and his team won five Dell computer systems for their organization, 50 iPod® Shuffles™ and T-shirts for team members. In addition, Vergos received an all-expense-paid trip to the Certiport Pathways conference at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Florida, where he was awarded the first-place IC³ World Cup trophy.

"At Pathways, I attended lectures for instructors, and they were very useful to me," he said. "I also had the opportunity to visit the Disney-MGM Studios theme park with Certiport and to spend splendid time with my wife in the other Disney parks. We visited the Magic Kingdom® Park and EPCOT® and met Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Buzz Lightyear, Nemo and the other heroes of Walt Disney World. It was the experience of a lifetime!"

Other EMEA training centers beware: Vergos plans to enter an even better team in the 2008 IC³ World Cup Competition. "Next year we will have the ability to use the Certification Pathway System in our native language because Benchmark and Mentor have recently been translated into Greek," he said. "And, our first-place finish in the 2007 IC³ World Cup will make a great advertisement."