CertXpertSM Frequently Asked Questions
	Who can benefit by using CertXpertSM?	Any organization that offers training or other examination preparation services for students who are preparing to take a certification examination can use the CertXpertSM web service to construct drill materials for their students.
	Which certifications are supported?	Any certification for which the candidate is required to pass a multiple choice examination is supported. (Examples: MCSE, MCSD, CompTIA A+, etc.)
	How does CertXpertSM work?	The training organization uses the CertXpertSM web service to construct one or more sets of drill materials. The drill materials are online decks of "flashcards" that keep track of which questions the student has missed. These questions are presented to the student more frequently than the questions that the student has answered correctly. This focuses the student's study time on those areas in which improvement is needed. When the student gets an answer wrong, CertXpertSM displays the correct answer and explains why the student's choice was incorrect.
	How are CertXpertSM drill materials "branded?"	Each set of drill materials will appear to the student as a training organization deliverable. The training organization customizes these items to incorporate the training organization's logos and verbiage. Drill materials are created by members of the training organization staff. Student administration is done by members of the training organization staff. Students do not interact with Timberline Technologies LLC at any time.
	Who creates the drill materials content?	The training organization creates all drill materials questions and answers. Timberline Technologies LLC provides the training organization with an administrative logon that allows full customization of the drill materials appearance and content.
	How does a student know how well he or she is doing?	The online flashcard deck indicates the student's progress by displaying a green thermometer control that reflects the drill completion precentage. The student has the option to reset his or her completion status at any time. When the student answers a question wrong, the correct answer and the reason why the student's choice was wrong is presented to the student.
	Can can a student terminate a drill session and return to it at a later time?	Yes. When a student exits the drill session the student's progress record is saved. When the student returns to the drill the student's progress record is restored. The progress record includes the historical information that CertXpertSM uses to focus the student's attention on the questions for which the student needs practice.
	Who controls the student's access to drill materials content?	The training organization specifies which specific drill materials a student may use and the date range during which the access will be permitted. This is one of the CertXpertSM online administrative functions.
	Can I include graphics in the questions that are presented to the student?	Yes. CertXpertSM supports all of the common graphics formats.
	Can I choose the presentation font?	Yes. CertXpertSM supports all of the commonly used fonts. You can also set the character size; choose a bold typeface or italics to emphasize certain parts of the text; and select the colors in which various sections of text will be presented.
	Can I specify the number of answer choices that are presented to the student?	Yes. You can present as many or as few choices to the student as you wish.
	Can I create "true/false" questions?	Yes.
	In which environments is the CertXpertSM technology supported?	CertXpertSM drill materials can be constructed for any platform that supports the Microsoft® .NET framework. This includes Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista.
	Will there ever be a Linux version of CertXpertSM?	There are currently efforts underway to develop .NET runtime environments for Unix, Linux, Solaris, and Mac OS X. (See, for example, the Mono Project.) If any of these projects prove sucessful, Timberline Technologies LLC will begin testing the CertXpertSM service in these environments. The level of support that Timberline Technologies LLC will provide for non-Microsoft environments will be announced at a later date.
	Will a "standalone" version of CertXpertSM be made available in the future?	No. CertXpertSM's drill materials creation and student administration features are deployed as web services. This means that an Internet connection is required to install and update practice tests, drill materials and online administrative controls. An online connection is also required to download the student's current completion status.
	What is the primary benefit of CertXpertSM technology?	Training organizations that use CertXpertSM to construct drill materials will have a higher proportion of their students pass the certification examination on the first attempt. This is because CertXpertSM's "artificial intelligence" capability focuses the student's attention on those specific areas in which the student needs practice.
	Is there a tutorial for new users?	Yes. There is a tutorial for test creators and administrators, which explains how to use each of the CertXpertSM online administrative controls. There is also a customizable student tutorial to help students learn how to use the practice test and drill session environments.
	How do I get a copy of the CertXpertSM client executable?	The CertXpertSM client software is downloaded via the Internet. Updates are also distributed via the Internet.
	What level of support does Timberline Technologies LLC provide?	Defect support is provided free of charge. Product updates are also provided free of charge.
	When will CertXpertSM be available?	The "beta" version of the CertXpertSM web service will be available for customer testing during the second quarter of 2007. The commercial offering will be available during the third quarter of 2007.
	Can I see some samples?	Sample practice tests and drill materials will be made available during the beta test phase of the service.
	How much does CertXpertSM cost?	Pricing will be announced during the beta test phase of the service.