Update: Turns out I was given the wrong voucher code. Isn’t that nice?!? If you tried the voucher code and received an error, be sure to use this voucher code instead, 6841-USDPEMW-5316. This has been updated in the instructions below.

As a Developer Evangelist, part of my job responsibility is making sure our development community has access to the resources and training materials that is going to make them better developers. I?m happy to report to you that I?ve been given the opportunity to pass a great training opportunity on to the readers of this very blog. For a short time only (April 15^th to be exact) you have the opportunity to register to receive up to 4 of our best developer focused training modules found at http://www.microsoftlearning.com. Here are the steps to take advantage of this great opportunity?

1.) Go http://www.microsoft.com/learning/access

2.) Input your access code: (The code is case sensitive)

3.) ACCESS CODE: 6841-USDPEMW-5316

4.) You will be prompted to sign-in using a valid Microsoft Passport ID. If you already have a profile on microsoft.com, use that Passport ID. If you do not have a Passport ID click ?Register? to create one.

5.) From the ?Thank You? page, click on My Learning to see the list of available courses.

6.) For E-Learning, click on a course title to launch the offering.

a. You will then be presented with a description tab and a content tab. Read all the course requirements and description.

b. Please note: Review the ?system requirements? tab to be sure your computer is properly configured to access virtual labs.

c. From the ?Content Tab?, click on a lesson to begin training.

7.) When you return to the site, please click on the following link: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mylearning and sign in using your Microsoft Passport ID. Then click on ?My Learning? to access content and continue your learning path.

The courses available include the following?

Upgrading from Visual Basic 6.0
Collection 2562: Getting Started with Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005 for Visual Basic? 6.0 Developers

Data and XML
Collection 2541: Core Data Access Development with Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005

Collection 2542: Advanced Data Access Development with Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005

Windows

Collection 2546: Core Windows? Client Development with Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005

Collection 2547: Advanced Windows? Client Development with Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005

Web

Collection 2543: Core Web Client Programming with Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005

Collection 2544: Advanced Web Client Programming with Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005

Distributed Applications

Collection 2548: Core Distributed Application Development with Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005

Collection 2549: Advanced Distributed Application Development with Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005

.NET Framework 2.0

Collection 2364: What’s New in Microsoft? Visual Studio? 2005 for Existing Visual Studio .NET Developers

ASP.NET 2.0

Collection 3201: Developing Microsoft? ASP.NET 2.0 Web Applications

Enjoy!

I’m twitter’ing. Are you?

The Microsoft Web Developer Learning Series kicks off another round of great content for those of you wanting a little guided direction in building applications with ASP.NET 2.0. This latest series brings together over 80 (!) learning modules, including 6 virtual labs, 28 on-demand sessions and 47 live webcasts. These modules focus on topics such as ASP.NET, ASP.NET AJAX and our recently released Expression product suite. Also, if you are a PHP developer wanting to get a handle on this ASP.NET stuff, there is some modules dedicatedjust for you.

Head on over to the Microsoft Web Developer Learning Series and get your learnin’ on.

A couple of years ago the Bloomington (IL) .NET Users Group was bringing the goodness of discussions around .NET to the developer landscape in central Illinois. The principles from that group have moved on and so has the group. I’m happy to report that we’re bringing the Sexy.NETBack to Bloomington.

This Wednesday, March 6th, I will be kicking off the re-incarnation of the Bloomington .NET Users Group with a discussion on ASP.NET AJAX.

Along with this discussion, I will be looking for volunteers to head up the charge to make the Bloomington .NET Users Group a top notch developer community attraction for Central Illinois. Where can you help? Easy… we’ll need a leader, someone to head up the charge in Bloomington. We’ll also need someone to help that leader, a co-leader or vice-leader – you decide. We’ll also need help building out an online prescense for the group – everyone needs a website, right? And any other volunteering opportunities you can think of.

We hope to see you there!

What: Bloomington .NET Users Group 2.0
Where: Microsoft, 2203 E. Empire St., Suite J, Bloomington, IL (map)
When: March 6th, 2007 @ 6PM

As a Developer Evangelist for Microsoft that is based in the field (Chicago to be exact), I have a responsibility for driving passion around the Microsoft development platform for a specific geography.My particular geography is what’s labeled as the Midwest district. Microsoft’s Midwest district covers Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Part of my responsibility in driving that passion around our development platform is supporting our great bevy of Microsoft developer user groups within our district. Although we have quite a few user groups helping me drive that passion, I feel that we could alwaysuse more. There are a number of areas within my district where I feel where missing the boat infeeding developer’s passions. If you reside in any of the following areas and would like to help in building a local Microsoft developer community, please contact me. The areas that I see we’re missing include…

The Quad Cities (Moline/Rock Island/East Moline, IL) – I’m from the Quad Cities area and would love to see a Microsoft Users Group sprout up here. It would give me a chance to visit Mom and Dad more. :)

Champaign, IL – Home of the University of Illinois but no longer the home of Chief Illiniwek.

Springfield, IL – the Land of Lincoln and the home of the state Government.

If you reside in any other area of IL, IN or WI where there isn’t a local developer community and feel there needs to be one, please contact me. Heck, even if you’re not from my district and would still like to ramp up a group in your area, contact me as well and I’ll put you in touch with the right people that canhelp you do so.