AMERICAN FORK — Jennifer Covington hoped that having students wear mouse ears would help them get excited about using a "mouse" of another kind.

It worked. At the conclusion of her elective Microsoft skills course, all 40 of Covington's students were certified by taking a standardized computer literacy exam.

Covington, a Murray High School teacher, is part of a statewide program to require standard levels of computer certification for Utah students. By forming a partnership with Certiport, an American Fork-based business, the Utah State Office of Education is making efforts to bring students up to global computer standards.

"We asked ourselves, what does computer literacy mean?" said Russell Klein, business education specialist for Utah State Office of Education. "We wanted to create a course that met everyone's needs on every level; the public education level, higher education level and in the industry."

So the state education office turned to Certiport, a corporation that specializes in administering standardized tests to evaluate computer skills across the world.

The tests evaluate Internet proficiency and Microsoft office programs skills relating to Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access and Microsoft Project.

"We think Internet and computing skills are essentials," said David Saedi, president and CEO of Certiport. "It's the same in Utah as it is in Johannesburg. We set the standard for anyone who enters the work force."

Saedi said one benefit of the certification is a "global portability" that comes with computer knowledge. If a student is certified, the standard of skill knowledge will be recognized by employers in the United States, as well as countries around the world.

"The proof is in the pudding," Saedi said.

Jennifer DiGrande, professional programs manager for Robert Half International Inc., said their clients have reported that certified employees have higher wages, higher rates of hire and an increase in speed with project completion.

Utah education officials have no intention of being left behind in this technological race.

"We hope to be the first to cross the line," said Duke Mossman, education specialist in information technology at the state education office.

Beginning with the graduating class of 2006, all students in Utah will be required to earn computer literacy certification as part of their necessary curriculum. Students have the option of testing out of curriculum classes by taking the Internet and Computing Core Certification exam offered by Certiport.

If students pass the IC3 exam, they will automatically be certified.

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E-mail: achoate@desnews.com