Any recommendations for learning scripting for MS AD?

It’s been years since I had to any ‘programming’ more complicated than a simple batch file or Excel macro. My skills have fallen far behind what I need to do my job more effectively.

I’m looking for recommendations for tools, books, tutorials, etc. to help learn scripting techniques useful in a Microsoft shop, with emphasis on Active Directory and Windows Server. To give you some idea where I’m starting from, my last formal training was COBOL and plain old BASIC (of the non-visual variety).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.