The Continuing Education Committee of ACRL, in conjunction with other library related organizations,
will be listing, from time to time, interesting ideas, effective strategies, or other materials that may
become available and of interest to CE Committee page readers.
December 9th, 2004 NERCOMP held
a User Services SIG workshop called "Maximizing Your Resources to Develop
Effective Training Strategies" Many of those in attendance work at colleges and universities and
work in libraries, academic technology, or IT. The Technology Training Roundtable workshop
produced a series of discussions on issues facing the changes in the educational environment and
strategies for coping with those problems and issues. NERCOMP has given the ACRL/NEC CE
Committee permission to make those roundtable training strategies available here. Special thanks
to NERCOMP for sharing training and learning strategies with ACRL/NEC.
WORKSHOP Issues and Tips for Solutions
#1 Staff training
Issues:
Establishing credibility
Time/scheduling
Cooperation of supervisors
Finding time to use online tools
Web development/adding content
No shows (incentives?)
In-house vs. outside trainers ($$$)
Give them wings
Tips:
Short well targeted classes
Catch new employees
Surveying to assess training needs
Harnessing student power
Briefing sessions on “hot topics”
Mandatory training
Lunch and learn
Targeted department training
Blackboard with Element K topics (very effective)
Team with HR – offer certifications/defray the costs
#2 Student training
Issues:
Staffing (lack of)
Multiple systems and access info – multiple login credentials
Competency assessments
Learning disabilities
Tips:
Content tutoring center (professional and student tutors – create tutorial for basic skills review)
Academic department/IT collaboration – help design the training based on academic expectations
#3 Faculty training
Issues:
Way to busy/no time
Support from upper administration
Timing of training sessions
Don’t need training
Tips:
Serve food
Training kiosks (visible areas for support/instruction)
Buddy system for new faculty
Sit in on classes – see what they are doing
Packaging/presenting basic skills
Faculty teaching other faculty
Offer one-on-one meetings
Training just prior to the start of semester (3 days)
Offer a variety of sessions/workshops
Students helping faculty
#4 Delivering training with online tools
Issues:
Getting the faculty to use the online tools
Intellectual property rights
Development time
Trainer professional development
Tips:
Good for introducing software
Start surveying faculty prior to start
Pinpoint training – short sessions
Share materials internal/external to the college
Keeping videos to 5 minutes or less
Robo demo (Innovator), Visual Communicator, Camtasia, MS Producer,
Flash format (stream)
#5 Tools for administering training programs
Issues:
How to develop systems?
Find out who your users are? (Voluntary)
Develop partnerships (HR)
Tips:
Use the data as a marketing tool
Use student power to develop software systems
Collaborate with other departments (new employee process)
Provost partnerships for faculty
#6 Library Help Desk training integration
Issues:
Communication between library/IT
Time shifts for coverage (nights/weekends)
Expectations/insecurity about technology (perception)
