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Libraries HomeSkillPort Offers UO Faculty and Staff Just-in-Time Development and Training
November 4, 2009
Benefit-eligible faculty and staff members seeking development and training opportunities are encouraged to use SkillPort e-Learning, a powerful new resource offered by the UO’s Organizational Development and Training (ODT) office and the library's Center for Media and Educational Technologies (CMET) Consulting. SkillPort is a Web-based e-learning portal where users have round-the-clock access to a range of training resources at home, at work, and even on the road. Curricula on thousands of topics in the areas of business technology, information technology, desktop applications, and interactive media software are available in SkillPort.
Faculty members wanting to use SkillPort for developing instructional technology skills or for other purposes can log in at the upper right corner of the ODT homepage and then click the SkillPort eLearning button to access the resource.
Benefit-eligible staff members undertaking work-related development and training should first partner with their supervisors to discuss professional goals, align those efforts with departmental goals, and make written arrangements for release time to complete the agreed-upon learning experiences—at no cost to departments.
After making these arrangements, staff members can use SkillPort and its My Plan and My Progress features to track their training programs.
From SkillPort’s Welcome page, users can take a SkillPort Flash tour, browse the course catalog, or use the Search window to identify specific areas for training. SkillPort resources, courses, and tools are self-paced and self-directed.
Nargas Oskui, who manages CMET Consulting for UO faculty and staff, says that SkillPort will be especially useful for faculty members looking to increase their effectiveness in using instructional technology in the classroom. “The use of technology in instruction significantly enhances the engagement factor with students,” she says. “SkillPort allows educators to adapt to constantly evolving technology by offering just-in-time assistance with the latest software and learning tools.”
ODT Director Pam Farmer is offering the SkillPort resource to the UO to enhance the breadth and depth of professional development opportunities. Through this e-learning resource, faculty and staff can access more than 2,500 courses at times that are convenient for their schedules. “ODT and CMET are here to help faculty and staff get the best possible training,” Farmer says. “SkillPort provides a robust resource to help make that happen.”