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Tips for Getting the Most
from Your e-Learning Experience |
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Before the Course:
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Meet with your manager/supervisor, professor, or mentor and
develop a learning plan (try out the
SkillSoft e-Learning contract) that has clear goals and targeted
completion dates. Include courses and books that will enhance performance
in your current capacity or that prepare you for future career opportunities. Once
a learning plan is developed, make a personal commitment to
achieve the defined goals. Remember that you, and only you, own
your professional development. |
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Test whether you have the correct hardware
and software to access SkillSoft. Visit
SkillSoft Technical Support and use the browser capabilities check to
ensure that your computer and web browser are configured
correctly. |
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Schedule your e-learning just as you would any
instructor-led training course. E-learning enables you to learn at your own pace, not at the pace of an instructor. SkillSoft courses
are generally 1
– 4 hours in length but you may start and stop whenever you wish using the
bookmark feature. |
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If desired, add course(s) to My Plan to plan and prioritize your learning.
Set yourself a target due date and request frequent e-mail
reminders to keep you motivated. |
During the Course:
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If possible, forward your phone to voice mail
and record your voice mail greeting to reflect that you will
be in training for a specific period of time and that you will
return the call soon as possible. |
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Turn off your e-mail
notification. |
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Post a “Student in Training” note at your office door or work cubicle
and indicate when you'll be available again. |
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If you find it difficult to work at your desk or in your office, you
may want to utilize the Faculty and Staff Workroom located on the third
floor of Butler Library in CyberQuad. It is open the same hours
as the library. A Buffalo State ID card is required to enter that
facility. To have your card programmed into the lock, contact Paul
Reynolds at
reynolap@buffalostate.edu.
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In the event that you are unable to spend the entire amount of time you
had allotted for training due to an urgent interruption that could not wait,
use
bookmark feature which remembers where you left off in your training so you
may return to your place the next time you log on. |
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Use a headset to hear the audio portion of
the course and minimize distractions. |
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Make notes of any questions or problems
with the course to report to the training department. |
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Keep a "Bright Idea List" to identify key
points to remember and apply to your job. |
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Take the pre-test to pinpoint
subject areas to focus on, and skip material you already know.
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Take the post-test to ensure
you’ve learned what you need. |
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Ask My Mentor is an option supporting many IT certification
and desktop courses. Get 24x7 access to a team of experts to
help coach through the tricky bits. |
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View the course reference materials,
e.g., printable job aids and skill briefs. |
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Identify additional resources to reinforce
and supplement the course (i.e., Web links, books, articles, additional
training, experts within the company, and so forth.) |
After the Course:
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Complete the course evaluation form.
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Discuss what you learned with your manager/supervisor,
professor, or mentor
and identify specific ways to apply what was learned. |
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Refer to your course materials, manual,
online help, and other tools when you have a question. |
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If you encountered any problems
with SkillSoft, please tell us about them so we may correct
them with the vendor. |
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Recognize that learning is an active process that continues after the
e-learning course takes place. You can only get back what you're willing
to put in! |
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