DE Oracle @ UMUC

Making Time for SkillSoft Training

Nicole Oliphant

Project Coordinator

Center for Teaching and Learning

Published: March-April 2006

Category: » Fac-resources » Faculty-development

Making time for training can be one of the biggest challenges to one's professional development. The Faculty Advisory Council and the Center for Teaching (CTL) and Learning recently conducted a UMUC Faculty Forum on faculty development. When participants were asked why they have not participated in the free SkillSoft training that UMUC offers, they unanimously cited time limitations.  Yet the Skillsoft training offers substantial benefits to UMUC faculty that we urge them to consider.

SkillSoft offers over 2,100 courses in technical and business skills with a number of “soft skill” topics such as communication skills and time management. SkillSoft also offers simulations, references, live mentors, and other downloadable resources that are relevant to issues that faculty encounter in their online and face to face classes.

Faculty members participating in the Faculty Forum who had utilized SkillSoft training reported that the courses and reference materials assisted them in getting ideas and training for improving their classroom management; in obtaining certification; and in upgrading skills, particularly in the areas of PowerPoint, web design, and communication. It was also noted that several business skill offerings -- including the Impact on Culture of Communication, Working with Negative People and Procrastinators, and An Essential Guide to Giving Feedback --are of particular relevance to faculty.

Resources/Tips

• You can schedule your training time in a variety of increments.  SkillSoft courses generally take 2-4 hours to complete, but you are able to schedule your training time down to the topic level, which could result in training sessions as short as ten minutes.
• The courseware has a bookmark feature and will remember where you left off, so you can jump right back to the place you were when you last exited the course.
• Course annotations are available so you can quickly determine courses that are relevant for teaching. Eleven business skill and over 35 technical skill reviews can be accessed at the CTL website.
• A complete course catalog, available in PDF format. 

For your ease of access, the Business Skills courses begin on page 36 of the catalog; courses in the Communication Curriculum begin on page 43; and the Personal Development Curriculum, which includes time management courses, begins on page 46 of the catalog.

• If your schedule limits you from taking an online course, please take advantage of the SkillBriefs and Job Aids areas of each course or topic area. These materials can be used as reference tools in your teaching (and other professional presentations) or as part of your personal development.
• Courses are continually updated and new courses are continually being added to the library.

Register for SkillSoft Training from the CTL website. Instructions for navigating the site and assistance in choosing courses will be e-mailed to you upon registration.

In the coming year, CTL will continue to review SkillSoft courses, make faculty recommendations, and look for ways to customize courses for the academic setting. We will also look for methods to use SkillSoft in our trainings and workshops.  Continue to check CTL's homepage for updated information on SkillSoft and other CTL initiatives for faculty.

CTL is aware of the challenges involved in making time for your faculty development. We are working to provide you with numerous training options to meet your needs; including helping you find the time to do it!