Lynda’s recently added courses include such varied topics as “Managing Teams,” “Designing a Book,” and “Up and Running with Windows 8.” Watch a single video or work through an entire course, but be warned — it’s addictive.

Please note that we do continue to offer “by request” group training during the summer months, staff and classroom space permitting; kindly send your request with details to helpdesk@middlebury.edu.

Wednesday May 1, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm – Email Writing Secrets

Click here to sign up >> Register. Led by Linda Bland, Cahoots Writing Service

This interactive workshop offers suggestions and tricks for improving your writing and management of e-mails.  The class focuses on how e-mail writing differs from other writing.  Learn the latest recommendations for when to use e-mail.  Identify ways to avoid misinterpretation of your e-mails.  Acquire suggestions to adjust your e-mail writing for better results.  Outcomes:  Learn to use e-mail so it doesn’t dominate your day—and you get the answers you seek. Read more>>

Wednesday May 15, 1:00 – 3:00 pm – Organizing Basics

Click here to sign up >> Register.  Led by: Porter Knight. Includes bound note-taking guides for all participants to use as a lasting resource.

The hours in a day are finite yet the demands on your time seem limitless.  How can you effectively get your work done when you’re pulled in so many different directions?  This workshop will put you back in charge of your day so you can focus on what’s important. 

*Though there is some new material, this workshop includes most of the core components that Porter Knight has presented in past years and in other formats, including:  RRRIPP through paper, RRRIDD yourself of email, TrueTime Planning. Read more>>

Students…  Interested in skills you can use in Life Beyond Midd?  lynda.com has everything you need!  Just click any of these course links, log on with your Middlebury username and password and you’re on your way.  Work through an entire course or view just the movie segments you need — it’s up to you.

• Discovering Your Strengths
• Creating an Effective Resume
• Job Search Strategies

This small sampler of business skills topics is just the beginning — lynda currently offers over 1600 course titles from which to choose.

Need a hand getting started?  Sign up for our lynda.com overview session at noon on March 15.

The first is from Wired: Beyond the Buzz, Where Are MOOCs Really Going? by Michael Horn and Clayton Christensen.  “We believe they are likely to evolve into a scale business, one that relies on the technology and data backbone of the medium to optimize and individualize learning opportunities for millions of students. This is very different than simply putting a video of a professor lecturing online.”

The second is The Trouble With Online College from the New York Times and takes perhaps a less optimistic view. “Courses delivered solely online may be fine for highly skilled, highly motivated people, but they are inappropriate for struggling students who make up a significant portion of college enrollment and who need close contact with instructors to succeed.”

The first is from Wired: Beyond the Buzz, Where Are MOOCs Really Going? by Michael Horn and Clayton Christensen.  “We believe they are likely to evolve into a scale business, one that relies on the technology and data backbone of the medium to optimize and individualize learning opportunities for millions of students. This is very different than simply putting a video of a professor lecturing online.”

The second is The Trouble With Online College from the New York Times and takes perhaps a less optimistic view. “Courses delivered solely online may be fine for highly skilled, highly motivated people, but they are inappropriate for struggling students who make up a significant portion of college enrollment and who need close contact with instructors to succeed.”

Lynda’s recently added courses include such varied topics as “JavaScript and AJAX,” “Writing Fundamentals:  The Craft of Story,” and “Office 2013 New Features.”  Watch a single video or work through an entire course, but be warned — it’s addictive.

We’re also offering another opportunity to get acquainted with  — a fabulous online learning resource that uses short videos to help you acquire new business and technology skills.   Recent course additions include “InDesign Secrets,” “Managing Your Career” and “Word 2010 Power Shortcuts.”  Watch a single video or work through an entire course — either way it’s professional development that doesn’t cost you or your department a dime.

go/learning is a workshop series focused on improving skills and effectiveness for all employees. Many of the topics offered will be adapted from the Manager Training completed between January and March 2012, such as our first offering:

“Setting SMART Goals”

May 16, 9-10:30 a.m.

Location: Axinn 100

You will learn:

• What makes up a SMART goal
• The advantages of SMART goals
• How to write SMART Goals
• How to apply them to:
  • Work results
  • Personal development

Ways to register:

1. click this link: go/learning
2. Or click this link: Middlebury College for the college website and type in go/learning in the top bar
3. Although registration on the go/learning Web page is preferred, you may also register by calling Human Resources at 443-5465.  Please leave a message with a way to contact you

About the workshops: The workshops are open to all employees.  The same topic will offered two times over two months*

For your planning purposes, the workshops will typically be held on:

• 2nd Wednesday from 2-3:30 p.m., or
• 3rd Wednesday from 9-10:30 a.m.

* For May we will offer a repeat of the same session in the same month.

Please note: Managers are encouraged to support staff attendance. Staff members are encouraged to seek managerial support in advance so work distribution can be adjusted and planned.