Penn State Intercom......September 27, 2001
New tool hands supervisors
reins to Web-based
technology training
By Mary Janzen Aziz
Computer
and Information Systems
Faculty
members and staff supervisors now have a new tool enabling them to create
customized information technology curricula for groups or individuals.
The Program Management Tool, a newly developed Web site serving as a gateway
to the more than 750 existing Web-Based Training courses available at
the University, was launched this month by the Center for Education Technology
Services. 
Primarily an organizational and communication vehicle, the tool allows instructors or supervisors to choose the software or technology topics for which their students or staff need the most training, receive feedback from the users on their progress and scores, and compare pre- and post-assessment scores.
According to developers from the center's Technology Training Group, a need emerged in the past few years for faculty members and staff supervisors to be able to cost-effectively assign technology training of their own choosing to specific groups of students or employees. These individuals needed a way to point people to the right course -- in the right version -- for their needs and to maintain control over the training process.
The Web-Based Training Team perceived that if it were left to each individual to randomly choose from the extensive list of Web-based tutorials offered, each of which takes about eight hours to complete, users might select a course not as pertinent as another, thus wasting time and energy.
In response, the center developed a single entry point to the wider scope of Web -Based Training. The new tool is a means for faculty members and supervisors to provide direction for technology training and receive feedback on the performance of their students or staff members. No special training is necessary to use the tool.
The tool can be used in numerous ways, according to Marilynne Stout, director of Education Technology Services.
"For example, an instructor teaching a communications course might decide that the most useful training for the students would be for everyone to know Microsoft PowerPoint, in order to work in groups and make class presentations. Assigning the training of this specific Web-based course would guarantee that all the students would be 'on the same page' and direct their energy toward learning skills immediately applicable in a course and common to all fellow students," she said.
If a supervisor required a staff member to be trained toward certification as a technical specialist in a certain area, such as networking, the tool already has grouped bundles of the courses necessary for various certifications.
"These packaged offerings can be selected from a convenient drop-down list," Stout added.
Another feature of the tool is that it provides feedback to the faculty member or supervisor acting as "program manager." After completing some or all of a course, tutorial users may e-mail their training status and scores to the program manager to demonstrate their progress. The program manager also can request that users take a pre-assessment to compare to the post-assessment score.
The main selling point of the tool, according to developers, is that it does not detract from the existing Web-based course offerings. What it does is provide organization, control and feedback so faculty members and supervisors can get the appropriate people trained in the appropriate areas of information technology.
For more information, call (814) 863-7768 or visit http://wbt.cac.psu.edu.