What is not included in this document is how staff is reviewed or evaluated on these competencies.

Kate

Thank you for blogging this session. The information you’ve posted has helped me to understand what these folks are doing with their staff training and has revealed what some sites consider to be core competencies.

I am part of a team at the University of Notre Dame who is looking at establishing core IT competencies for our staff. We’ve made some headway in kickstarting short technology information sessions for our staff. Typically we’ve done as-needed training in the past, and it hasn’t been compulsory.

For the present, we’ve identified some areas of interest among staff; ideas were solicited in focus groups, and we’re doing short, focused sessions rather than longer lecture sessions. It’s difficult to concentrate the info, but the ‘instructors’ we’ve had so far have done really well with the format.

We also piloted a month-long self-guided and/or peer learning exercise in file management: learners could work independently or with a partner. Library IT staff were available for consultation. The desktop computing group offered time and space for individuals to use our campus IT department’s documentation to guide learning in Windows-based file management. We had an orientation time, a mid-point check and a wrap-up session. From the feedback we received at mid-point and wrap-up, the concept was positively received, but the content needs some additional tweaking.

We still need to do some long range planning. I’d like to hear from others who have identified and instituted core competencies in IT and are willing to share. What is included in your compentency list? Do you train specific skills per competency? Are training sessions required? Are you doing assessment to check learning and retention–if so, what tools do you use? Overall, what’s working? What isn’t?

Many thanks.
Mandy Havert
mhavert@nd.edu