As we prepare for Thursday's Edge Initiative webinar with Mick Jacobsen and Toby Greenwalt from Skokie Public Library (IL), we're highlighting useful technology training resources. Whether your library is training its staff and volunteers to use Windows 8 or Excel, or helping patrons learn to use Google, the Atomic Training Donation Program at TechSoup can help you get started.
Technology learning is a daily activity in libraries. Edge Initiative Benchmark 8 states: "Libraries have sufficient staff with 
technology expertise to help patrons achieve their goals to keep technology knowledge and skills up to date." You can use Atomic Training to help support technology learning in your library. The training is available to both library staff AND library patrons. For example, librarians can learn to build the library's social media presence with training on Twitter and Facebook. Training on Apple products like iPads and iPod Touch can help staff feel more prepared to handle questions about those devices. Job seeking library patrons can learn to use Office products to help with their workforce marketability.
Also, if your library is working to achieve Benchmark 11: "Libraries ensure participation in digital technology for people with disabilities", then you will be happy to know that Atomic Training includes a large assistive technology training collection, including products like Dragon Naturally Speaking, JAWS, Read:OutLoud, and Kurzweil 3000.
The Atomic Training online courses are available on-demand. Each course is made up of short 1-3 minute videos segments. This learn-at-your-own-pace solution offers people the flexibility to skip over things they already know and to re-watch parts they need to understand more about. The courses are cloud-based, so people can finish courses anywhere and anytime, as long as they have Internet access. The TechSoup donation program provides you an opportunity to try the courses for one month.
We'll be creating and sharing a list of resources as part of Thursday's Staff Tech Skills webinar. What technology learning resources do you use and recommend?
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