Staff Education Coordinating Team (SECT) Minutes for September 14, 2004

Present: Sue Baughman (note taker), Joyce Chestnut (timekeeper), Maggie Cunningham, Bob Kackley, Sue Koutsky, Jennifer Muter, Ambika Sankaran, Maggie Saponaro, Jane Williams (facilitator).

Introduction of Members

Members introduced themselves. A special welcome was extended to Jennifer Muter, who is the new Staff Learning GA and to Bob Kackley, who is joining SECT as the representative for the Peer Training Collective. A very happy birthday was extended to Joyce whose birthday is today!

August Meeting Minutes Review/Approval

The minutes were approved with one correction. Jane will correct the date of the meeting so that the minutes can be posted on the SECT web page.

Computer Training

Maggie S. shared information about the computer classes currently being offered by Staff Learning and Development. Maggie S. teaches most of the classes with the exception of several taught by OIT staff and the Access class that was taught by an outside consultant. No pre-work is given to participants before the sessions. Pre-tests are not used to identify competency to attend the intermediate offerings so people self-select to attend.

Sue K. shared some feedback that she received from TSD staff. Training has been well received but several people noted that it is more helpful when they can apply their new skills right away. This has worked for some but not for others. It was also noted that some thought the OIT trainers were better. Sue K. gave her notes to Maggie for further review.

Maggie S. shared information from the 2002 survey results. Staff were asked to identify what level of training was needed for 14 different resources. The top need identified was advanced Microsoft Word training, the second need was Java Script, and the third was intermediate Excel. The members agreed that a new computer skills survey would be useful.

Maggie updated SECT on related computer issues.

• Maggie, Ambika and Jennifer have requested the updated Office 2003 in order to begin reviewing existing tutorials for possible revisions.
• Another Access session might be offered later in the fall (but not until after the instruction classes are finished).
• Consideration is being given to offering a PowerPoint clinic. It was suggested that people bring their PowerPoint presentations to share and use this as a learning tool.
• Several HTML sessions are now being offered for groups of four staff. The session includes creating files and using Webspinner. New graduate assistants are taking advantage of these sessions.
• Maggie clarified for SECT that students who work in the Libraries are eligible to attend Learning Curriculum offerings.

• Maggie S. will send copies of the 2002 Computer Training Survey, the results in chart form and the Summary of the Staff Computer Survey Results. A copy of the Checklist of Windows Competencies will also be shared. [These documents are available as PDF documents on the SECT web page: http://www.lib.umd.edu/groups.sect/#reports]
• Additional issues need to be explored at future meetings including: qualifying of staff for computer classes by Staff Learning and Development; following-up on staff use and application of computer skills; discussing computer skill competencies or defining the skills staff should have as a result of a particular class.

Update on the Organizational Culture and Diversity Assessment (OCDA)

Maggie S. reported that a small group (Maggie S., Sue B., Johnnie and Jane) would be meeting with Paul Hanges on September 21st. At that point consideration needs to be given to what other meetings would be useful to have regarding the results. A joint meeting between LEC and the Diversity Committee was held in 2000. SECT’s involvement with the OCDA results would be to look at the training issues.

Round Robin

• Sue K reported that she met with PLCT to discuss the need for a substitute if she is unable to attend a meeting. PLCT’s preference is to not have a substitute. Sue also reported that Aleph 16 will be here in January so a lot of training and testing will be going on this fall. There is an upcoming meeting to discuss the training issues for Aleph.
• Maggie S. reported that four sessions are being conducted this week, one on Excel and three on HTML. Mostly graduate assistants have signed up. Other sessions will be offered later in the fall. Two reference related sessions are scheduled, Reference Interview on November 11th and Digital Reference on November 15th. Registration for these sessions can be done on-line. Other sessions will be scheduled for later in the fall once the Learning Curriculum Team determines the schedule. Suggestions that have come into the Team include Stress Management and Time Management. Please share other ideas with Maggie.
• Joyce reported that the ITD Conference Room would have additional computers added for Aleph 16 training. Joyce was not sure where other training would take place.
• Maggie C. reported that close to 300 classes have been scheduled for seven programs. Programs include Library Safari, GIS, Field Guide to Research, etc. In addition, subject librarians will be teaching about 200 classes. September and October are very busy. Maggie noted that Room 6170 is scheduled from 8am to 9pm most days.
• Maggie C. clarified that the Libraries’ meetings rooms are to be used for library staff to conduct business. Sometimes the rooms are used for events that are library oriented that also involve outside campus faculty.
• Bob mentioned that he was glad to be a member of SECT. The Peer Training Collective has not been as active lately. It was suggested that a tour of McKeldin might be helpful. Several tours of McKeldin have been offered lately and were sponsored by either SIRS or Mary Dalto.

Next Meeting:

Topics for the meeting on October 12, 2004, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m., B0111 (ITD Conference Room)

• Review the survey data from the 2002 Computer Training Survey; Discuss definitions and expected skills for the classes
• Update from the OCDA meeting on September 21st, determine possible role for SECT
• Round Robin

Roles for meeting: Facilitator: Baughman; Minutes: Chestnut; Timekeeper: Hahn

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