E-mail This Article | Print It

by Deb Mateik

ElementK sounds like the stuff of science fiction but University of Maryland faculty, students, and staff know it as the way they can teach themselves the intricacies of computer programs like Photoshop, Dreamweaver, ACT!, and many others—all online, free of charge and at their own pace. At a time when budgets are decreasing and demands on the campus community are increasing, ElementK—a training Web site that provides more than 800 online computer courses licensed by the Office of Information Technology—is particularly effective.

ElementK allows anyone with a University of Maryland Directory ID and Password to access these courses 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For those who learn well on their own and wish to avoid the time and cost of instructor-led training, ElementK is an attractive option.

The ElementK e-learning resources are designed to appeal to individuals with a broad range of abilities and interests. People running Windows 98, 2000, Me, XP, and Macintosh platforms can hone their Microsoft Office software skills. Experienced Web developers will benefit from content on Active Server Pages, Cold Fusion, Dreamweaver, XML, Fireworks and Flash, FrontPage, HTML, and Photoshop. Those with an eye on certification testing can prepare with training content on A+, WinInet, NetWare, and jCert. Computer professionals can keep their skills sharp by reviewing materials on Windows 2000 administration, C and C++ programming, Java, Microsoft SQL Server database design and system administration, Oracle Developer 2000, Ultra Dev, and Visual Basic.

“The courses are divided into lessons that build on one another. I took Photoshop 7.0 and was impressed,” said one University of Maryland employee. “I actually finished one of the lessons in ten minutes—and I retained everything! These e-learning resources are really valuable to me as a professional.”

People taking advantage of ElementK e-learning resources can revisit a concept multiple times until they understand it—or even speed ahead through aspects they already grasp. Additionally, many of the online courses provide self-assessment measures so learners can see how well they are doing. Finally, the ElementK Resource Center enables learners to access Web-based references on myriad topics, including contemporary books from leading technology publishers such as MIT Press, O’Reilly, Que, Sams, Sybex, and Wiley.

A pilot program, ElementK allows for ten simultaneous sessions lasting forty minutes each. As demand is determined, connection capability could increase. Users must run Netscape 4.76 or later or Internet Explorer 5.0 or later with Macromedia Flash Player version 6 and Shockwave 7 in order to view ElementK content successfully.
To access these training resources, please visit www.oit.umd.edu/sc/online.html.

If you are interested in training led by an instructor, OIT provides hands-on, local classes to develop and sharpen skills in desktop productivity, programming, and Web development for 20 percent to 50 percent less than comparable off-campus courses. For more information, please see www.oit.umd.edu/sc and www.oit.umd.edu/webdeveloper.

Open a New Window to Rate This Article