ITS/IT4U Training Blog

FREE Online Training Videos from Lynda.com

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:20:06 -0600

Due to extremely popular use, the FREE online software training videos are available for a ONE week period. Learn new software, creative techniques and business skills. Learn at your own pace, when and where you want. Complete the request form on the Online Training Library Channel on the PD & Training Tab, and within 48 hours, you will have access to the vast video library of Lynda.com for up to ONE week.

Accounts are assigned to users depending on availablity and may be requested as needed including requesting reactivation of your account if you require more training time. Your video history will remain (just be sure to remember your username). This channel is available NOW in PAWS on the PD & Training Tab. Make use of this valuable resource.

Online Training Library - Lynda.com

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:55:26 -0600

Accounts are assigned to users depending on availablity and may be requested as needed including requesting reactivation of your account if you require more training time. Your video history will remain (just be sure to remember your username).
This channel is available NOW in PAWS on the PD & Training Tab. Make use of this valuable resource.

For more information, contact:
training@usask.ca

FREE Online Training Videos - Coming SOON

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:13:09 -0600

Back by popular demand, FREE online software training videos are available for your use. Learn new software, creative techniques and business skills. Learn at your own pace, when and where you want. Complete the request form on the Online Training Library Channel on the PD & Training Tab, and within 48 hours, you will have access to the vast video library of Lynda.com for up to a 2-week period. Accounts are distributed as they are made available depending on availablity and may be requested as needed. You may request a reactivation of your account as needed, and your training history will remain.
Look for the channel at the end of October. Make use of this valuable resource.

Date Shortcuts and Functions

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:31:43 -0600

Have you ever wondered how to get the current date to change especially in a template? Here are just a few quick tips on Date functions and shortcuts in Microsoft Excel and Word…

To enter the current date and time into a worksheet cell type =NOW() which will display both the date and time based on the regional settings for your Windows environment. If you just want the date, type =TODAY() . These functions update every time Excel is opened or printed.

If you need to enter the current date so that it won’t change, press CTRL ; or : . Press CTRL SHIFT ; for the time. Using these shortcuts is the equivalent to typing a date or time. Remember to format a date with the preferred display rather than typing month names longhand.

The keyboard shortcut for inserting the current date into a Word Document is ALT SHIFT D. This date is updated every time you open the document.

To insert the current date as fixed text – press CTRL SHIFT F9 when the cursor is inside the date field added with the above shortcut. This is the equivalent of selecting the Date button in the Text panel on the Insert ribbon.

Training for U of S Course Tools / BBLearn

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 10:52:49 -0600

For all those teaching using U of S Course Tools / BBlearn this year, you may want to attend training on this software. A fair number of inquiries we see have to do with simple tasks with Course Tools. This information is covered in a short, 1.5 hour training session. We show you how to post notes, create assignments, communicate with students, and access the Grade Book. We have identified the most common questions asked by instructors, and created FAQs on the help pages (accessible from within your Course Tools / BBLearn course). So, register for a Course Tools / BBLearn Introduction course, or request a private session for your group or self.
We HIGHLY RECOMMEND that you take a training session before you start using the software. Attending training will make using Course Tools / BBLearn much easier on yourself!

Save time with the MS Word Navigation Pane

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 15:13:30 -0600

For those of you savvy enough to be incorporating Word's built-in heading styles because they allow you to create a TOC in virtually two mouse clicks, don't forget to add the Word 2010 Navigation Pane to your favorite tools arsenal. Located under the View tab, this feature displays your document org structure along with simple click and drag outline manipulation.

With the Navigation Pane displayed, quickly navigate to a desired section by clicking on the associated heading or right-click to display a menu of document organization features. Best of all, drag and drop section headings to conveniently reposition multiple paragraphs or pages without copying and pasting!

P.S. Many might believe this feature is new but in MS Word 2007 (and earlier), it exists under a different handle called the Document Map. For more information pertaining to styles and long document preparation, register today for a Styles/ Outlining/TOC's seminar.

Adobe TV is Free

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 13:44:43 -0600

Before you get all excited, this is not a TV but a channel of FREE training videos on almost all Adobe products. We offer face to face training in many of the Adobe Creative Suite titles, but for those of you wanting a quick overview or have a specific topic you need to learn now, visit http://tv.adobe.com/. Contact us for your training needs.

Myth: I have to spend hours building a table of contents in Word.

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:07:47 -0600

Myth: I have to take hours building a table of contents in Word. Every time I change something in the long document, like adding a chapter, I must add that manually to the table of contents.
Fact: Using Styles in Word, you can automate this process and save yourself hours of time. Let us show you how.....

In fact, there are many shortcuts in every piece of software you use. Don't spend hours frustrated and confused. We have many short courses and online resources just for you. Contact Us for more information.

IT4U - Preparing for the 2012-13 Academic Year

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:01:55 -0600

IT4U was created to assess the Information Technology skills of students, report findings, create recommendations and address areas that require improvements. IT4U provides opportunity to assess student-computing skills and direct them to the resources they need to effectively utilize software tools.

During the "slower" summer months, we've been busily making changes to the service and how it will be offered in the future. The mainstays of the IT4U service (workshops, drop-in help and online resources) will remain intact but the delivery of these services may differ from previous years.

Workshops and seminars will continued to be offered via the IT4U website (and Training Services). Check the website for current listings. Custom IT4U workshops (as requested by faculty/instructors) are a primary focus for the upcoming year. If a class would like a session in Word, Excel or another application - it's as easy as requesting a session from IT4U.

Drop-in help will be assumed by the ICT Help Desk.

Provision of quality online resources remains a stronghold for the IT4U service. By populating the IT4U website and the ITS Training YouTube channel with quality resources - IT4U intends to keep you connected to information you need whenever you need it.

If you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to email - IT4U@usask.ca

Summer Time - Slow Down and Take a Course From Us!

Wed, 30 May 2012 13:25:06 -0600

June is the perfect month to take a short course to brush up on Excel, Word, Outlook, or PowerPoint skills. Many of our offerings are less than 2 hours and will provide you with a multitude of tips. Now is the perfect time to enroll in a class on how to use your iPad effectively, or the find all the cool features of your Mac. We also offer custom training so if you are struggling with how to use your Windows operating system, or want to know how to work with images, contact us.

See our website for our latest offerings. Happy Training!

Adobe CS6 - Now Available!

Mon, 14 May 2012 15:27:11 -0600

If you are a creative professional, you are likely very aware of Adobe's latest release - Creative Suite 6 (CS6).

The newest version of the Creative Suite strengthens Adobe's bond between designers and the digital landscape. CS6 focuses on demanding design world where speed, interactivity and functionality are paramount. In addition to a mixture of suite options (Design, Production, Master, etc) Adobe rolled out a brand new option - Creative Cloud. The Creative Cloud is a membership-style license at a fraction of the sticker price. It's a nice option albiet in the short-run.

Of course, CS6 is adorned with all the "bells and whistles" expected in a full-version release. Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver and Premiere have all received a couple great new functions.

The Training Services lab is currently hosting Adobe Creative Suite 5.5. Although, it's not quite CS6, our instructors are capable of demonstrating the existing and current operations of many of your favourite Adobe programs.

To find out more, please visit the Training Services website.

Having issues with our new website?

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:09:29 -0600

If you have experienced trouble registering for courses on our website, we are working hard to fix the glitches. Internet Explorer seems to be causing the most problems, so if you can, use Firefox or Safari or Google Chrome. If none of those sound familiar to you, send us an email at its.training@usask.ca or call 306-966-4800 and we can assist you. All non-campus clients can now request an account for the U of S (which is used on our website for log in). All campus clients can now use NSID login, but if you used an email in the past, you may have to merge your accounts together. Again, if this is foreign sounding to you, give us a call or send an email. This login provides you with a unique user identification that you would continue to use to log in and self register in our courses.

Being registered and logged into our website allows you to add your name to notification lists, self register, remove a registration and update your user account. You will also have access to all of the resources we have collected and posted for our users.

Let us know how we can address your training needs!

APA 6th Edition Style Changes

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:43:25 -0600

Well it looks like there has been an update to the style requirements in the APA standards, 6th edition. For those of you who are using the APA guide for creating a paper or a thesis, there is a style change that will impact standard style application in MS Word!

The updated Heading styles, levels three through five, now require two different style traits in a single paragraph. This can be achieved by applying a character or linked style to the actual header text but the challenge is then one of displaying only the selected text in the TOC or Navigation Pane (Document Map).

To achieve the correct display without compromising any MS Word automation, apply the built-in Heading 3 style; modify and update it as required. To join the following paragraph to this heading without altering any of the style attributes, press CTRL-ALT-Enter at the end of the heading text. Of course the same instructions apply for Heading styles four and five.

Just a heads up, APA templates do not include predefined styles for the new changes – they only include up to Heading 2 so if you want more information on this, contact its.training@usask.ca or better yet, sign up for a Styles and Outlining seminar on the ITS Training website.

A NEW Survey Tool...

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:53:14 -0600

The U of S provides two different tools for creating and managing surveys. These tools enable University of Saskatchewan instructors‚ researchers‚ employees‚ and students create and administer web-based surveys for research and administrative purposes. All current instructors‚ employees‚ and students of the University of Saskatchewan can use these survey tools free of charge.
FluidSurveys is the new, modern survey tool that is now available for use by requesting manually created accounts. Contact the help desk for more information.
The U of S Survey Tool is still available for legacy users, or people who still desire tight integration with other U of S systems.
Links, information and manual for both survey tools can be found at survey.usask.ca. Training Services will provide an overview of the service to groups as requested.
Contact us for more information.

Can a computer monitor save your posture?

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:48:04 -0600

As technology becomes a bigger part of our lives, we have the tendency to sit in front of a screen for hours at a time. And I don't know about you, but the longer I sit at my workstation, the slouchier I get!
Phillips' new Ergo Sensor monitor might just change that! The 24-inch, 1920 x 1080 display has a sensor in its bezel that watches you while you work, and warns you when your posture becomes poor or if you've been staring at the screen too long. It can also inform users how to set up the monitor for optimal viewing distance and ergonomic position.

No word yet on cost or when it will hit Canada, check out the specs here!