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A Publication Featuring The Information Services Technology of Maine State Government

Volume IV, Issue 6

June 2001

Technology Training Reaches A Collaborative High Point!

The Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Mental Health Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) are sharing training resources through our unique agreement with the Muskie School.

Seven years ago DHS turned to their collaborative partners at the Department of Human Services Training Institute (DHSTI) to provide a tailored program of technology training for their staff. DHSTI, which is part of the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine, worked hard to provide customized training to staff who were just moving into the personal computer era. As the DHS technology training needs changed through the years, DHSTI has responded with new courses and customized services. Last year the Muskie School entered into a similar agreement with the DMHMRSAS.

By sharing resources, each Department now has a unique network of training opportunities. Regularly scheduled trainings are provided for both departments at the DHS Portland training lab, the Augusta based DHSTI-Muskie labs, the DMHMRSAS Augusta lab, and the DMHMRSAS Bangor lab. Each training lab has a minimum of 10 student workstations with a trainer workstation connected to a projector. In addition, Muskie has worked out an agreement to use the Presque Isle High School computer lab for northern trainings.

Some of the specialized services provided to the Departments are:

Job task competency based training for staff that have specific training needs. The newest programs include Business Writing Using Technology, MS Excel Financial Uses, Effective Presentations, and a host of MS Word modules that include Forms, Tables, Advanced Formatting and Long Document Management.

Training sessions are held on-site in the offices of each department when specific job related needs must be met. The latest sessions include training and assistance on converting Lotus documents and files for Microsoft Office use.

A growing Web site at www.muskie.usm.maine.edu/ttg that provides information on the DHSTI-Muskie technology programs including newsletters, catalogs and courseware.

Assistance by DHSTI-Muskie in the design, implementation and analysis of the numerous end-user applications being used throughout the departments.

Assistance and/or development of systematic computer skills needs assessments administered to staff of the program, division or department, the results of which are used to design customized training programs.

The collaborative effort between the departments has truly maximized the services available. The training opportunities are now in more locations with more available training dates for staff to choose. As important as access, the training sessions have also been a vehicle for staff within each department to share their ideas and knowledge.

Forty thousand hours of training and seven years later, DHSTI-Muskie is still searching out ways to provide state of the art training. The process was enhanced greatly by the ability of two departments to share resources. Onward and upward with technology training for DHS and DMHMRSAS!

Marshall Soloway, Technology Group Manager, has worked for DHSTI and the Muskie School for seven years. Previous Muskie technology projects include working with the MACWIS project, the Department of Corrections and Maine Judicial Branch. His passion lies with the effects new technologies have on the worker and how to mitigate any negative effects.

[ Up ] [ Access to the Internet 2001 ] [ An Information Technology Odyssey ] [ Challenge for June ] [ Discontinuance of Unsupported Compilers and Run-time libraries ] [ Found on the Web ] [ Found on the Web, Part Two ] [ Free Web Accessibility Training ] [ Maine DOQs ] [ Making Outlook Work for You! ] [ The Punch Card ] [ Strategic Information Technology Planning Initiative Begins ] [ Technology Training Reaches A Collaborative High Point ] [ Transitions for June ] [ Wireless in Charleston ]