Name: Diane Jung-Gribble & Patrick CanevelloInstitution: Indiana University & Northwestern University
E-mail Address: jung@indiana.edu & pcanevello@nwu.edu
Title of Presentation:Educating Computer Support Professionals at Northwestern University & Indiana University
Format: Paper Presentation
Suggested Audience: Computing Suppport Professionals, Managers of Departmental Computing Support Staff, Computing Center Directors
Presentation Outcome:
1. Determine whether they are interested in implementing such a program at their university
2. Know what resources (human and equipment) are needed to implement such a program
3. Realize the value of distributing computing support via technical education
Presentation Content:
Northwestern University's long term strategy for computer education is to redefine the role of the employee to include on-going learning and problem solving as part of the employees responsibility. Initial emphasis is directed to identifying and developing a single point of contact - the UNITS Rep - as a support resource within each department or workgroup.Technical training is directed at developing competency in core concepts that reduce the reliance of departments on central IT resources. Courses emphasizes basic skills and tools unique to the Northwestern environment. Other courses underscores the core services provided by central IT organizations and how to access the services. Training for specialized skills not unique to NU is coordinated centrally but contracted with outside training firms.
Indiana University's EdCert (Education Certification) Program began in December 1994. It is one of several enhanced distributed support initiatives (EDSI) at Indiana University Computing Services, such as the DSA (Distributed Support Assistants) program, PICS (Partners in Computing Support), and the KB (Knowledge Base). The goal of EdCert was to raise the level of computing support expertise at Indiana University and ultimately to ensure and excellent technical infrastructure. EdCerts offers IU's computing support professionals an array of technical skill classes in a lecture/lab format.
Both universities have similar goals for educating computing support professionals but have applied somewhat different approaches for reaching these goals.