Page 18 - OIT Progress Report: 2024 Edition

Developing Digital Literacy through Training and Microsoft Office Certifications
This past academic year was a year of expansion for the IT Training & Communications team. We saw growth in four main areas: the expansion
of our online training tool, LinkedIn Learning, now integrated into Canvas; an expanded partnership with the Cox School of Business to include Excel certification for every Business School student; increased collaboration efforts with the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center and Office of Academic Engagement & Success; and the transition of our newsletter to a monthly publication schedule throughout the academic year.
Last summer, Jennifer Mayes, Manager, Canvas & Instructional Systems, and Zach Peterson, Senior
“ I have the joy of seeing employers shocked and
excited when we share that 100% of our students will have completed the MOS Excel Associate Certification by the end of their first year at SMU. ”
ALI MCAFEE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, BBA/MS FINANCE CAREER COACH, COX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
BBA CAREER COACH
IT Training & Communications Consultant, began working with LinkedIn Learning to integrate
its online learning platform into Canvas. This integration now allows faculty to utilize LinkedIn Learning content to be used for supplemental
or required assignments as needed. “Now, over 9,000 LinkedIn learning courses are available at
a faculty’s fingertip, including on a Canvas page, discussion post, or even a graded assignment. Having this integration allows faculty one more resource to reinforce learning objectives.”, shared Jennifer. A new training: Using LinkedIn Learning in Canvas was also developed and is now offered as part of the Faculty Technology Workshop series.
One example of how LinkedIn Learning content is heavily used is with our Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification program. With over 3,200 exams administered last year, the MOS program relies heavily on LinkedIn Learning’s supplemental Office materials.
During the 2023-2024 academic year, the training team increased its exam management from 1,790 exams offered to 3,275, an uptick of 55% due to onboarding 575 Business Leadership Institute students from the Cox School of Business. This collaboration allows the Cox School of Business
to showcase that all Business School students are workforce-ready before they graduate through Excel certification.
Associate Director and BBA/MS Finance Career Coach Ali McAfee shared, “As a BBA Career Coach
16 OIT PROGRESS REPORT 2024