would need to be audited and managed to gauge user productivity and usability of the product. That said, there is a mass of computer based training for
SharePoint; the only thing that needs to be done is to defi ne the scope of training and then to provide it. To do that takes time simply because of the need to factor SharePoint training with desktop software training eg Microsoft Offi ce Suite. For example, there is Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) type training available or even build your own. There are open learning courses at the Microsoft Learning Centre, video clips, and question and answer support at Technet (SharePoint Forums). SharePoint itself can be used to host your very own training
centre because it has the ability to store and playback images – a simple web cam and video editing software is all that’s needed. This has already been done to great effect by SharePoint uber admins out there. However, the sign of a good quality CBT is the inclusion of challenge testing, so that students can quickly ‘opt out’ of a section or check understanding. For SharePoint 2007, there is a learning package available for SharePoint which tracks learning:
www.microsoft.com/ downloads/
details.aspx?FamilyID=673dc932-626a-4e59-9dca- 16d685600a51&displaylang=en. For SharePoint 21010, the Productivity Hub is targeted at those who need to quickly set up a central location for a knowledge base on SharePoint, Word, Lync and more. It’s a downloadable product that can be further customised. Additional modules can be added that meet business requirements:
www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details. aspx?FamilyID=4aaa9862-e420-4331-8bc3-469d7bae0ff1.
SUPPORT RESOURCES Strictly speaking, support resources are not training tools, but are part of the renewal process once Stage 4 (unconscious competence) has been reached, providing ‘on the job’ information at your fi ngertips. The most basic form is the electronic manual with a search and retrieval engine, with linked hypertext, a memory of topics visited, suggested related topics and the ability to copy and paste code and scripts for
SharePoint. The SharePoint books for 2010 I’d recommend are Amazon
SharePoint 2010 Books. Some more SharePoint books and e-Books are available in one excellent resource on Microsoft Press here:
http://www.wssdemo.com/Pages/SharePoint%20 Books.aspx
Of course, there’s also a comprehensive list on Microsoft
Press as well at:
www.microsoft-press.co.uk/scripts/search.asp?s earchterms=SHAREPOINT&sortby=title.
Virtually all of these have electronic versions of the book. Additionally, there are a vast list of online resources, like Technet, WSSDemo, EndSharePoint and many others. Again, the issue is the same as having someone ask for a SharePoint site but doesn’t know what to put in it – meaning, what do I need, where do I need it, how will I record it, how will I retrieve it.
Increasingly, there are a number of online providers now pushing Knowledge Bases on SharePoint. Slowly, these are becoming more structured and standardised into their own lands of expertise.
Whilst I call these ‘support resources’ they are defi nitely not designed to simply be a replacement for your SharePoint company support resource. These resources should be tested in your own test environments and validated before putting them into your production environment. Further support resources are included at the end of this
article.
LEARNING CENTRES In SharePoint land, in fact, probably with any kind of development, workers fi nd that the normal workplace is not suitable for self-paced learning. They are subject to many interruptions and cannot dedicate the time needed to learn or develop.
Self-paced products can form the core of a facilitated ‘Learning Centre’. Let’s take SharePoint’s learning centre that can be installed as a separated site collection. The concept uses training technology to help people learn and become more effective. It does this by recording their activities; how long they
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