Teaching & Learning Tip #6: Design Your Learning Through SkillShops

September 26, 2017

Please answer this two-question survey about the T&L Tips

Tip #6: Design Your Learning Through SkillShops

Pick up a new skill, learn about a new technology, and help prepare yourself to reach your personal, academic and professional goals.

Co-Curricular Learning

SkillShops are 50-minute drop-in workshops focused on introducing and developing a wide range of skills and are designed to support learners through the encouragement of play, discovery, and social interaction. During the 2016/2017 academic year, HSU SkillShops attendance topped 1,600 and included 22 partners from across campus who facilitated workshops. Although SkillShops began as a program by the Library, it is now a cross-campus collaboration that offers students, staff and faculty an engaging personalized and professional learning experience.

Each SkillShop is assigned to one of five themes: Personal Growth, College & Study Skills, Leadership & Career, Technology & Digital Media and Finding & Using Information. This next week will include SkillShops on a wide range of topics including:

Students, faculty, and staff are invited to design their learning by attending a relevant SkillShop! Visit the full calendar to pre-register or view the calendar for the next two weeks.

Integrate SkillShops as a Class Assignment

You can assign students to attend SkillShops to develop their understanding of topics needed for your class or discipline. You can also work with us to have specific SkillShops offered at a time in the semester that coincides with an assignment. Interested in how you can use SkillShops for your class or to help your students? Contact us with any questions, requests or ideas you may have: skillshops@humboldt.edu. If you are planning on offering extra credit to your students who attend SkillShops, you can have them track their attendance and get a snapshot of their learning by having them fill out a worksheet asking them to reflect on what they learned at the workshop and how they will use their new skills.

Online SkillShops

This semester we started offering online, asynchronous SkillShops. All students, faculty and staff are invited to enroll in these SkillShops through Canvas:

  • Getting Started with WordPress. You'll create a basic blog with your first post and About page in this online SkillShop.
  • Getting Started with Camtasia. In this online SkillShop you will create a short screen capture with several edits to enhance your video.
  • Research Basics. Learn how to get started with searching in online databases. You will create a short bibliography of the sources you find.

SkillShops Leaderboard

Check out the SkillShops Leaderboard where students, faculty and staff vie for the top spot! Attending a SkillShop earns you 100 points. Creating a digital project about a SkillShop earns you up to 200 points. Sign up to compete on the Leaderboard now!

Skilled Learners

A Skilled Learner takes 5 SkillShops in a semester in at least three different categories (Personal Growth, College & Study Skills, Technology & Digital Media, Leadership & Career and Finding & Using Information). Once you have completed the 5 SkillShops you can apply for the Skilled Learner Certificate. Your name is added to the Library Library website. In the semester you complete the certificate you and your fellow Skilled Learners are invited to a party to celebrate your accomplishment.

Share Your Expertise

SkillShops are facilitated by faculty, staff, administrators and student leaders on campus. Contact skillshops@humboldt.edu if you have questions or ideas about sharing your passion and expertise for a topic as a SkillShop.

Upcoming Events:

Coming in October...