Additional Learning Resources

Below are some free or low-cost online learning resources we recommend. If you need technical support with any of them, communicate with the provider. 

As with any work-related purchase or training, make sure you have supervisor approval and support.

Change Management Learning Resource

  • Use this learning resource to become familiar with change management. Obtain a workbook and evaluation worksheet from Organizational Development, become familiar with Prosci Inc.'s ADKAR Model of change, learn why change management is important for employees everywhere, and apply proven practices to effectively manage change within the City of Madison.  
     

EAP Courses, Webinars, and Assessments

  • Cost: Free

  • You can find short courses, live and recorded webinars, and personal assessments on our external EAP's website. Content includes topics like conflict resolution, mindfulness, stress management, perseverance, and team building for managers. Follow these Instructions for Accessing EAP Courses to log in. 
     

Email Hacks and Time Management Tips

  • This learning resource includes tips and tricks to effectively organize your inbox and manage your time. You'll find step-by-step guides on how to use built-in Outlook features like rules, flags, and categories, along with other general tips to organize your workdays. 
     

Excel Easy

  • Cost: Free

  • This website offers tutorials on all things Microsoft Excel. You'll find an overview of chapters - like the basics, functions, data analysis, etc. Along with examples and step-by-step instructions on how to utilize the many features to be a more efficient and effective Excel user. 
     

Home Buyer Education Class

  • Cost: Free

  • The City of Madison, in partnership with the Home Buyers Round Table of Dane County and Consumer Credit Counseling Service, want to share with you these HUD Approved Homebuyer Education classes occurring monthly through the rest of 2022 (click here to view an informational flyer)! Browse all the events at this link.
     

Language Access Program

  • Cost: Free

  • The Language Access Program works to provide meaningful, equitable access to City services to individuals with a primary language other than English. Members of the public deserve and have a right to accommodations, translations, and interpretation for City services, free of cost. Please review the linked page above about the services provided and how to request them. 
     

LinkedIn Learning

  • Cost: Free 30-day Trial

  • Sign In Required?: Yes, requires a LinkedIn account, credit card required (not charged until Trial expires)

  • Best For: On-demand access to a diverse catalog of courses, less academic content

 

Microsoft

  • Cost: Free

  • Brief, modular video tutorials for all levels of learning, limited to Microsoft products only
     

Microsoft Cheat-Sheets

Links: Microsoft Outlook Guide | Microsoft Excel Guide | Microsoft Word Guide

  • Cost: FREE

  • Quick guides and short how-to video's for Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word. 

  • Note: These guides are from a website called "Custom Guide" - you can find how-to's for many other common applications here as well. 
     

Organizational Development Online Courses

  • Cost: FREE

  • On-demand learning with City of Madison internally-produced courses
     

SkillShare

  • Cost: FREE 7-Day Trial

  • Sign In Required?: Yes, credit card required (not charged until after Trial expires)

A more boutique option than others, open-source content that is not curated so the quality varies
 

Time Management

 

Udemy

  • Cost: FREE platform, with paid options for Courses and Certifications

  • Sign In Required?: Yes

  • A great choice for people looking for a very large catalog of free per diem courses, less academic content

Tips for Finding Great Remote Learning for your Team

Where to find high-quality content:

  • Industry websites and associations

  • Federal or state equivalents of your agency

  • Universities, vocational and technical school websites

  • Your current software providers (check out the resources page for tutorials, trainings, or knowledgebase articles)

Regardless of the source, here’s what to look for in free or low-cost training content:

  • Is it from a reputable source? Does that person or organization have authority in your industry?

  • Does it have built-in interactivity? Does the content keep employees engaged in the training?

  • Do materials cover all the pertinent regulations and do they align with your organization’s goals?

  • Is the information up to date? Are relevant illustrations to the subject and industry included?

  • Do quizzes gage employees’ knowledge of the subject?

Conduct an Agency Training Inventory

As you find and develop new content for remote learning and development, be sure to keep it in an accessible, organized spot. If you don’t have a specific folder in your F://drive (or similar location), consider using that SharePoint folder to consolidate all of your content
Update SharePoint Agency Training Content Folder
How to Identify and Catalog Existing Training