What is the job market going to look like for graduating college students? The good news is that the baby boomers will soon be retiring in droves. This means graduates will all be able to get great jobs, right? Well, according to Michigan State University’s Employment Research Institute, BA/BS graduates will see a 7 percent increase in employment opportunities while there will be a 2 percent increase in hiring of all degree levels.

Though these statistics indicate a good job market for those who will soon graduate, employers won’t just give a job to anyone with a piece of paper. There are more students in college than ever before.

The upside is that employers seem to appreciate recent graduates who have taken some initiative toward seeking a chosen career. So what skills do you

need to ensure a job upon graduation?Employers want communication

skills, a work ethic, and self motivation. They want graduates who are able to sit through an interview. It becomes apparent how team-oriented a person could be by sitting them in a chair and talking to them for several hours. There

are now employers using marathon interviews because, if the interviewee is creating a façade it will be cracked. Numerous studies have expressed a desire for good communication skills. Perhaps the same technological skills

students possess have detracted from teamwork and other work related skills.

Technological and analytical skills are what employers really want, according to David Gaston, Director of the University Career Center. Analytical skills are those that deal with problem solving and the ability to evaluate

information. As for what kind of technology skills employers want, that is difficult to gauge. The KU Career Center states that one should not even place your computer skills on your application, unless specified, because it is assumed that if you are even applying for a job

you already have computer skills. “It is unnecessary to list common computer skills like using MS Word or Excel because it is expected from employers,” states Gaston. Among the things that a

Inside...• A story on accommodations for those with disabilities at KU• Workshop listings for February, March, April and May

Watch for our next issue in May!

Spring 2008student edition

skills

etfor

lear

ning,

teach

ing, a

nd w

orkin

g at K

U

Gretchen Anderson instructs participants in the Two-Day Dreamweaver workshop offered in January 2008. Anderson also teaches workshops in EndNote, Refworks, Microsoft Office, and Adobe products. Anderson was promoted to full-time status in January.

(cont’d inside)

resume should stress is relevant work, volunteer, or internship experience in your chosen field.

Michigan State University’s Employment Research Institute conducted a survey to find out what was expected of college candidates for jobs and internships. One of the skills desired by employers was computer/technical skills and the description of just what they were looking for is very enlightening. It lists reading and writing skills along with familiarity with computers. It goes on to say that “Expectations for proficiency with many software applications continues to rise.”

“Twelve years ago you put computer skills on a resume … now it’s just expected,” states Gaston. Jeff Lewis, one of KU’s computer workshop instructors, says, “Just because you can use e-mail, chat, and surf the web, doesn’t mean you can use Excel, PowerPoint or Photoshop.”

Employers may assume you have computer skills you don’t—how can you learn them? One great way is attending KU’s free computer workshops, especially since the workshop instructors are so eager to work with you. “I like coaching people who have plans and projects in mind as they learn a new skill,” says Gretchen Anderson, another KU computer workshop instructor.

So now that you have the skills, how do you get the job? One way for you to improve your ability to obtain jobs following graduation is to be smart when crafting your resume

by listing skills which impress employers—and which you possess. Employers want to know you can multi-task and keep up-to-date with the changes in technology, so place it on a resume. You think Facebook is good just for keeping up with friends—not so! The ability to use Facebook can be a good skill to put on a resume, because many employers would considered it a great example of your networking skills and ability to keep up with current technologies. Microsoft’s recruiting manager Warren Ashton, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, said that the ability to use Facebook and MySpace might sound good on a resume as “connecting with customers through new technologies.” However, you should be careful with the content you place on the Internet (see “The Downside” story below).

All of the above can be learned and honed through the University’s variety of services, especially those offered by Instructional Services and the Career Center. Free computer workshops are offered year round by Instructional Services

and Instructional Development and Support. A complete list of workshops can be found at www.infotraining.ku.edu. The Career Center offers

mock interviews, resume appraisals, career fairs, and many other services that fit niche interests. They even provide career assessments for you to decide what to do for a living. Check out their new Web site www.kucareerhawk.com for a complete list of opportunities and services. Remember...a little extra work now can help you find better work later!

Skills continued

What Skills Do Employers Expect From New Graduates?

The University of KansasInstructional Services - KU Libraries423 Anschutz Library1301 Hoch Auditoria DriveLawrence, Kansas 66045-7537

Computing workshops are free to KU students, staff and faculty, but they require registration.

To register or find out more, visit www.infotraining.ku.edu e-mail training@ku.edu, or call 785-864-0410. You must be confirmed by phone or by e-mail to attend the workshop. If you try to register for a class and it is full, be sure to add your name to the waiting list. You will be notified by e-mail if a space in that workshop becomes available. Workshops are often added to the schedule based on demand, so check the web site for additions throughout the semester.

Registration Required

Workshop Locations Anschutz Anschutz Instruction Center, 3rd floor Anschutz Library, next to the service desk Budig 10a Budig Hall (lower level of Budig Hall) Watson 419 4th floor Watson Library, east of main stairs

Instructional Serviceswww.lib.ku.edu/instruction

Instructional Services helps the campus community use technology and information for teaching, learning, and working. As part of KU Libraries, we offer instructor-led instructional opportunities on both computing and information literacy topics that promote the development of critical

thinking and research skills. We provide scheduled workshops, in-class instruction for KU courses, custom training for departments and groups, and consulting services for individuals.

Contact us at training@ku.edu or 864-0410 to learn more or set up a consultation.

Who We AreSkillset is a joint publication of Instructional Services at the KU Libraries and Instructional Development & Support. The Student Edition appears twice a year (February and August). For more information and PDF versions of back issues, see the online archive at skillset.ku.edu.

Instructional Development & Support (IDS)www.ids.ku.edu

Think of us as “the learning environments group.” We oversee classroom technologies, provide assistance with online tools such as Blackboard, and consult with faculty and other teaching staff about instructional technology use. We also offer help and training on digital photography and video production. IDS maintains a circulating equipment pool with items to support teaching activities, such as data projectors, DVD players, and digital cameras. We offer

workshops and seminars frequently throughout the semester, and our staff members also meet individually with instructors to accommodate busy schedules. Call, email, or stop by— we’re ready when you are!

Contact IDS at 864-2600 or ids@ku.edu to learn about designing

instruction that takes advantage of a wide variety of innovative teaching strategies and available-right-now technologies.

IDS is located directly across from Anschutz library, in the southeast corner of Budig Hall. Offices are in room 4 Budig Hall, and workshops are in room 6.

The use of web sites such as Facebook and MySpace may have their social benefits, but students should be wary. Employers are using these sites more and more frequently to conduct background checks on potential hires. In addition to the social networking sites, be careful what you place in blogs and chat rooms. Be smart about what you reveal about yourself on the web. Google yourself and

see what comes up. This is an extremely simple step for any employer to take in order to learn more about you, the potential hire. Showcasing your design and writing skills on the web is great; however, pictures of you drinking won’t present a professional image to potential employers. They may question your judgement—and pick someone else to hire.

“Expectations for proficiency with many software applications continues to rise.”

Michigan State University’s Employ-ment Research Institute

“Twelve years ago you put computer skills on a resume ... now it’s just expected.”

David Gaston, Director of the University Career Center

The Downside of Social Networking Sites

New For-Credit Course Gives KU Students Essential Research SkillsDoes it seem like research comes easier

to other students than to you? It seems as if there is nowhere to find a complete guide to source citation. Do you find the libraries’ catalog, databases, and the e-journals hard to navigate? Wouldn’t it be great to learn how to use all of these sources to find the information you need quickly and easily? That’s why KU librarian Erin Ellis has developed “LA&S 292: Research Methods & Information Literacy,” a new one-credit hour KU course designed to help students improve their information management

and research skills. The KU Libraries already offer services

to help you out that you may not know about. There are free workshops to teach you computer skills. Staff members at library service desks to help you navigate the journals and online catalog. Free brochures and maps that list services offered by the Libraries and tell you where to find them. But if you want a good overview of the Libraries’ tools and the skills to use them, Ellis’s new course is for you.

Ellis’s course stresses information

literacy. Research shows that many incoming college students have difficulty not only finding the appropriate information when researching a paper, but also interpreting it and using it in the paper. This is especially true when it comes to online resources. When looking at information online, you have to know how to navigate the databases, decipher the relevant information, organize it, and cite it. This is overwhelming to many students—but this ability to research is necessary for academic success. Luckily, the new course was designed to help

students build these skills—and succeed academically.

“Numerous studies have documented the positive impact of learning from ‘for credit’ research skills courses,” states Instructional Services Head Jennifer Church-Duran. Taking the course could significantly improve your course work; in every class. In research papers, you may start showing less reliance on a single source. The course may enable you to use higher quality sources and to organize the information you gleaned from those sources better. Your grades will in turn improve.

Ellis, an experienced librarian and instructor, has been researching the course topic for quite some time. She taught a similar course at Texas Tech University and currently teaches one for the University of Maryland online. When Ellis came to KU, she was named the Libraries’ liaison to the Athletic Department, which brought her into contact with Paul Buskirk, the KU Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Support Services, last October. Buskirk was interested in a research skills course for student athletes at KU, so he contacted the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, who decided to support this course. Ellis got to work and states that, “The course was approved in late spring/early summer, a very fast turnaround!”

While the course was originally designed to assist student athletes, it is now open to all students. During the summer, student athletes are given priority enrollment, but once their spots are secured any KU student can enroll in the class. The fact that it is only a one credit hour course makes it ideal for anyone needing only one additional credit to qualify as a full-time student, or wanting to fit the course into an already full schedule. The skills obtained from this course will benefit you for the rest of your academic careers.

This eight week course will be offered during the Spring 2008 semester. The course number is (82384) and class begins February 21. Space is limited so sign up early! For more information go to www.lib.ku.edu/news/libraryCourse.shtml.

Course Continued

(cont’d next page)

computer securityBest Practices/Security Awareness Wed Mar 12 10:00 AM 12:00 PM AnschutzBest Practices/Security Awareness Thur Apr 10 3:00 PM 5:00 PM BudigHardening Network Setup on Computers Fri Mar 7 9:00 AM 11:00 AM AnschutzHardening Network Setup on Computers Mon Apr 14 3:00 PM 5:00 PM Budig

Skillset

workshops

student edition

All workshops are FREE. See back page for details on workshop locations.

Questions? Call 864-0410 or e-mail training@ku.eduSee more workshop listings and register online at www.infotraining.ku.edu

Spring 2008

office productivityOffice 2007Making the Switch to Office 2007 Tues Feb 26 12:30 PM 2:00 PM AnschutzPowerpointPowerPoint: Power Hour Tues Mar 4 11:00 AM 12:00 PM Anschutz WordWord: Long Documents Tues Feb 19 2:00 PM 4:00 PM BudigWord: Mail Merge Wed Feb 20 10:00 AM 12:00 PM AnschutzWord: Tracking Changes Tues Mar 11 11:00 AM 1:00PM AnschutzDatabasesDatabase Design Wed Mar 26 1:00 PM 2:30 PM BudigAccess: Introduction Wed Apr 2 1:00 PM 4:00 PM BudigAccess: Queries Tues Feb 19 9:00 AM 12:00 PM BudigAccess: Queries Wed Apr 9 1:00 PM 4:00 PM BudigAccess: Forms Tues Mar 4 9:00 AM 12:00 PM BudigAccess: Forms Wed Apr 16 1:00 PM 4:00 PM BudigAccess: Reports Tues Mar 11 9:00 AM 12:00 PM BudigAccess: Reports Wed Apr 23 1:00 PM 4:00 PM Budig

graphics/ web authoringGraphicsPhotoshop: Introduction Wed Mar 5 10:00 AM 1:00 PM BudigPhotoshop: Intermediate Wed Mar 12 10:00 AM 1:00 PM BudigInDesign: Introduction Wed Mar 5 9:00 AM 12:00 PM AnschutzWeb AuthoringDreamweaver: Creating Web Pages Mon Feb 18 2:00 PM 4:00 PM BudigDreamweaver: Getting Your Site Under Control Mon Mar 10 2:00 PM 3:30 PM BudigDreamweaver: Quick Fixes Thur Mar 13 8:30 AM 10:00 AM BudigDreamweaver: Visual Design Using CSS Thur Feb 21 8:30 AM 11:30 AM BudigDreamweaver: Working in Code View Thur Mar 6 8:30 AM 10:30 AM BudigDreamweaver: Working in Code View Tues Mar 25 8:30 AM 10:30 AM BudigWeb Accessibility Tues Apr 8 2:00 PM 5:00 PM Budig

research & librariesEndNote: Power Hour Thur Feb 21 12:30 PM 1:30 PM Anschutz EndNote: Libraries and Databases Thur Mar 6 12:30 PM 2:00 PM Anschutz EndNote: Bibliographies and Cite-While-You-Write Thur Mar 13 12:30 PM 2:00 PM Anschutz Refworks: Writing and Citing Tues Apr 1 2:00 PM 3:30 PM Anschutz Finding Statistics and Data for Your Research Tues Mar 11 1:00 PM 2:30 PM Watson 419 Overview of U.S. Government Information Resources for Your Research Thur Mar 13 2:00 PM 3:30 PM Watson 419

computing basicsWindows Operating SystemIntroduction to Personal Computing with Windows Mon Mar 10 1:30 PM 3:30 PM Anschutz Introduction to Personal Computing with Windows Wed Apr 9 10:00 AM 12:00 PM Anschutz

internet/ e-mailOutlook: Tips and Tricks Tues Mar 4 2:00 PM 3:30 PM Budig

Rachel Magario is like any KU student. She is the president and webmaster of Able Hawks. She is a dual major in Education and Industrial Design. She has a pet dog named Hamlet. She is also one of many KU students who also has a disability. Magario is blind. She also needs to use the library and a computer just like the rest of us.

KU Libraries has taken steps to make the libraries and computer labs more accessible to people with visual and other disabilities. They currently provide elevators and wheelchair accessible computer terminals for the physically impaired. Services such as Retrieve from Shelf and WebRetrieve can gather books if someone is unable to navigate the library stacks or gather online materials. They can turn journal articles into Jaws friendly PDF files for people with visual impairments. There are workstations in the Libraries that can magnify text (ZoomText) and also scan printed documents to create an electronic text version (OpenBook).

But there are still challenges. There is only one computer station in both Anschutz and Watson libraries for someone with Magario’s disability. To use a computer Magario requires Jaws software, a screen reader program which reads aloud the content of the computer screen. The Libraries are using an older version which is not equipped to decipher common features of some of today’s web pages, and is incompatible with Office 2003. This is due to the expense of assistive and adaptive technology. “Currently, we are exploring pricing options to offer software on more workstations,” states Jennifer Church-

Duran Head of Instructional Services.There are additional challenges,

regarding accessibility, for students, staff, and faculty with disabilities accessing the Instructional Services computer workshops. Adaptive technology is becoming increasingly available in the Libraries’ training labs. For example, Zoomtext, used for desktop magnification and text reading, was

installed in several of the Libraries’ computer labs last semester. Imagine trying to navigate the Kyou portal without using any of the visual cues that cited people are so dependent upon. Adaptive software such as Jaws can read the content of the page and provide verbal instructions to the user on how to navigate through a site or a program. Magario is pleased with the services offered by KU Libraries but believes there is room for improvement.

Because of these challenges Deskside Coaching is a great alternative for those with disabilities. “Often one-on-one Deskside Coaching opportunities provide the most intensive support for users needing to coordinate productivity, web authoring and graphics software packages with assistive tools such as screen readers and magnifiers,” states Church-Duran. Magario has used Deskside Coaching sessions numerous times in order to get one-on-one instruction in EndNote, Dreamweaver and Word 2003. She learns the screen

layout and how to use keyboard shortcuts for tasks that are normally done with a mouse. She also must develop macros for graphics or anything else that isn’t compatible with a keyboard or screen reader software.

Although there is no special procedure for those with disabilities when signing up for workshops, it is a good idea to give instructors a heads-up. “I think

when someone like me needs to go to a workshop, I should have an individual session first to learn ‘looks’ and then go to the general session with others,” says Magario. It takes time to describe a screen program’s layout and this would distract the other workshop participants. She also has to be sure she has

the required software for the workshop on her laptop. This is because the labs do not usually have the Jaws software required to meet her needs, again, a licensing and cost issues. Magario says, “Jaws licenses should be installed on the networks instead of on an individual computer so that the screen reader would be accessible by the labs or rooms where the workshops are being given.”

Anyone with disabilities who is interested in utilizing the workshop and Deskside Coaching services are advised to contact instructors ahead of time. Workshop instructor Gretchen Anderson has noted that teaching with special software such as ZoomText takes practice. “I must be aware that I have students who are using a variety of methods to track my instruction,” states Anderson.

KU Libraries and Instructional Services are eager to hear suggestions or answer questions from patrons of all abilities. Contact us at training@ku.edu or 864-0410.

“Often one-on-one Deskside Coaching opportunities provide the most intensive support for users needing to coordinate productivity, web authoring and graphics software packages with assistive tools such as screen readers and magnifiers.”

Jennifer Church-Duran, Head of Instructional Services

Sign up for weekly workshop announcements!

Would you like us to notify you when new workshops have been added to the schedule? Want a weekly announcement of the workshops we’re offering? It’s easy to sign up for our weekly e-mail workshop announcements.

Here’s how: visit the workshops page (www.infotraining.ku.edu) and log in. Scroll to the bottom of the welcome page (past the list of workshops you’ve registered for and attended) and look for the Mailing List Option box. Check Subscribe, and click Submit. You’re all set!

Gaining Ground: KU Libraries Improves Service to Those With Disabilities

Exits and Entrances: Staff Changes Within Instructional ServicesInstructional Services has undergone a flurry of staff changes

this semester—promotions, farewells, and job changes, some temporary, some permanent.

Because of these changes, some workshops and custom training topics will be temporarily unavailable while they are updated and the Instructional Services staff cross-trains. Those topics include Intro to Personal Computing with Mac OS X and Flash.Kim Glover arrives January 2nd

Our newest trainer is a double threat—she brings not only years of technology training experience, but also a great deal of library experience to her new position at KU. That experience (including a master’s degree in library science) will come in handy in her dual technology/library instruction role.

Cole Robison departs January 11th

After more than 13 years spent working as a technology trainer at KU, Cole Robison has taken a new position with the state of Kansas. Cole’s new position, director of web and IT accessibility for the Department of Administration, is an outgrowth of the leadership he provided in the statewide group that developed web accessibility standards and guidelines for the state of Kansas. Gretchen Anderson promoted to full-time trainer January 12th

Gretchen is already a familiar face to many who have attended EndNote or Refworks training in the past year; she has been leading those workshops in her role as student technology trainer. After Cole’s departure, Gretchen was promoted to full-time status. As an experienced technology trainer and a doctoral student in the School of Education,

Gretchen brings a great deal of professional and academic experience to her new role.Sarah Kanning changes to outreach and publications work

In fall of 2007, after seven years as a technology trainer, Sarah Kanning made the transition to doing full-time outreach and publications work for the Libraries. Still a part of Instructional Services, she is focusing on writing, editing, design, and production work for informational and promotional publications for the KU Libraries, including Skillset, Annotations, and Bibliophile. She continues her outreach work for events like New Student Orientation and the KU Teaching Summit.Jennifer Church-Duran takes on interim assistant dean position

“Be your own boss” takes on new meaning as Jennifer Church-Duran began 2008 by accepting a six-month appointment as interim assistant dean of user services (including Instruction and Reference), while the candidate search continues for that position.

Cole Robison leaves KU after over 13 years as a trainer.

Kim Glover, the newest trainer for Instructional Services