HSU Offers Free Digital Literacy and Professional Development Workshops

This is a press release from Humboldt State University:

Humboldt State University and the Humboldt County Library will be offering free workshops to the community centered around computer skills and professional development thanks in large part by a California State Library Services and Technology Act grant.

The Innovative Digital Literacies Grant will fund workshops openly available to the Humboldt community and will be hosted at the Humboldt County Library Main Branch. Digital literacy is a crucial skill for expanding career opportunities and supporting professional growth in the community and these workshops will involve the participants the chance to engage with Google Chromebooks to enhance these technology abilities.

Workshops ranging from using Google Suite applications, building resumes and cover letters, using and sending PDF documents, and making graphic design materials such as posters and advertisements will aide participants in connecting current strengths with needed skills for the local job market. The Humboldt County Library and Humboldt State University Library will also offer workshops that support community conversations using a program called Voicethread.

These programs will address community needs of access to technology, job market readiness, and confidence with using digital literacy skills in everyday life.

Offered Workshops

Starting in January 2020, the workshops will be offered and divided into several series; PDF document Usership, Professional Development, Google Suite, Canva Graphic Design, and Voicethread. Unless specified these workshops will be offered at the Humboldt County Library Main Branch in Eureka.

PDF Essentials will focus on learning about the document format, why businesses use it, and different applicabilities of PDF document sending and viewing.

• PDF Introduction and Basics – Saturday 01/11 @ 3-4 pm
• PDF Uses and Viewership – Wednesday 01/22 @ 5-6 pm

A second round of this workshop series will be offered at the Arcata Library Branch:

• PDF Introduction and Basics – Thursday 03/5 @ 6-7 pm
• PDF Uses and Viewing – Thursday 03/26 @ 6-7 pm

Google Suite workshops will center Chromebook technology with the different uses of Google applications that are popular in today’s working environment. Starting with creating a Google account, these workshops will teach participants how to create documents, spreadsheets, and slide show presentations in the Google Suite. This series will combine technology with professional development and is a highlight of our workshop line up!

• Intro to Google Account – Saturday 02/15 @ 3-4 pm
• Google Docs – Saturday 02/22 @ 3-4 pm
• Google Sheets – Saturday 02/29 @ 3-4 pm
• Google Slides – Saturday 03/7 @ 3-4 pm

A second round of this workshop series will be offered:

• Intro to Google Account – Wednesday 04/22 @ 5-6 pm
• Google Docs – Wednesday 04/29 @ 5-6 pm
• Google Sheets – Wednesday 05/6 @ 5-6 pm

Google Slides – Wednesday 05/13 @ 5-6 pm

Professional Development will focus on identifying the dynamic skills that community participants already possess, how to communicate those skills effectively, and what jobs are looking for in a successful application. This will involve exploring career interests, creating elevator pitches, composing resumes and cover letters, and guest appearances from local business representatives to provide insight and feedback.

• Recognizing Skills and Experience – Wednesday 02/5 @ 5-6 pm
• Exploring Careers – Tuesday 02/11 @ 4-5 pm
• Writing a Resume and Cover Letter – Wednesday 02/19 @ 5-6 pm
• Resume and Cover Letter contd. and review – Wednesday 02/26 @ 5-6 pm

A second round of this workshop series will be offered:

• Recognizing Skills and Experience – Saturday 5/02 @ 3-4 pm
• Exploring Careers – Thursday 5/07 @ 6-7 pm (Arcata Branch)
• Writing a Resume and Cover Letter – Thursday 05/28 @ 6-7 pm (Arcata Branch)
• Resume and Cover Letter contd. and review – Saturday 05/30 @ 3-4 pm

Canva is a free internet-based graphic design program that offers templates for many different purposes, ranging from flyers to resumes. These workshops will teach participants how to interweave creativity with goals related to marketing, self-promotion, and professional development. Learn how to let your message be heard through these Canva graphic design workshops!

• Intro to Canva and application – Wednesday 03/11 @ 5-6 pm
• Creating Flyers – Wednesday 03/18 @ 5-6 pm
• Creating Resumes – Wednesday 03/25 @ 5-6 pm

Voicethread, a web browser based program, will engage participants in communication, collaboration, and connectivity through technology. By engaging in conversations with other members of the Humboldt community using Chromebooks, those partaking in these workshops will learn how technology can be used to comment, add video or audio, and share perspective on popular topics.

• Introduction to Voicethread Program – Saturday 03/28 @ 3-4 pm
• Conversations with Voicethread – Saturday 04/04 @ 3-4 pm
• Conversations with Voicethread – Saturday 04/11 @ 3-4 pm
• Conversations with Voicethread – Saturday 04/18 @ 3-4 pm
• Conversations with Voicethread – Saturday 04/25 @ 3-4 pm

The HSU Library and Humboldt County Library partners are grateful for the support in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.