A Spare Moment: lynda.com Helps Fill in the Gaps | Enterprise Information Technology Services

A Spare Moment: lynda.com Helps Fill in the Gaps

When she’s got a spare moment, Myra Yarbray is learning more about some of the software
she uses everyday as an administrative assistant at the University of Georgia.

During a recent trial of lynda.com, Yarbray logged on to the online training website
to learn the essentials of Microsoft Access — a database management system. She also
picked up some new skills about software she already knows well — Microsoft Word and
Microsoft Excel.

“There’s so much to learn online from lynda.com,” Yarbray said.

As a front desk receptionist at University Testing Services, Yarbray finds some days
too busy to learn new skills. But with lynda.com, Yarbray said she can view brief
instructional videos online during slower periods. Video tutorials on lynda.com are
segmented from just a few seconds to several minutes for each course. Viewers can
stop, rewind or replay videos as they need, as well.

“When I have those down times, it’s easy to pull up lynda.com and learn,” said Yarbray,
who has been employed with the University for more than seven years.

And while she initially started using lynda.com for her job, Yarbray is now using
the free service for her hobbies — including photo editing and web development. lynda.com
is available 24/7 from any web browser or mobile device. UGA students, faculty and
staff will be able to visit lynda.com starting Nov. 1 by using their UGA myID or by
visiting lynda.com/portal/uga.

“I can do what I need to do, but I want to do more,” said Yarbray, who also watches
lynda.com videos at home.

Unlike other online training programs, Yarbray said she has found lynda.com easier
to understand and it keeps her interested. The experts enlisted by lynda.com to teach
courses also offer better techniques, she added.

“Nothing has compared to the quality of lynda.com,” Yarbray said. She’s now encouraging
co-workers to take advantage of lynda.com when it becomes available throughout the
University.

Come Nov. 1, lynda.com will be available for free to all UGA students, faculty and
staff. It currently has about 1,500 video tutorials organized by software, topics
and instructors. Those who finish courses can also earn certificates of completion.

Access to lynda.com is being offered as part of a collaboration with the University’s
Enterprise Information Technology Services (EITS), Human Resources, and the Center
for Teaching and Learning (CTL). In 2013, there will be other enhancements to online
training and learning at the University.

Visit the Learning and Training section of our website for more information about all of the online training resources available
through EITS.