On call, on site

OTS to deliver training wherever, whenever

If you have the time, the Office of Technology Services (OTS) has the trainers—and they’re ready and willing to come to your department, office or just about anywhere else on campus.

It’s convenient. It’s free. All you have to do is ask. 

The pilot service, dubbed “Traveling Trainers,” is the brainchild of Nancy Quinn, OTS technology training manager.

“It’s not always possible for people to get to the OTS workshops in Cook Library,” she explains. “We still offer the training in our labs, but this program enables us to expand our offerings to other academic and administrative buildings.”

Quinn says the Traveling Trainers focus mainly on the MicroSoft Office Suite software: Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, FrontPage, Picture Manager and Publisher. They also train Blackboard, Citrix, VPN, graphic manipulation and how to use the wireless network.

“We’ll send four or five OTS tech professionals—each a subject-area specialist—to your office, classroom or conference room,” she says. “TU’s wireless technology enables them to set up their laptops and conduct workshops practically anywhere on campus.”

 The Traveling Trainers are Bob Cave, Audrey Cutler, Patricia Payne and Nancy Quinn, aided by students Teresa Pucciarella and David Schwartz.

OTS will continue to offer custom training for departments with specific software needs.

Quinn hopes these on-site training sessions will allow faculty and staff to update their skills in a relaxed, familiar setting. “When a department head or chairperson schedules a visit, OTS notifies other building occupants that the Traveling Trainers will be available on site for two or three hours to answer questions and give advice," she says. "We want to make them as accessible as possible.

“This is really about delivering training where it’s needed most,” she adds. “The trainers are going to reach a lot of people—and I think we’re all excited about that.”

To schedule a Traveling Trainers visit, call OTS Training, x44070, or e-mail training@towson.edu. 

Story by Jan Lucas/Photo by Sofia Silva