Skills Refresh
This is the time of year to be thankful that we have the opportunity (or perhaps just inclination) to work with a variety of technologies in law libraries. It can also be a good time to take stock of your current skill development and strategize how you might refresh those skills in the coming months. Although most of us don’t need to be legal hackers, there is a benefit (and certain level of satisfaction) that comes from dusting off or honing our technical skills from time to time. Furthermore, exploring these tools can help inform our recommendations to students and co-workers who may be increasingly expected to have some foundational knowledge in these technologies.
So you if are able to find a free moment between the pumpkin pie and the seasonal deal-hunting, check out some of the resources below.
Subscription-based (first three months free) and primarily video-focused collection of technology lessons organized into Tracks. Example topics: Learn how to make a website from start to finish; how to code in Ruby.
100% free and comprised of written tutorials and interactive coding lessons. Best for the new coder or those looking for the basics.
Lynda.com (Developer Training):
Perhaps the oldest name in web-based technology training, this site provides instruction on many different coding languages. Although Lynda.com is subscription-based, you can access some videos for free. Some institutions or companies also cover subscriptions.
Alison.com (Digital Literacy & IT Skills):
Organized into free self-paced courses with interactive lessons. Alison stands for “Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online.” Sample courses: Adobe Photoshop, iPhone App Development.
