Contents
Getting Started
SkillPort Features
Taking Courses
Course Features and Navigation
Technical Support / Tips & Guides
Using NetDownload
Making Time for Learning
Log In and Get Started[Top of Page]
To access these courses, you’ll log in to the site. You’ll find the URL for the site in the steps below.To log in:
1. / Open your web browser2. / Type URL in the address line /
3. / Press Enter / The Welcome screen is displayed.
4. / Click on the Login button / To open the Login page.
5. / Enter your User ID and Password
You will have chosen these when you first registered.
Click on Login
The site will be displayed /
SkillPort Features [Top of Page]
When you enter SkillPort, you’ll see your personal Home Page where you can built your own personal learning path. There are 6 tabs across the top of the page, Home, Catalog, Resources. The sidebar provides a Short Cuts menu that will help you build and customize your learning path. The Search and Learn feature is located at the top of the screen, under the tabs. Below is an example of a typical SkillPort Home page.Home Tab
The Home page is where you will view your personal learning plan. Your personal learning path is made up of Learning Events. Learning Events consist of courses, Job Aids, Skill Briefs. My Plan tracks your Learning Event progress, goals and reminders. The My Favorites section of your Home page is where you can add Learning Events. To learn how to add Learning Events to My Plan and My Favorites, refer to the Catalog Tab section later in the document. The My Progress Report area displays the total number of courses completed and total training time. The company news section contains up to date company news and information about Learning Events.
Catalog Tab
The catalog page provides a full listing of the Learning Events. The catalog is displayed in a tree structure similar to that found within Windows Explorer. You can expand the listing by clicking on the arrow icon in front of the folders. To collapse the listing, click on the down arrow in front of the folders.
Adding Learning Events to My Plan
You can add Events to My Plan yourself, or your manager can add them. When you add a course to your plan, you can set specific information such as: the date and time the course is due to be completed, any goals for taking the course, and email reminders that will be sent to you automatically.To add courses to My Plan:
1. / Click on the Catalog tab / You can also use the Search and Learn feature to locate a course .2. / Expand the tree to view a Curriculum and Series
Click on a Course name
3. / From the top of the Course Information page, click on Add this course to My Plan /
4 / Enter the appropriate information in the fields on the Add To My Plan page /
- Due Date: Set the date the learning goal is to be accomplished
- Goal: Set the goal for taking this course
- Reminder: Set email reminders at desired intervals
5. / Click on the Submit button / A confirmation page is displayed indicating the course has been added to your plan.
6. / Click on Click Here to Go To My Plan /
Building your My Favorites Page
My Favorites is your personal catalog of references that are of value to you. My Favorites currently supports Job Aids and SkillBriefs learning events.To add new learning events to your favorites:
1. / Select a learning event from the Catalog tab / Or use the Search and Learn feature2. / Expand the tree to view a Curriculum and Series
3. / Select the Learning Event you wish to add to your favorites by clicking on the name of the event
4. / Click on Add to My Favorites /
The learning event is added to your list of favorites.
5. / Click on Close this Window
6. / Click on the Home tab /
The Learning Event is added to your My Favorites list.
Resources Tab
The Resources page provides additional in-depth information about a specific topic. This list is compiled from research on what the Subject Matter Experts are recommending. The resources are arranged in the same categories as SkillSoft series of courses so you can easily locate information on a topic of interest to you.
If the MeansBusiness option has been implemented, you'll see the SkillSoft MeansBusiness section before the SkillSoft reference books section on this page. This section contains links to search the MeansBusiness reference library of leading business books.
Search and Learn [Top of Page]
SkillPort’s Search and Learn feature enables you to search the Course catalog or Website to locate courses, topics, Job Aids, and SkillBriefs by searching for them using keywords or phrases. You have two search options, the Standard Search and the Advanced Search.- Standard Search enables you to search either the Course Catalog or Website. When you search the catalog, all matches in the Course Summary page and/or topic objectives will be returned. Searching the website will search the pages in the Credentials, Live Events , Resources and Help pages
- Advanced Search gives you the option of specifying the type of Search. You can search on All of the Words, Any of the Words, or by Exact Phrase. You can also narrow the search down to search a specified category. You can search Courses, Topics, SkillBriefs, Job Aids, Custom Objects, Web Site, or All Learning Objects.
Using Search and Learn
1. / Type a keyword into the Search and Learn text box at the top of the page /2. / Verify Catalog is selected
3. / Click on Search / The search results are displayed in a table. A legend at the top of the screen describes the icons that indicate the type of Learning Event located. You can access the Learning Event by clicking on the title. If more than 1 page of results are found then next/prev indicators are displayed.
4. / Click on the desired topic, course, Job Aid, or SkillBrief / To open the Learning Event
Using Advanced Search and Learn
1. / Click on Advanced Search / The Advanced Search screen is displayed.2. / Type a word or phrase in the Search and Learn text box
3. / Specify the type of Search
4. / Specify a category
5. / Click on Search / The search results are displayed in a table. A legend at the top of the screen describes the icons that indicate the type of Learn Event located. You can access the Learning Event by clicking on a title. If more than 1 page of results are found then next/prev indicators are displayed.
6. / Click on the desired topic, course, Job Aid, or SkillBrief / To open the Learning Event
Additional Features[Top of Page]
Short Cuts
The Short Cuts menu located on the left side of the SkillPort window, provides another way for you to quickly access some of SkillPort’s features.Short Cut / Description
My Plan / Takes you to your My Plan page
My Favorites / Takes you to your My Favorites page
My Report / Takes you to your Learner Records Progress Report
Ask the Expert / Click on the Short Cut to go to a page where you can send an email to a Subject Matter Experts, within specified subject areas. If you have OnLine Mentoring available, you will be able to access SkillSoft’s Subject Matter Experts. Otherwise, you can send email to Subject Matter Experts within your organization
Chat Rooms / Click on the Chat Rooms Short Cut to go to the SkillPort Community Chat rooms page
Message Boards / Click on the Message Boards Short Cut to go to the SkillPort Community Message rooms page
Personalize
You can personalize your User Profile and Short Cut menu in this section
Personalizing your User Profile
You can edit your User Profile to change your Name, E-Mail address, or your password.
To Edit your User Profile:
1. / Click on Personalize /2. / Click on Update Your User Profile /
The search results are displayed in the same tree format as the Catalog, and the tree is automatically expanded.
3. / Edit your User Profile as needed
4. / Click on the Update Profile button
Customizing your Short Cuts
You can add, remove Short Cuts from the menu. You can also change the order in which they appear.
To Edit your Short Cuts:
1. / Click on Personalize2. / Click on Personalize Your Short Cuts /
The search results are displayed in the same tree format as the Catalog, and the tree is automatically expanded.
3. / Follow the instructions on the Edit Short Cuts page to add and remove Short Cuts
4. / Click on the Save button
Logout
Clicking on Logout, logs the current user out of SkillPort, and returns you to the Login ScreenTaking Courses[Top of Page]
Once you have located a course, click on the underlined course or topic title to view the Course Information page. In the upper left hand corner of the information page, are links that enable the following actions:Play this course / Click this link to take a course live over the web. This will immediately launch the course in a separate browser window.
Download this course / Click this link to download a course to your PC so you can take it offline.
The first time you click this link you will be prompted to install the SkillSoft Course Manager to manage your offline course content. Each subsequent time you click this link, you will simply download content for that particular course.
Add this course to My Plan / Click this link to add a course to your My Plan page to take at a later time.
Evaluate this course / Click this link to access the online evaluation form associated with this course. (An Evaluation has to be created and assigned to the course(s) in order for the link to appear)
Course Features and Navigation[Top of Page]
You launch a course using one of the methods described in the previous section. The following features and navigation items are found in all courses.- When you launch a course for the first time, a welcome screen will be displayed.You can start the course by clicking on the Start button.
- When you exit a course by clicking on the Exit button, your location is bookmarked. When you return to a course with a bookmarked location, a Welcome Back screen is displayed.
Course Controls & Legend
When you are in a course topic, preassessment, or mastery assessment, you’ll see the following items in the Variable Area.Audio
The audio control buttons are only active when you are playing course content or actively taking assessments. They are replaced by the Legend when on the Course Menu, Accelerated PATH or Assessments screens./ Click this button to turn audio off.
/ Click this button to turn audio on.
/ Click this button to play or re-play audio.
/ Click this button to stop audio while it is playing. This button will also appear when audio for a particular page is finished playing.
Page Control
The page control buttons are only active when you are playing course content or actively taking assessments. They allow you to move forward and backward through the course and assessment content:/ Click this button to page backward.
/ Click this button to page forward.
When you are in the Course Menu, the items in the Variable Area change to show a Legend and Return to Bookmark button.
The Legend explains the icons used to note course progress.
Click Return to Bookmark to return to your last place in the course.
Course Menu
Clicking Course Menu takes you to the course menu screen. Here you can access the course Lessons, Topics, Preassessments and Mastery Assessments.- Use the blue arrows to expand and collapse the Course Menu.
- To play content from the Course Menu click the Lesson, Topic,or Assessment title.
Assessments
Clicking the Assessments button enables you to take Preassessments and Mastery Assessments for the course, and allows you to view your results. You may take each Preassessment only one time. You may take the Mastery Assessments as many times as necessary to validate your mastery of the content.
- To start a Preassessment or Mastery, click the corresponding colored button under Preassess Results or Mastery Results. You can also access individual assessments from the Course Menu.
Accelerated PATH
You create an Accelerated Path by taking the Preassessments found on the Asssessments or the Course Menu page. Based on your Preassessment results, an Accelerated PATH through the course is identified for you. The lessons and topics for which you have demonstrated mastery are marked as Mastered, indicating that you do not need to complete them.
- When you start any topic (or lesson overview) from the Accelerated Path, you’ll see a transition screen that indicates whether you have mastered that topic. You have the option to start the topic, or skip to the next topic. To play content from the Accelerated Path MENU, click the Topic or Assessment title.
Reference
Clicking the Reference button will open a separate browser window from which you can view: Course Objectives, Glossary, Job Aids and Additional Resources.
To navigate within the References section, use the navigation buttons within your browser. To return to the course player, click the X in the upper right corner of the browser window.
Job Aids
Clicking the Job Aids button will open a separate browser window from which you can view the job aids for the course. These documents are on-the-job performance support tools.
Clicking the Print button enables you to print your assessment scores. This button is only visible when you are viewing the Assessments page.
Help
Clicking Help launches a separate browser window. Here you have access to the online Help documentation.
To navigate within the Help section, use the navigation buttons within your browser. To return to the course player, click the X in the upper right corner of the browser window.
Exit
Clicking Exit will close the course player.
Note: Using the Exit button to close the course player enables the player to Bookmark your place in the course so when you return to the course, you will have the option to return directly to that spot. If you exit the player by clicking the X in the upper right corner, your place in the course will not be bookmarked.
Technical Support[Top of Page]
SkillSoft Technical Support is available during UK office hours.
Phone: 01483 795 207
Email:
Technical support can be also be accessed in a number of different ways:
a) Frequently Asked Questions
We will be regularly updating the website with "Frequently Asked Questions" and technical support documents. These will hopefully answer most of your technical questions, but if you want additional support then you can contact us by email or phone.
b) By email
We can be contacted via and you should receive a reply the next working day.
c) By phone
Skillsoft technical support can be contacted on (01483) 795207 on weekdays between 9 and 5
Alternatively, you can contact us at the Nursing Leadership team on (0161) 237 2629 or (0161) 237 2598 or by leaving a message at (0161) 237 2355.
In our experience from our pilot programme, we strongly recomend finding some local support (such as your IT department or a computer-literature family member or friend).