Welcome to this Knowledge Link overview. This document will familiarize you with the basic features of Penn s Knowledge Link learning management system that can be used to deliver training to Penn faculty, staff and students. 1
This guide is intended for anyone who is considering offering their training courses (classroom or web-based) through Knowledge Link. The presentation will outline the key features for elearning, and provide guidance on the resources you will need in order to use Knowledge Link effectively. 2
Knowledge Link is a web-based system used to track and deliver job-related training to faculty, staff and student workers at Penn. It is shared and managed collaboratively by IT and training staff across the University and Penn Medicine. As a learning management system, Knowledge Link can be used as a registration system to manage access to classroom and web-based training. It can also be used as a platform to deliver on-line learning modules that include text, images, video, audio and on-line quizzes and surveys. Reports on training progress and compliance are also provided. 3
Knowledge Link, Penn Profiler and LMS Reports fit together to provide an end-to-end learning management environment. When a new employee is hired at the University, they are automatically invited to complete the Penn Profiler survey. Based on their responses, required training is assigned, and the trainee can enroll in the appropriate courses through Knowledge Link. Training records are exported nightly to an LMS collection in the University s data warehouse. A set of LMS Reports is available to supervisors in order to track the training progress of their supervisees. 4
Knowledge Link is used to deliver administrative and compliance training for University and Penn Medicine employees, as well as other job-related education. It is the primary Learning Management System for access and tracking of compliance training that is mandatory for University workers in order to meet regulatory requirements for research, privacy, responsible conduct, and worker health and safety. It is also the system of record for courses that must be completed before employees can perform certain job functions and/or gain access to secure University systems such as Ben Financials and ATLAS. Many of these courses are assigned to University employees as required by the Penn Profiler survey. Other optional courses are also offered on Knowledge Link by various departments, schools and centers, covering a range of topics such as job skills, management, and professional or personal development. Additional job-related training may be offered outside of Knowledge Link. 5
From a training provider s perspective, there are several benefits to using Knowledge Link to manage your training program. 6
Many learning and data management functions can be handled automatically electronically. 7
Knowledge Link offers convenient access to training information for trainees, supervisors, and course providers. 8
Let s review the main functions that trainees use when they log into Knowledge Link. The starting or home page is the Required screen. Here, the trainee will see a list of any due (or overdue) courses that are assigned as required, often by Penn Profiler or by their supervisor, department or the course provider. 9
In addition to mandatory training, there are many classes available on Knowledge Link as Optional. Users can search or browse for all courses (optional or required) in the Knowledge Link Catalog. Look up courses by name using a search tool or browse course lists by topic category, by course type (web-based or classroom), or by course provider. 10
Many courses are offered in a web-based format that can be launched and completed directly in the trainee s web browser. This slide highlights several features of web-based training modules. 11
To use Knowledge Link successfully, the trainee s computer must meet the Knowledge Link minimum technical requirements. Click the link to review the supported web browser and Flash versions for Windows or Macintosh systems. 12
The status of all current and past course registrations (with a status of incomplete or complete ) is displayed in the user s Training Record. If the course provider has made a Certificate of Completion available, the trainee can open and print the certificate from the Training Record page. 13
There are two main types of Knowledge Link administrators who can manage courses and users. For classroom training, the course Instructor can create sections for each class, and can make them available for people to self-enroll. Alternatively, the instructor can enroll trainees in the class, and can give them credit once the class is complete. A Jr. Administrator is an additional role that can set up and manage both classroom and web-based courses. If you are offering courses through Knowledge Link, you will need to work with a Jr. Administrator in your department, or perhaps become one yourself. 14
There are six LMS Reports available in the Ben Reports system from the University s Data Warehouse. The two most popular reports are: Supervisor s Report allows supervisors (identified by Penn Profiler) to monitor the training progress of their supervisees The Required and Optional Training by Business Unit report shows the training status for members of a particular business unit or ORG 15
Trainees can get help with Knowledge Link in several ways. For general questions and technical problems, there is a central Knowledge Link helpdesk. Questions relating to user accounts, access and reporting are handled by ISC s KL_help team. ISC also maintains a set of frequently asked questions, and other helpful information on the Penn Computing Web. If you offer courses through Knowledge Link, you should provide some means for users to contact you if they have questions that relate specifically to your courses. 16
ISC offers training for people who will be managing Knowledge Link courses as Instructors or Jr. Administrators. As you discuss your training program with the Knowledge Link support team, you can identify which training will be most important for your program. 17
If you are planning a new training program, review this list of things to consider, and discuss options with your Knowledge Link trainer or admin. 18
As with any learning program, resources are needed in order to deliver training successfully through Knowledge Link. Consider how you will support your trainees, and how you will manage the time needed to create and administer course content. 19
If you would like to learn more about offering courses through Knowledge Link, contact ISC s Administrative elearning group at kl_help@lists.upenn.edu. You are also invited to join an active community of Knowledge Link developers from a variety of offices around the University and Penn Medicine. 20