There are many online learning resources out there that can help further a user's understanding of various applications and subjects, such as Microsoft 365 apps like OneDrive or SharePoint, general tech questions, and even leadership courses. UIT suggests two options that we like: Alison, a free online account, and SkillSets, accessible for free through an MSU account. Below you will find more information on each of these choices.

 
Alison
SkillSets Online

Alison is a free online learning platform that doesn't require a connectiong to MSU. An Alison account gives you access to the website and all its features. Alison can also be accessed via your smart phone, not just a web browser, making it easy to learn wherever you are.

Courses taken through Alison offer certificates of completion that are great additions to both a user's resume and current employment. Alison’s courses fall into three study areas: academic, workplace, and personal development. You can find everything from cybersecurity and artificial intelligence to massage and tattoo art.

For a full list of free courses, visit their course catelog.

How to Sign Up: Register on Alison either by using your email address or through a social media account like Google by visiting their website.

Courses are categorized for IT and NON-IT Professionals. Whether you are an IT or NON-IT professional, you will have access to ALL classes. But when you choose to sign up as IT or NON-IT, it sets what you see as a “default”. That’s particularly useful for NON-IT learners who want maybe a class on Outlook or Excel, but don’t care about the innards of Cisco networking.

  1. Hands-on-Labs (IT) – These courses are intended for the serious IT professionals getting into the technical nuts and bolts of systems and software.
  2. Streetwise (IT) – These short courses are for IT professionals delivered by IT  professionals.
  3. Courses (NON-IT and IT) – These courses are for both IT and NON-IT professionals (as opposed to Streetwise videos or Hands-On labs, which are geared towards the IT professional).

How to Sign Up: if you would like to gain a free SkillSets account, fill out this request form. SkillSets will then send you a login link and credentials (username/password). This will allow access to their dashboard and to browse the catalogue for classes to take.