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Division of Human Resources

TechSmart Learning Resource Hub

Future-skilling USC Employees and transforming work through technology. 

Step into the future with confidence. Our Learning Resource hub is your gateway to mastering the skills of tomorrow, today. Whether you're exploring AI, automation, or emerging technology, we provide curated learning resources and hands-on tools to help you stay ahead in a rapidly evolving world.

 

Tool What It Does How to Use It:
Learn and Practice
Get Certified In It
Microsoft (MS) Office 
  • Productivity software
  • Collaboration
  • Cloud-based

MS Courses:

MS 365 Certified: Fundamentals ($99)

MS Office Specialist: Associate (MS 365 Apps) Must pass three listed exams ($100)

MS Office Specialist: Expert (MS 365 Apps) ($100) Associate is a pre-requisite

MS Copilot (AI) with Enterprise Data Security

  • Experience the full capabilities of MS 365 with AI through Copilot
  • HIPAA compliant
  • Doesn’t share to third-parties

MS Courses:

 

DataCamp Course:

 

TIP: MS Copilot is included in MS Office 365 tools. MS Copilot 365 offers additional capabilities and is available for an additional fee.
DataCamp AI Fundamentals: This certification is designed for individuals new to Artificial Intelligence (AI) or seeking to enhance their knowledge. It covers essential AI concepts including the difference between different AI domains, making use of Generative AI ethics.
MS Power Automate
  • Automation platform powered by low code and AI
  • Automate your workflow across systems
  • Reduce or eliminate manual, repetitive tasks

MS Courses:

TIP: Log into your Power Automate to access hundreds of flow templates

 
Tools Function How to Use It:
Learn and Practice
MS One Drive
  • Digital Organization
  • File Storage
  • File Sharing
  • Access Files from
  • Anywhere

MS Courses:

MS SharePoint
  • Digital Organization
  • File Storage
  • File Sharing
  • Access Files from Anywhere

MS Courses:

Tools Function How to Use It:
 Learn and Practice
MS Outlook
  • Email
  • Calendar
  • Contacts

MS Courses:

MS Outlook Bookings with Me
  • Integrates with Outlook
  • Personal bookings page to share specific availability and reduce back and forth with scheduling
  • Video: How to use MS Outlook Bookings with Me with Mike Tholfsen, YouTube

 

USC does not currently support Microsoft Bookings, Shared Bookings, only Bookings with Me, Personal Bookings.
MS Teams
  • Teamwork hub
  • Group Chats
  • File Sharing
  • Video Conferencing / Virtual Meetings / Calls Training
  • Registration

MS Courses:

Zoom
  • Video Conferencing / Virtual Meetings
  • Training
  • Registration
Zoom Learning Center
MS OneNote
  • Shared Notes, Agendas, Planning
  • Powerful when connected to a Team

MS Courses:

OneNote Help & Learning
MS Planner
  • Project Planning
  • Task Delegation

MS Courses:

Tools Function How to Use It: Learn and Practice Get Certified In It
MS Word Write, edit and collaborate on documents

MS Courses:

MS Office Specialist: Word Associate (MS 35 Apps) ($100)
MS PowerPoint
  • Presentations
  • Slideshows
  • Record your screen

MS Courses:

MS Office Specialist: PowerPoint Associate (MS 365 Apps) ($100)
ClipChamp
  • Video editing
  • Green screen
  • Auto subtitles
  • Special effects

MS Courses:

 
Tools Function How to Use It:
Learn and Practice
Get Certified In It
MS Forms
  • Surveys
  • Registration
  • Quizzes

MS Courses:

 
MS Excel
  • Spreadsheets
  • Data visualization
  • Analysis tools

MS Courses:

DataCamp Courses: (10 courses total)

  • Introduction to Excel
  • Understanding Excel
  • Data Analysis in Excel
  • Data Preparation in Excel
  • Data Visualization in Excel
  • Financial Modeling in Excel
  • Introduction to Power Query in Excel
  • Intermediate Power Query in Excel
  • Advanced Excel Functions
  • Power Pivot in Excel

DataCamp Tutorials on Spreadsheets and Excel (30 tutorials total)

  • How to Compare Two Columns
  • How to do a VLOOKUP() with Multiple Criteria
  • How to Remove Spaces in Excel
  • And more…

MS Office Specialist: Excel Associate (MS 365 Apps) ($100)

 

MS Office Specialist: Excel Expert (MS 365 Apps) ($100)

 

DataCamp Data Literacy: This Certification is a great place to start if you’re new to data! Show you know your way around analytic fundamentals and data visualization theory.

 

DataCamp Career Certifications: Data Analyst, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, AI Engineer for Data Scientists

 

MS Power BI
  • Interactive reports with visual analytics
  • AI-driven insights

DataCamp Courses: (22 courses total)

  • Introduction to Power BI
  • Data Visualization in Power BI
  • Data Preparation in Power BI
  • Data Modeling in Power BI
  • Data Transformation in Power BI
  • DAX Functions in Power BI
  • And more…

 

DataCamp Tutorials: (31 tutorials total)

  • Power BI Tutorial for Beginners
  • How to Create Date Tables in Power BI Tutorial
  • Power BI Dashboard Tutorial
  • Power BI Dashboards vs. Reports
  • A Step-by-Step Guide to Visualizing KPIs in Power BI
  • And more…

DataCamp Exam PL-300: Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst: (complete the full Data Analyst in Power BI career track to be eligible for a 50% discount code via email)

 

Tools Function How to Use It: 
Learn and Practice
Get Certified In It
Process Mining Use process mining to find ways to optimize your business processes – including accounts receivable, invoicing, even Power Automate cloud flows. TBD. May not be available to USC yet. Checking with DoIT.  
Process Mapping

PI before IT…

  • Tools to make process steps visible and create a shared understanding of the current-state process.

  • Allows you to work together to streamline the process steps before you automate the process.
Office of Organizational Excellence: Improvement Leader Program

 

Additional Resources:

  • More university licensed software/tools available for little to no cost to your department through DoIT.
  • DataCamp LMS is available through partnership between the Office of Research and Office of the Provost.
  • Workshops available through University Libraries (AI, Data Management, etc.)
  • Workshops available through the Center for Teaching Excellence.
  • Process Mapping resources through the Office of Organizational Excellence.
  • Viva Learning courses and aids (look for the ones through MS vs. LinkedIn Learning)

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