Faculty and staff members do not have to figure out how to use digital devices or programs at Cerritos College by themselves. They can get training at the Innovation Center.

The Innovation Center, located on the Cerritos College campus is a place where faculty and staff members can go to receive academic support, training and advising. It provides teachers with the training needed to create and deliver technologically innovative programs and curriculum.

Amparo Fernandez-Perez, Manager of Technological Training said that faculty and staff can train on Microsoft Office, which includes Word, Power Point and Excel. “We also show them how to create their own web sites for their classes, how to put up digital images, course outlines, class syllabi and course descriptions on their websites.”

Fernandez-Perez said that faculty can also learn how to take digital photographs, and create a short video for their website. “We also provide help to faculty and staff with scanning, and learning how to use digital cameras.”

She said that they train them how use PhotoShop, and Illustrator. “We also have training on Macs and pc’s.”

Training can be done in two ways, “We have small workshops for up to eight people – we advertise a few workshops a month – or we can also do one-on-one appointments,” Fernandez-Perez said. “If instructors want to do one-on-one appointments they just have to call the Innovation Center. On Wednesdays we have what we call “house calls,” where faculty and staff can set up appointments at their offices, and we work with them on their own computers.”

The Innovation Center also provides distance education. Teachers and faculty are able to take specialized course via the internet and television. The Innovation Center also provides training to instructors who teach grades K-12. “If anyone has a program that we do not have, we will do research and train faculty and staff how use that program.”

The Innovation Center hours are Mon.-Fri. 8a.m.-5pm. Fernandez said that they use “Front Page” to train faculty and staff.

On Sept. 25, from 9a.m.-11a.m. the center will be having online workshops.

Faculty and staff who want to go online just have to go to www.cerritos.edu/ic and click on the link that they need training on.