Training

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Portrait of James Hamilton

Welcome!

Hi, I’m James Ryan Hamilton, your IT Training Specialist.

I am very excited to get out there and get to know you all this year! I have worked for the University since 2015 and joined Extension in October after six years with Swanlund IT Services. It is a pleasure to be your patient guide through the 2026 IT landscape. I have customer service and IT Support experience, industry certifications from CompTIA, Apple and ITIL Foundation and three cats named Pinto, Pepper, and  Pancake.

My philosophy is simple: Technology should work for you, not against you. Whether you are looking to master Outlook, understand the new world of AI, or just figure out why your microphone isn't working, this is the place to start. If you have any training ideas, requests, concerns or just want to chat about a tech topic please feel free to call, chat or email. 

This Spring please join us online:

  • Tuesday Premieres: Live deep-dives into new topics.
  • Wednesday Office Hours: An open door for your questions.
  • Thursday Encores: A second chance to catch the live training.

This month

In-person Training Interest Survey

Please help me shape future in-person training events near you! Take this 8-quesiton survey

Open Discussion Office Hours 

All questions welcome! No Registration required, click the link below to join anytime!
Feb 18 - 9:30 am to 10:30 am - You pick the topic
Feb 25 - 9:30 am to 10:30 am - AI Discussion

Zoom - Advanced & Power User Features

Dig into some of the more advanced Zoom features that can actually make your meetings and trainings smoother, more interactive, and a lot more fun. This is not just slides, see live demonstrations of AI Avatars, Emoji Reactions, Polls, Whiteboards, Multi-camera mode, Ambient Music, ways to elevate your Screen Share and Breakout Room experiences.
Thu, Feb 19 at 11 am - Register Now or join us on the day!

Teams - Advanced & Power User Features

Deep dive into Microsoft's monolith app and making it work for you.
Tue, Feb 17 at 3 pm - Register Now or join us on the day!
Thu, Feb 26 at 11 am - Register Now or join us on the day!

Box & Cloud Storage 

Box, OneDrive, Google Drive. When to choose which one and their pros and cons. 
Tue, Feb 24 at 3 pm - Register Now or join us on the day!
Thu, Mar 5 at 11 am - Register Now or join us on the day!

Web Site Editor Training 

Required learning to access the Extension website editor features. Use the link below to register.
Wed, Feb 25 at 1 pm: Website Editor Training
Wed, April 1 at 1 pm: Website Editor Training

Later this Spring

Check back here all spring long for more info and registration links for new live trainings on:  AI Hype vs. Reality, Adobe Express, Audacity, Google Docs, Microsoft Office.   

In case you missed it - Recorded Trainings 

Windows 11 – Making the most of it!

We all had to do it, let’s dive in and swim with the current!  Live demos of Focus mode, Snap Layouts, Virtual Desktops, Voice Control, keyboard shortcuts and more.  View the edited, concise recorded training.

Outlook – Advanced features to put you ahead

 Silence the “Re: re: re: re:” nightmares, schedule that meeting without email-tag, and evade the “click here to join trap”. Featuring a showdown between “New Outlook” and “Outlook Classic.” - View the edited, concise recorded training

Introduction to AI – CoPilot and Gemini

Jump right into using Microsoft CoPilot and Google Gemini for good, learn their limitations, their strengths, privacy concerns, and test out different scenarios live. View the edited, concise recorded training

Suggest a training

Have an idea for a training you'd like to see? Please feel free to share your ideas or thoughts with me! I'd be happy to help.

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Archives:
If you are looking for training sessions recorded prior to 2026, please scroll down to the Legacy Archive section.

Legacy Archive

📂 Legacy Archive (2020–2025) The resources below were developed by previous training staff. While valuable, please note that some software interfaces may have changed since these recordings were made.


We support field staff by providing in-person and remote training, as well as maintain access and guidance to training resources that are available for campus and College of ACES staff. Training on software, hardware, security, and emerging issues in technology or education is provided on request. If you have training needs, please contact the Director of Information of Technology directly to plan with session topics and specific dates in mind.

Windows 11

Intro to Windows 11 Training January 8, 2025

Microsoft Teams

Adobe Acrobat (PDF)

Box

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Word

Photo Transfer and Editing

Webtools and Registration System

Zoom

College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences Illinois Extension

101 Mumford Hall (MC-710)

1301 W. Gregory Dr.

Urbana, IL 61801

Email: extension@illinois.edu

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