BEMIDJI, Minn. (July 6, 2011) — Bemidji State University’s Optivation venture is offering a number of courses in July and August on topics including performance appraisals and basic formulas in Microsoft Excel.

Optivation has relocated, and is now housed in Bridgeman Hall on the Bemidji State University campus.

Lean process and improvement for K-12 and higher education professionals
Lean processes in education are an improvement philosophy based on collaboration, systems thinking and the scientific method that can be one of several strategies for an organization to strengthen its leadership capacity. This course will teach participants how to read their environment more accurately and engage more members of an organization in helping adapt to changing political, social and economic pressures and expectations. The course will also introduce quality-control tools, facilitation techniques and theories on leadership and change. Participants in the course will be able to serve as educational lean facilitators.

This online course will be taught by Dr. Theresa Waterbury, assistant professor of educational leadership at Winona State University. The course runs from July 11 through Aug. 31 and carries a fee of $495.

Performance Appraisals
This online course will teach business managers how to retain good employees and how to use an employee performance management system to coach for improved performance. The course will discuss topics including rewards systems, performance mangement and a strategic perspective of employee retention. It will also cover the importance of improving and correcting performance, as well as what to know when discipline and termination become necessary.

This online course will be taught by Lyndi Odegard, a human resources professional in the banking industry. The course will be held on July 25 and carries a fee of $200.

Basic Formulas in Microsoft Excel
Participants will learn basic processes for writing formulas and referencing cells, setting up tables and using built-in function of Microsoft’s Excel spreadsheet program, such as summation and averages. Students in this course will also learn how to use the new “ribbon” interface introduced in Microsoft Office 2007, and learn the differences between that interface and the classic drop-down interface.

This online course will be taught by Cal Rice, 32-year IBM veteran with a 15-year career as a community education instructor in Minnesota and Texas. The course will be held Aug. 4 and carries a fee of $75.

For more information about Optivation, visit http://www.optivation.org or call (218) 755-4900. A complete list of upcoming courses at Optivation is available on its website at http://optivation.org/calendar/.