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Statewide Learning & Development Solutions
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In this Issue:
- Performance and Goal Setting
- Latest on the LXP
- Employee Spotlight
- Scaling AI Course
- Accessibility Corner
- Around the State
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 In public service the importance of continuous learning and development cannot be overstated. A key component of being an employee who can meet the needs of the public through their role is setting and achieving performance goals. Goal setting is a critical process that empowers every individual in your agency to contribute meaningfully to the mission of their department.
Goal setting should be a roadmap for success. Well-defined goals provide direction, focus, and motivation. When goals aren’t clear, missed opportunities and reduced productivity are more likely outcomes. Effective performance and goal setting helps employees prioritize tasks, allocate resources efficiently, and measure progress.
The ability to align individual efforts with broader organizational objectives makes goal setting a powerful tool. Understanding how personal goals contribute to the mission of the department/agency increases the likelihood employees will be engaged and committed to their work.
Performance and goal setting is an ongoing process. Ensuring goals remain relevant and achievable through continuous feedback is critical for employees. A culture of open communication/feedback through regular check-ins benefits the entire organization. These efforts lead to a more collaborative work environment where everyone is invested in achieving shared goals.
When employees are held accountable for their goals and are given the support and resources they need to succeed, they are more likely to buy-in and take ownership of their work while striving for continuous improvement. Agencies can promote a culture of growth by providing training and development opportunities that enhance understanding of goal setting and performance management.
Stay tuned for an upcoming eLearning from COE: Goal Setting on Performance.
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What You Need to Know: State of Colorado Learning Experience Platform (LXP) |
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 We hope by now you are aware of the new State of Colorado Learning Experience Platform (LXP). The LXP empowers employees to build and develop skills based on their current learning goals, organizational needs, and career aspirations.
As a learner, employees can take advantage of the LXP through a range of options, including the desktop web application, mobile apps, and integrations with Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, Google Chrome, and other relevant applications.
LXP Login Page
All State employees under the Governor’s purview must register with the LXP in order to complete required compliance training. **Some users with incomplete registration may have recently received a confirmation email from the LXP system (see screenshot). This confirmation email link must be clicked on (Confirm Email Address) in addition to the welcome email message link that was previously sent to all State employees under the Governor’s purview. Employees that were not sent the confirmation message will still be able to register in the LXP by either:
- Clicking “Get Started” in the July 1 welcome message. Users will then need to click “forgot password”. Once users have created a new password they will have access to the system OR
- Visiting the url: soclxp.edcast.com/user/login and clicking forgot password.
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Who is the LXP for?
- COE provides free training programs to classified employees under the Governor’s purview in the Executive Branch. As of September 2024 all COE training will be found in the LXP. Please Note: We strongly encourage supervisors and agency leaders to follow up with their employees to ensure they are aware of the LXP requirement.
- The Colorado Department of Higher Education, Colorado Department of Education, Colorado Judicial Branch, Colorado General Assembly, and Colorado Office of the Attorney General are excluded from the LXP.
LXP Resources:
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Employee Spotlight: Nick Eppard, Communications Specialist |
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Tell us about yourself.
Hello L&D Leaders! I have worked in nonprofit communications for the majority of my career. I grew up in South Dakota, but have lived in the Denver Metro for over a decade now. Being the son of a public school teacher, I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to spend my days as a public servant.
I’ve had past roles working on federal research infrastructure grants, for an education policy organization, in city government, and most recently for the State of Colorado. I got my start with the State during the COVID-19 pandemic working with at-risk communities as a member of the State’s Residential Care Strike Team. Most recently, I joined DPA as a communications specialist primarily working with COE and Labor Relations.
What is your favorite tool to use when you support employees with their professional development? Why?
As a friendly neighborhood comms guy, my favorite tools to tap into are design programs such as InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Canva. Being able to create unique content that enhances communications across graphic design, desktop publishing, and video production has always been very exciting to me.
What is something you would like to implement for statewide learners in the future?
Colleagues of mine know I’m a big believer in recurring communications such as this newsletter. Being able to continually reinforce messaging while also keeping communities abreast to the latest and greatest news is a key component of quality communication and community engagement. I’m interested in ways we can expand, enhance, and build on our current efforts through videos, toolkits, infographics, and other new media techniques.
What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time you can probably find me on a trail, or at a coffee shop/brewery/record store. I love a good “hang” and a solid cup of joe, an IPA, or anything involving vinyl records is a fast track to my happy place. My favorite sport has always been basketball. While my dream of making the NBA fell a little short, I’ve enjoyed giving back to the game I love by providing individual instruction, coaching youth teams, and refereeing.
What was your dream job as a kid?
I truly thought I was going to be on ESPN SportsCenter as a TV Anchor. Boomshakalaka!
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 InnovateUS is excited to announce the release of our third online course in our AI series: Responsible AI for Public Professions: Scaling AI in Your Organization. This free, at-your-own-pace program teaches managers how to execute ethical AI initiatives. The goal of the course is to help you design and implement AI projects with your team. Those who complete the course will receive a personalized certificate.
The 21-video course covers key topics such as:
- What are machine learning and generative AI and how they differ
- How to select impactful AI projects
- What it means to responsibly implement AI projects
- How to develop AI talent in your organization
- How to mitigate risk effectively
- And more!
By the end of the course, participants will have a solid foundation for confidently leading their organizations into the age of AI, harnessing its power to improve public services and decision-making while maintaining public trust and promoting responsible AI use.
In just a few hours you can be on your way navigating the evolving AI landscape with confidence. To sign up and begin your journey, visit course.innovate-us.org.
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Screen Reader Basics
As the learner community is well aware, ensuring that everyone can access and navigate online content is crucial. One of the key tools that make this possible for people with visual impairments is the screen reader — a software application that enables people with severe visual impairments to use a computer.
A screen reader converts digital text into synthesized speech or braille output. This allows users to navigate and interact with digital content, including websites, applications, and documents, without needing to see the screen. Screen readers provide auditory feedback for each element on the screen, from text and images to links and buttons.
Screen readers are primarily used by individuals who are blind or have significant visual impairments. However, they can also be beneficial for people with other disabilities, such as those with cognitive impairments who find auditory information easier to process than visual information. Additionally, some people with learning disabilities may use screen readers to help them read and comprehend text more effectively.
Screen readers are available for the most common operating systems:
VoiceOver––MacOS and iOS devices
TalkBack––Android mobile devices
JAWS––Windows
NVDA––Windows
Accessibility Guidelines and Resources:
Use the Request Accommodation Reimbursement form for workplace, public, and other accommodation reimbursement requests.
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 #ColoradoForALL Corner: Women’s Equality Day
Each year on Aug. 26 we celebrate Women’s Equality Day! Passed in 1973, Congress designated this day to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. This year, let’s celebrate how far we’ve come as a state.
Colorado has a strong history of supporting women’s equality. In 1893, we became the first state to pass women’s voting rights by a popular vote. And we’ve made great strides in closing the gender pay gap thanks in large part to the 2019 passing (2021 implementation) of the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, signed by Gov. Polis. According to The Colorado Sun, women in Colorado make 87 cents to each dollar a man in Colorado makes.
To celebrate Colorado’s history of fighting for women’s equality, visit History Colorado to learn about seven women who helped lead the way in Colorado.
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