Q. What is the purpose of the eMINTS professional development program for educational technology specialists (PD4ETS)?
A. Current evaluation results indicate that the introduction of eMINTS classrooms into a school or district has the power to change the teaching and learning environment of the school or district and to improve student performance. The eMINTS Professional Development program for Educational Technology Specialists (PD4ETS) is part of a strategy to expand the eMINTS program to more classrooms throughout the state of Missouri and nationally. This portion of the eMINTS program will help empower schools and districts to effectively implement the eMINTS instructional model through the delivery of the eMINTS Comprehensive Professional Development program (eMINTS PD) and other applicable eMINTS professional development programs.
PD4ETS can provide a range of solutions, from a full replication of the eMINTS program to a tailored use of the program to facilitate compatible educational goals. PD4ETS offers high-quality professional development in a train-the-trainer model.
Educational organizations that desire to combine technology and inquiry-based teaching (the eMINTS instructional model) in order to achieve improved performance for all learners will find PD4ETS an important component in their overall program development. Successful completion of the PD4ETS training may lead to certification as an eMINTS instructional specialist.
Certified eMINTS instructional specialists have access to the eMINTS professional-development materials, strategies and support, everything necessary to help teachers achieve proficiency in the eMINTS instructional model as they implement it in their classrooms. Certified eMINTS Instructional Specialists can be critical catalysts in the formation and sustenance of professional learning communities in schools and districts.
PD4ETS aims to provide professional educators with essential support systems and a collaborative group of colleagues. PD4ETS participants gain the knowledge and skills necessary for implementing the eMINTS instructional model and high-quality professional development in their own educational settings.
The PD4ETS program will be offered pending the eMINTS National Center’s final budget sufficiency each fiscal year and an adequate number of participants to form cohort groups.
Q. What are the goals of the eMINTS PD4ETS program?
A. PD4ETS seeks to prepare professional educators with the skills and the vision necessary to lead their own schools or districts in the successful use of educational technology based on the eMINTS instructional model. The eMINTS staff will evaluate each participant’s prior knowledge and skills with standard eMINTS hardware and software and provide each participant with sufficient individual support to improve proficiency.
- Participants will understand methods of incorporating constructivist principles into the classroom: inquiry-based learning, collaborative learning and project-based learning. They will develop strategies for assisting classroom teachers in integrating these methods into a technology-rich classroom.
- Participants will be able to effectively implement eMINTS professional-development components (including sessions and classroom visits) with an emphasis on teaching practices rather than the use of technology.
- Participants will be able to articulate the purpose for making regular classroom visits to support teachers’ transfer of learning from professional-development sessions to actual classroom practice.
- Participants will become skilled at using various teacher-support strategies including coaching, modeling, lesson integration, assistance in obtaining technical support.
- Participants will become aware of the roles they play in their learning communities and be able to identify ways of tapping other members of those communities (for example, through group sessions or the e-mail discussion list) for problem-solving and the generation of new ideas.
- Participants will become skilled at finding and using a variety of online resources that support technology integration and inquiry-based learning, such as educational websites, databases and WebQuests.
- Participants will become familiar with a wide variety of classroom applications for technology and learn how to create lessons that integrate multimedia projects with teaching based on constructivist principles.
- Participants will develop long-term plans for implementing the eMINTS instructional model in their own settings through professional development and classroom visits.
Q. What is the eMINTS instructional model?
A. Please see the eMINTS National Center Frequently Asked Questions for a full description of the eMINTS instructional model.
Q. Who is eligible to apply for the eMINTS PD4ETS program? Where will the program be offered?
A. The program is available to any school or district interested in implementing the eMINTS instructional model in their particular setting. Other educational organizations and entities interested in applying for program participation should contact the eMINTS National Center office.
The location(s) of the PD4ETS program will be determined by the number of applicants accepted into the program and their residency. Cohort groups of not less than 5 participants will be formed based on the geographic locations of participants.
Q. Who selects PD4ETS participants? What qualifications should a PD4ETS participant have?
A. Selection of PD4ETS participants is under the purview of the school, district or educational organization that employs them. It in not required that PD4ETS participants complete any other eMINTS professional development programs prior to acceptance into the PD4ETS program.
Applicant schools or districts with established eMINTS programs will be highly discouraged from nominating PD4ETS participants who are Year 2 eMINTS teachers. It is not advisable for Year 2 eMINTS teachers, who still have a full year of professional development as well as fulltime classroom responsibilities, to attempt to complete the PD4ETS program. It is strongly recommended that Year 2 eMINTS teachers not be allowed to participate in the PD4ETS training and, at the same time, be responsible for the professional development of new eMINTS teachers.
Schools, districts and educational organizations should strongly consider requiring the following qualifications for PD4ETS participants:
- A Bachelor’s degree in education plus a minimum of one year successful teaching experience.
- Current teacher certification.
- Experience with multimedia instructional technologies (including SMART Board. computer, printer, scanner, digital camera).
- Knowledge of inquiry-based and cooperative learning methodologies.
- Strong interpersonal relationship skills.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Experience presenting professional development activities and working with adult learners.
- Self-starter, self-motivated.
Q. Is it possible for an individual to apply for PD4ETS on his/her own without school or district approval or involvement?
A. A goal of eMINTS National Center programs is the development of a professional learning community within a school leading to school-wide renewal and improvement. Development of a professional learning community within a school requires the involvement, approval and buy-in of a critical mass of the teaching staff and significant administrative support. The participation of isolated individuals in PD4ETS is counter-productive to this goal.
Q. What is the cost for participating in the eMINTS professional development program for educational technology specialists?
A. Find program cost information ....
Find current equpment information ....
Q. How many specialists can apply for PD4ETS from one organization?
A. Cohort group size is limited to a minimum of 5 participants per group and a maximum of 15 participants per group. Organizations may apply for one or more slots in the cohort group. Organizations with more than 15 potential participants should contact the eMINTS National Center for special arrangements.
Q. How many sessions does the program include and when will they be held?
A. PD4ETS sessions are offered to cohort groups based on the state residence of participants:
For Missouri residents, a two-day orientation session is held in the summer preceding the first school year of participation. There are also approximately 12 sessions, each approximately 6 hours in length during Year 1. Participants and the eMINTS staff members providing the PD4ETS program schedule sessions for Year 1 during the school day on days that are mutually agreed upon. Up to four site visits are scheduled individually with participants. During Year 1 participants are required to attend the eMINTS Winter Conference, a one-day session held in Columbia, MO; this event counts as one of 12 training days.
During Year 2, approximately 39 hours of professional development are scheduled by participants and eMINTS staff. Six sessions approximately 6 hours in length are scheduled during the school day. Three online sessions of one hour each are held in the months without face-to-face meetings. Two site visits in Year 2 are scheduled individually with participants.
For non-Missouri residents, Year 1 begins with a 2-3 day orientation experience in Missouri to communicate with eMINTS staff, focus on program implementation and the basics of inquiry-based learning. Then a 2-3 day follow-up meeting in participants' sites several months into year 1 will be provided. This format is intended to give PD4ETS participants the support needed as they establish their eMINTS classrooms and to deepen their understanding about the eMINTS program. In addition non-Missouri participants and eMINTS staff will meet for approximately 1-2 hours each month via video teleconference, e-conference or conference telephone calls. In addition, monthly phone calls will be scheduled mutually by participants and eMINTS staff.
If at least ten participants are from the same state or region, all Year 1 experiences may be held in the participants’ home state or in a location convenient to participants.
eMINTS staff will visit participants’ settings at least once during Year 1 and once during Year 2 of program participation.
During Year 2, non-Missouri participants schedule a week-long session in Missouri. If at least ten participants are from the same state or region, the Year 2 one-week experience may be held in the participants’ home state or in a location convenient to participants. Monthly meetings of approximately 1-2 hours each via video teleconference, e-conference or conference telephone calls will be scheduled mutually by participants and eMINTS staff. In addition, monthly phone calls will be scheduled mutually with individual participants and eMINTS staff.
-
Q. Are there obligations in addition to training sessions?
A. Participants are required to visit an eMINTS classroom if they have not done so in the past, attend a professional development session facilitated by an experienced eMINTS trainer and job shadow a trainer during a classroom visit. Missouri participants also are expected to attend the eMINTS Winter Conference in Year 1 of their training. The eMINTS Winter Conference is counted as one of the required sessions.
Q. What requirements must participating educational technology specialists meet?
A. The school or district and participating educational technology specialist(s) must complete and meet all requirements stipulated in the eMINTS National Center program application section PD4ETS. Participating educational technology specialists and their schools or districts are expected to commit to the full 2-year program and participants are expected to attend all sessions and be present during site visits. Only valid and legitimate excuses will be accepted.
Q. What is required to receive “certification” as an eMINTS instructional specialist? Are all participants in PD4ETS required to complete the certification requirements? Is there a cost for the certification process?
A. Participants interested in certification will be required to complete several job shadowing experiences, develop a portfolio of required materials and complete a performance-based competency assessment.
Completion of the certification process is not a requirement of the PD4ETS program. Participants not completing the certification process will receive a certificate of attendance; however, successful completion of the certification process is required for individuals to be eligible to provide eMINTS professional development programs.
Participants who complete the requirements of the certification process but who do not successfully facilitate eMINTS or eMINTS4All training during the two-year program will receive a certificate of completion. These participants may access eMINTS professional development materials after the two-year PD4ETS program is complete but may not train official eMINTS or eMINTS4All teachers. Participant may apply for eIS certification at a later time to train official eMINTS or eMINTS4All teachers.
Participants who complete the requirements of the certification process and who successfully facilitated one year of eMINTS professional development for eMINTS and/or eMINTS4All teacher(s) or an approved adaptation of eMINTS professional development will receive eMINTS Instructional Specialist certification. These participants must be evaluated performing eMINTS professional development with a training cohort. Participants who receive Instructional Specialist certification may facilitate the training of official eMINTS or eMINTS4All teachers after the completion of the two-year PD4ETS program and may be selected to serve as a consultant to the eMINTS National Center providing professional development programs to eMINTS or eMINTS4All teachers from other districts.
Costs for certification are included in the participation costs.
Q. Is there a cost for continued access to eMINTS professional development materials following successful certification?
A. Certified eMINTS Instructional Specialists (or their organizations) will be required to complete an annual Access Agreement outlining the privileges and limitations of their access to eMINTS professional development materials. A fee will be assessed annually. Failure to complete the Access Agreement and/or to pay the access fee will result in termination of the individual’s access to eMINTS professional development materials.
Q. What additional requirements must certified eMINTS Instructional Specialists adhere to in preparing official eMINTS teachers?
A.
In addition to completing the annual Access Agreement, certified eMINTS Instructional Specialists delivering eMINTS PD to teachers who wish to be considered official eMINTS or eMINTS4All teachers (including replacement teachers) must submit a professional development schedule prior to the start of professional development each year. Thirdly, they must submit a classroom visit schedule that documents completed classroom visits in January and at the end of the school year.
Q. Are participants expected to take “refresher” or continuing education courses to maintain their certification?
A. Educational technology specialists who successfully complete the PD4ETS program certification process and become certified eMINTS Instructional Specialists will be expected to maintain contact with the eMINTS National Center to receive programmatic updates (professional development materials) and other information. Requirements for additional professional development to maintain certification will be posted on the eMINTS website.
Q. What is the application process for the PD4ETS program? Where should it be sent? When will we be notified if our application is accepted?
A. Find information for registering for eMINTS professional development programs, including PD4ETS. Registaration forms must be postmarked not later than June 15. In addition to the application, a telephone interview with the participant and appropriate school or district administrative staff may be required.
Applicants will receive written and e-mail confirmation of their acceptance into eMINTS programs. Information about dates, times and locations of initial sessions will be included if applicable.
Q. What factors are considered in the application approval process?
A.
Applications are approved based on multiple factors including the availability of eMINTS staff to provide the services, completeness of the application, demonstrated success in program implementation for schools or districts seeking additional eMINTS classroom implementations or participation in PD4ETS.
Another important factor is the geographic distribution of applicants allowing the formation of cohort groups with adequate numbers of participants – intensive face-to-face programs such as PD4ETS are generally not available to groups smaller than 5 participants.
Q. What sources of support are available to pay the participation costs for eMINTS PD or eMINTS Replacement PD?
A. Please note: the eMINTS National Center does not provide funds to teachers, schools, districts or other educational organizations interested in implementing the eMINTS instructional model. Schools, districts and other educational organizations may fund equipment, software and/or eMINTS professional development programs using the following sources of funds:
- eMINTS grant funding and application information
- Title I (note: some states have specific regulations regarding equipment purchase).
- Titles II.A
- Title IV
- Title V,
- Title VI
- Local Professional Development and At-Risk funds
- Foundations – see reliable sources such as the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE).
Q. What equipment is a participating organization required to provide for PD4ETS participants?
A. The organization is required to provide the participating specialist(s) with a laptop meeting current specifications for the two years that the specialist is in the program. See current specificiations.
-
Q. Will participants be provided with webspace while they are in the program?
A. Yes. eMINTS will provide participants with a limited amount of webspace while they are in the program if the participant’s organization is unable to provide them. See policies.
Q. How long is the organization and participant committed to participating in PD4ETS?
A. Schools, districts, organizations and participating specialists must make a two-year commitment and complete all scheduled sessions.
Q. What if a specialist leaves before completing the program? Will organizations be reimbursed for unused portions?
A. Organizations will not be reimbursed for unused portions of the program. Because of the nature of the professional development program sequence, organizations are not allowed to substitute other individuals if the original applicant is unable to complete the program after any more than the first three sessions (Missouri) or first two days of Week 1 (national version) have been held.
Q. Are PD4ETS participants required to attend any other meetings or professional development sessions in addition to the specific PD4ETS sessions?
A. PD4ETS participants whose schools or districts were awarded a Missouri Title II.D competitive grant beginning in FY06 may be asked to serve on their school’s or district’s leadership team. Additional meetings are involved for the teams.
