The Frequently Asked Questions and answers below provide information to schools, districts and educational organizations both in Missouri and nationally. Items specific to Missouri are identified as such and are included to alleviate the need to duplicate material unnecessarily.
The term “eMINTS staff” refers to individuals directly employed by the eMINTS National Center and to individuals who are under contract with the eMINTS National Center as consultants or sub-contractors for the purpose of delivering eMINTS professional development programs.
The term “certified eMINTS Instructional Specialist employed by the participant’s organization” refers to individuals who have successfully completed the certification process included in the Professional Development for Educational Technology Specialists (PD4ETS) program and who are employed by the same organization (external to eMINTS) with which the participant is affiliated.
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Q. What is the purpose of eMINTS4Techs?
A. eMINTS4Techs is another important program component in school-wide or district-wide implementations of the eMINTS instructional model and is required for all technology coordinators in districts adding eMINTS classrooms. The purpose of eMINTS4Techs is to support building and district level technology coordinators and facilitators in their roles specific to implementation of the eMINTS instructional model. eMINTS4Techs provides key knowledge about the eMINTS instructional model and program implementation especially as it relates to the responsibilities of technology coordinators and other technical support staff.
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Q. What are the benefits to participating technology coordinators
and other technical staff?
A. The primary benefit to participating technology coordinators and other technical staff is the likelihood that students will achieve at higher levels when professional educators work together in mutual support of program goals. It also provides technical staff with background information about how eMINTS classrooms are configured and the importance of each piece of the hardware and software suite that is essential to high-quality eMINTS implementations.
- Participation on a special eMINTS discussion list devoted to technology coordinators and other technical staff members.
- Access to an electronic Weekly Update providing valuable information such as grant funding, conferences beneficial to technology support staff and other news related to education technology at the state and national level.
- Access to online resources to support educational technology coordinators
and technical support staff.
- Copies of applicable eMINTS professional development materials.
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Q. What professional development program activities are included
in eMINTS4Techs?
A. The activities are delivered by eMINTS staff. eMINTS4Techs begins with a two-hour online session that features information about eMINTS program requirements, teacher commitments involved in the program, expectations for technical support and details about the installation and maintenance of eMINTS hardware and software. An introduction to the online discussion list that follows the introductory session also is included.
Q. What content is taught to participants in eMINTS4Techs?
A. The content taught throughout the year-long experience includes the following topics:
- eMINTS philosophy
- A Brief History
- Teacher Commitments (Professional Development Expectations)
- eMINTS Equipment and Software
- Room/Building Preparations
- Equipment Specifications
- Software Requirements and Limitations
- Installation Timeline
- Functionality
- Firewalls
- FTP
- Filters and Unlocking Sites
- Shared Folders
- AUPs
- Repair and Maintenance
- Basic Budget Considerations (Maintenance, Upgrades, Refresh)
- Resources for Technology Coordinators
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Q. Is eMINTS4Techs available in all locations in Missouri and nationally?
A. eMINTS4Techs delivered by eMINTS staff is available in Missouri depending
on staff capacity and an adequate number of participants in a particular
geographic region of the state. eMINTS4Techs is available only to
groups of 10 or more participants with a limit of 25 participants per cohort
group.
eMINTS4Techs is available nationally (in states outside of Missouri). Face-to-face sessions are conducted via e-conferencing.
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Q. How are dates and locations for eMINTS4Techs face-to-face sessions
established?
A.Introductory online session generally is held in early autumn. Participants who desire to participate in the discussion list specific to technology coordinators and technical support staff may do so at whatever level of participation they desire.
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Q. What are the attendance requirements for eMINTS4Techs? Can missed
sessions be made up?
A. Participants in eMINTS4Techs are expected to attend all scheduled sessions. The online session will be recorded and may be reviewed at a later date. Participating schools and districts are expected to demonstrate program support by allowing participants in eMINTS professional development programs sufficient flexibility to attend professional development sessions and refrain from imposing additional duties that create undue hardship on participants’ ability to meet attendance requirements.
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Q. Who is eligible to apply for participation in eMINTS4Techs?
A. Schools or districts seeking to establish the eMINTS instructional model in
their settings may apply for slots in the eMINTS4Techs program. The program is
also available to technology coordinators and technical support staff in schools
and districts where the program is already established. It may be a helpful program
for technical support staff who are new to schools or districts with established
eMINTS implementations.
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Q. Are private, independent and charter schools eligible to apply
for eMINTS4Techs?
A. Yes. Private and independent schools as well as charter schools are eligible
to apply for slots in eMINTS4Techs under the same guidelines as public schools.
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Q. Is it possible for a technology coordinator or technical support staff member to participate in eMINTS4Techs on their own without school or district 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 may be facilitated by the participation of school or district technical support staff in eMINTS4Techs as a prelude to the school’s or district’s participation.
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Q. What is the cost for participating in eMINTS4Techs?
A. The costs are outlined in the description of eMINTS professional development programs
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Q. What sources of support are available to pay the participation
costs for eMINTS4Techs?
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:
- Funding portal
- 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).
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Q. How many technology coordinators or technical support staff members
from a school or district can apply for eMINTS4Techs?
A.
Schools or districts may apply for as many slots in eMINTS4Techs for whom the
school or district will pay participation fees. eMINTS4Techs is available
only to groups of 10 or more participants with a limit of 25 participants per
cohort group.
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Q. What requirements must participants in eMINTS4Techs meet?
A. The school or district and participants must complete and meet all requirements stipulated in the eMINTS Professional Development application and accompanying FAQ. Participants are expected to attend all professional development sessions and participate in e-conferencing activities.
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Q. When are applications for eMINTS4Techs due? Where
should it be sent? When will notification of acceptance be provided?
A. Find information
and applications for eMINTS program services.
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Q. Can a school or district send other individuals
to audit eMINTs4Techs face-to-face sessions or share access to
online activities with others?
A.
No. It is not possible for individuals to audit eMINTS professional development
programs. Requests to visit eMINTS programs delivered by eMINTS staff must be
cleared in advance with the eMINTS National Center office. Participants may not
share access to online activities with non-participants.
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Q.
What if a participant in eMINTS4Techs leaves before completing the program?
Will schools or districts be reimbursed for unused portions?
A. Schools or districts will not be reimbursed for unused portions of eMINTS4Techs.
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Q. What is a participating school or district
required to provide for participants in eMINTs4Techs?
A. Participants in eMINTS4Techs need access to an Internet-connected computer (laptop or desktop) that meets minimal system requirements for use in the e-conferencing portion of the program.
