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 Veteran eMINTS teachers PD? What is its purpose?
A. Veteran eMINTS teachers programs provide online support and collaboration opportunities for teachers who have completed eMINTS PD. The Veteran eMINTS program continues the learning experiences veteran eMINTS teachers need to sustain the teaching practices, instructional techniques and technology skills gained in eMINTS PD.
One option is an annual enrollment in a veteran eMINTS teachers' online collaboration environment. Following a one-hour webinar (e-conference) delivered by eMINTS staff, veteran eMINTS teachers are enrolled in a special online collaboration environment for veteran eMINTS teachers. eMINTS staff provide asynchronous support to participants via the online interface. Veteran eMINTS teachers may particiapte in as many of the available professional development activities as they wish. There is no requirement that teachers complete a specific number of activities. Some activities are self-paced and self-directed with online coaching and support from eMINTS staff members. Participants also may use any of the online collaboration tools available through veterans' online collaboration environment to create lessons and projects with other veteran eMINTS teachers.
A second professional development option for veteran eMINTS teachers is attendance at the eMINTS Winter Conference. The Winter Conference generally is held each February and features sessions on WebQuests, new technologies, advanced SMART Board features and other topics of interest to year 2 and veteran eMINTS teachers. Online registration for the eMINTS Winter Conference opens in early December
The third professional development option is a 2-3 day summer institute for veteran eMINTS teachers. Summer institutes offer refresher instruction on classroom websites, new technologies and advanced educational technology strategies. Institutes are offered in a variety of locations around Missouri. Online registration opens in mid-April.
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Q. What are the benefits to participating in Veteran eMINTS teachers PD?
A. Participants in Veteran eMINTS teachers PD will be able to continue gaining knowledge and skills in the integration of inquiry-based learning into technology. They will also continue to share in the community of learners that is a hallmark of eMINTS PD. Veteran eMINTS teachers will be able to access eMINTS professional development materials that have been created or updated since they completed eMINTS PD and to collaborate with other eMINTS teachers in the development of innovative and engaging lessons for students.
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Q. Is Veteran eMINTS PD aimed at a particular grade level?
A. Veteran eMINTS teachers at all grade and subject levels will find materials, resources and lessons applicable to their students
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Q. Is Veteran eMINTS PD available to veteran eMINTS teachers in all locations in Missouri and nationally? When are the one-hour introductory webninar sessions held?
A. Veteran eMINTS PD is available to veteran eMINTS teachers in all locations in Missouri and nationally.
The one-hour introductory webinar sessions are held on multiple dates and at different times depending on the distribution of participants. The one-hour webinar introductory sessions generally are held in the fall of each school year.
Attendance at the eMINTS Winter Conference is open to veteran eMINTS teachers from any state. Summer institutes are available only in Missouri.
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Q. What professional development program activities are included in Veteran eMINTS PD?
A. Veteran eMINTS teachers' activities are drawn from advanced activities and materials that are part of the eMINTS PD program. As additional eMINTS PD materials are created each year, new activities will be included. Topics planned for coverage may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Inquiry-based Lessons: Converting Traditional Lessons to IBL
- Interdisciplinary Teaching
- Assessment
- Multimedia Productions
- Assessing Student Technology Products
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Q. What are the attendance or other requirements for Veteran eMINTS PD? What are the effective dates of the annual enrollment?
A. Participants in Veteran eMINTS Teachers program are expected to attend a one- hour introductory webinar session for the online collaborative environment (if selected). During the introductory session, participants will be enrolled in the eMINTS veteran teachers' online program. Prior to enrollment, participants will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions of access to the online space and eMINTS professional development materials. The terms and conditions include acknowledgement that the materials are solely for the personal professional use of the veteran eMINTS teacher and will not be distributed to any other individuals or used for commercial purposes The program will be in effect for one calendar year from the date of enrollment in the online program. There are no additional attendance requirements beyond the introductory webinar session to the online environment.
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Q. Is it possible to join Veteran eMINTS PD in the middle of the school year? Is the cost reduced?
A. Late enrollment for the online collaboration environment will be offered in January each year if sufficient participants enroll. A minimum of ten participants will be required to form a late enrollment cohort group. The cost will not be reduced. A one-hour webinar session will be held in late Janaury. Access will be available to participants from the January introductory session through fall of the following year.
Registration for Winter Conference and Summer Institutes is always on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Q. Who is eligible to apply for Veteran eMINTS PD?
A.: Any teacher who has successfully complete the two-year eMINTS PD program is eligible to apply for and participate in Veteran eMINTS Teacher programs upon payment of annual participation or registration fees. Names of teachers who have successfully completed the two-year eMINTS PD program are maintained at the eMINTS National Center Office. Registrants for Veteran eMINTS Teacher programs will be checked against the database.
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Q. Are private, independent and charter school veteran eMINTS teachers eligible to participate in Veteran eMINTS PD?
A. Yes. Private and independent school veteran eMINTS teachers as well as charter school veteran eMINTS teachers are eligible to register to participate in the veteran eMINTS teachers' online collaboration environment upon payment of annual participation fees.
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Q. What is the registration cost for Veteran eMINTS PD?
A.: The costs are outlined in the description of eMINTS professional development programs cost table.
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Q. What sources of support are available to pay the participation costs for Veteran eMINTS PD?
A. Schools, districts, and other educational organizations may fund eMINTS professional development programs using the following sources of funds:
- eMINTS application & 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 veteran eMINTS teachers from a school or district may participate in Veteran eMINTS PD?
A. There is no limit on the number of veteran eMINTS teachers from a school or district that may apply to participate in Veteran eMINTS Teacher programs.
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Q. What equipment requirements must participants in Veteran eMINTS PD meet?
A. Participants in Veteran eMINTS teacher programs need a computer (laptop or desktop), Internet connectivity and a web browser.
