Instructional Staff


Questions
1)  What if a workshop that I have taken is not showing up in my escWorks report?
2)  How do I receive credit for my online courses?
3)  When will I get my certificates?
4)  What if I have taken other technology workshops and courses at the university level?
5)  I have a Technology Certification from another school district. Do I still have to take the Technology Certification for Humble ISD?
6)  Is there any way to see the material that is covered on the Advanced Placement exams?
7)  Is there description or summary with the material for each workshop?
8)  Will I receive comp time for any of these workshops?
9)  How much credit will I receive for the workshops?
10)  How much credit will I receive for the advanced placement assessments?
11)  What if I am ready for the next level before it is available?
12)  What if I know everything there is to know about the first level?
13)  Why am I being required to pass these technology levels?
14)  Will this be in addition to my 40 hours of professional growth?
15)  How many levels will I be required to pass?
16)  How long will I have to complete each level?
17)  What happens if I do not get my hours completed before the deadline?
18)  Do ParaEducators have to do this?
19)  What if I am not sure if my job is considered Instructional?
20)  Who is the audience?
21)  Is it required that I receive my technology level certificates?
22)  If I have taken one of the online courses and passed do I still need to take the Advanced Placement Exam?
23)  If I do not pass the advance placement assessment exam what do I do?
24)  What is the criterion for passing the advance placement assessments?
25)  How will that person know how to assess the tests and products?
26)  Who will determine whether I get credit or not?
27)  Why are the remaining levels not published yet?
28)  Why do we have to wait to begin levels 2 – 4?
29)  When will the other levels be available?
 
Answers
1)  Q What if a workshop that I have taken is not showing up in my escWorks report?
A
There are several reasons that your workshops would not be showing in the escWorks report. Instead of trying to figure out why it is not showing up, I would recommend that you turn your proof of taking the class in to the person on your campus that enters credit for staff development. Then they can enter it into the system.
2)  Q How do I receive credit for my online courses?
A
After you have taken your online courses, you will need to take your proof of work to the person on your campus that enters credit for staff development in escWorks. If you take the coursework, you will need to print out the "End of Lesson" form and any work you are required to do and staple it with a copy of your portfolio. You can view and print your portfolio when you are logged in to the Tech Certification online course. There is a tab on the left hand side that you can click on to view your report. If you take the exams, you will need to take a copy of your portfolio page proving that you took that exam and passed with an 80% or better.
3)  Q When will I get my certificates?
A
You will receive your certificate after you have completed all course work and/or passed the advanced placement tests for each course. *Since we have transferred to the escWorks system, there is a delay in distributing the certificates. Please be patient.
4)  Q What if I have taken other technology workshops and courses at the university level?
A
It is to your advantage that you have taken the university courses, however, we do not accept credit for those courses. You will still need to complete the courses we have created for the Humble ISD certification.
5)  Q I have a Technology Certification from another school district. Do I still have to take the Technology Certification for Humble ISD?
A
Yes, you will still be required to complete all certification levels for the Humble ISD Technology Certification program. No exceptions.
6)  Q Is there any way to see the material that is covered on the Advanced Placement exams?
A
Yes, you will find list of objectives or checklist for each of the Advanced Placement exams on the Instructional Technology web site.
7)  Q Is there description or summary with the material for each workshop?
A
Yes, the objectives for each of the workshops are found on the Instructional Technology web site.
8)  Q Will I receive comp time for any of these workshops?
A

Six of these hours will be designated to the district comp day required for all employees. It is up to each Principal to determine whether you have completed the work off contract time.

9)  Q How much credit will I receive for the workshops?
A
See description of classes for specific credit details.
10)  Q How much credit will I receive for the advanced placement assessments?
A
You will receive one hour of professional growth for each assessment.
11)  Q What if I am ready for the next level before it is available?
A
We are trying to allow ample time for teachers to achieve the requirements for each level. Therefore, we do not plan to offer the remaining levels until each staff member has had at least one and ½ years to complete the assessment.
12)  Q What if I know everything there is to know about the first level?
A

Even if you feel confident that you know the material in the level, you will still need to pass the Advance Placement test to record your mastery of that area.

13)  Q Why am I being required to pass these technology levels?
A
It is the expectation that all Humble ISD classroom teachers meet or exceed state mandates for technology proficiencies and that technology staff development is focused on bringing all district employees to standard level of expertise, allowing them to provide opportunities for students to use technology in the classroom.
14)  Q Will this be in addition to my 40 hours of professional growth?
A
No, this time will count as part of your 40 hours of expected professional growth per year.
15)  Q How many levels will I be required to pass?
A
You are required to pass all four levels of the Technology Certificate program.
16)  Q How long will I have to complete each level?
A
You have two years to complete each level.
17)  Q What happens if I do not get my hours completed before the deadline?
A
If you do not get your hours completed during the allotted time, your Principal will address that issue on an individual basis.
18)  Q Do ParaEducators have to do this?
A
No, at this time ParaEducators are not required to complete the certification.  However, if you are interested in obtaining your certificate, please contact Shanna James at #8367.
19)  Q What if I am not sure if my job is considered Instructional?
A
If you give direct instruction to students then you are considered “Instructional”.  Therefore, you will be required to complete the Technology Certification Program.
20)  Q Who is the audience?
A
At this time all Instructional staff (ex. Teachers, Librarians, Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists) will participate in the certificate program. In the future, other identified groups will have similar certificate program available.
21)  Q Is it required that I receive my technology level certificates?
A

Yes, you are required to pass each level in the allotted time.

22)  Q If I have taken one of the online courses and passed do I still need to take the Advanced Placement Exam?
A
No, the assessment piece is included in the online coursework.  So you will either take the online class OR the exam (not both).
23)  Q If I do not pass the advance placement assessment exam what do I do?
A
If you do not pass the advance placement exam, you will need to take the workshop either online or through your campus IT.
24)  Q What is the criterion for passing the advance placement assessments?
A
You must receive an 80% or above on the Advance Placement tests to receive credit for that course.
25)  Q How will that person know how to assess the tests and products?
A
The test scores will be generated by the online system and you must receive score of 80% or better to receive credit. A rubric will be provided to the designee for each required product.
26)  Q Who will determine whether I get credit or not?
A
There will be person on your campus designated by your principal to assess your test scores and products to determine if they comply with the requirements of the class.
27)  Q Why are the remaining levels not published yet?
A
The upper levels are still in development because we anticipate possible changes in need over the course of the proposed timeline.
28)  Q Why do we have to wait to begin levels 2 – 4?
A
We are spreading the staff development hours out to help you meet your annual requirements for professional growth.
29)  Q When will the other levels be available?
A
Level One will be available beginning Fall of 2003. The remaining levels will be available at least one semester before target date of implementation.