About Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers
How can Field Trainers check their status?
Field Trainers can check their status (credentials) in the Verizon Thinkfinity Professional Development Database, myThinkfinity:
- Login to myThinkfinity and click on the “View My Credentials” link in the Credentials section on the right.
- You will see your Active Credentials, any Expired Credentials that you have, the Renewal Requirements for your current credential, what the next credential level is, and how to achieve that next credential level.
Trainers can also now view their training activity in the "View My Activity" tab within the My Profile section. In addition to sessions you have registered for or rostered into, a list of sessions for which you are listed as the trainer will be on this page with links to session details.
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Why are there different levels of Field Trainers?
The new Verizon Thinkfinity paradigm, launched in November 2007, has three different levels--or credentials--of Field Trainers (FT1, FT2 and FT3) based on the trainer's qualifications and training abilities.
- Field Trainer 1 (FT1) - an individual who has successfully completed a TRN-1 course to become a Field Trainer
- Field Trainer 2 (FT2) – a Field Trainer 1 who has successfully completed TRN-2 course; or an individual who has successfully completed a TRN-O (c) course
- Field Trainer 3 (FT3) – a Field Trainer 2 who has delivered at least two official training sessions for a total of 10 attendees and who has received a rate the trainer mean survey score of 4.5 or greater for each session
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What is a Verizon Thinkfinity Field Trainer and how do educators become Field Trainers?
A Verizon Thinkfinity Field Trainer is an educator who has been trained to deliver Verizon Thinkfinity training to end users (TCH), helping educators integrate Verizon Thinkfinity resources into the curriculum to enhance student learning.
An educator must successfully complete a Verizon Thinkfinity Train-the-Trainer session (TRN), conducted by a Certified Trainer or a National Verizon Thinkfinity Trainer, in order to qualify as a Verizon Thinkfinity Field Trainer.
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What is a Verizon Thinkfinity Certified Trainer?
A Verizon Thinkfinity Certified Trainer is an educator who has been trained to deliver Verizon Thinkfinity Training to End Users (TCH) and Train-the-Trainer Sessions (TRN). Certified Trainers are the top-tier trainers within Verizon Thinkfinity State Training Networks and are certified annually to ensure they are current and up-to-date with the Verizon Thinkfinity program and resources.
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How do Field Trainers maintain their status?
To maintain their status, Field Trainers with a credential of FT1 or FT2 must conduct at least one official* Verizon Thinkfinity Training for at least 5 total attendees (can be in multiple sessions), and receive a survey average** of at least 4.0 out of 5.0 for each session counted within the previous 12 months.
Field Trainers with a FT3 credential must conduct at least one official* Verizon Thinkfinity Training for at least 5 total attendees (can be in multiple sessions), and receive a survey average** of at least 4.5 out of 5.0 for each session counted within the previous 12 months.
Note:
* See the question "What is an “official” training session?" in the About Verizon Thinkfinity Training Sessions section for the definition of an official training.
** See the question "What are the survey score requirements and how are they calculated?" in the Training Surveys section for information on how survey scores are calculated.
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If Field Trainers lose their status, how can they regain it?
Field Trainers who have lost their Field Trainer Status--due to inactivity for a period of 12 months or more, or to average survey scores** below 4.0--may regain Field Trainer status by participating in a free 3-hour Field Trainer Refresher Session (FT-R), delivered via Web Conference. Once they have completed this refresher session, they are required to conduct at least one official* training session for end users in the following 12-month period.
NOTE: FT-R sessions will be available starting spring 2009.
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How do educators become Verizon Thinkfinity Certified Trainers?
Educators must successfully complete each of the following steps in order to qualify as a Verizon Thinkfinity Certified Trainer:
- Become a Verizon Thinkfinity Field Trainer
Successfully complete Verizon Thinkfinity Trainer Sessions: TRN-1 and TRN-2 OR TRN-Online OR Bridge Training for Field Trainers (offered through April 2008).
- Demonstrate Outstanding Training Skills as a Field Trainer
After completing TRN-2, successfully deliver at least two official* sessions to a minimum total of 10 teachers and earn a Trainer Score** minimum of 4.5 out of 5.0 for each session. -
- Successfully Complete Certified Trainer Training Session
Successfully complete the 2-day Certified Trainer Workshop (TCT) or TCT-Online (TCT-Online currently under development)
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How do Certified Trainers maintain their status?
To maintain certification status, Certified Trainers must meet the following training proficiency requirements:
- Successfully complete recertification training (TCT-R) within the quarter of original certification, the following year. TCT-R is a three-hour Web Conferencing session. TCT-R sessions are conducted quarterly as follows:
Original Certification
(Completed TCT Training)
| Quarter | Recertification Period (Must complete TCT-R Webinar) |
| January 1 – March 31 | Q1 | January 1 – March 31 |
| April 1 – June 30 | Q2 | April 1 – June 30 |
| July 1 – September 30 | Q3 | July 1 – September 30 |
| October 1 – December 31 | Q4 | October 1 – December 31 |
- Conduct at least 3 official* trainings of at least 30 total attendees, earn a survey average** of at least 4.5 for each training by the end date of the quarter of original certification, the following year.
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If Certified Trainers lose their status, how can they regain it?
Certified Trainer who do not meet ALL recertification requirements will be re-classified as Field Trainers, and will retain Field Trainer status as long as they continue to meet the requirements for Field Trainers. If interested in returning to Certified Trainer status, the trainer must re-enter the Verizon Thinkfinity Certified Trainer program starting with successful completion of a certification workshop (TCT).
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If a Verizon Thinkfinity Trainer changes positions or organizations, can they still be a Trainer?
Once a Trainer is trained on Verizon Thinkfinity, they will remain a Verizon Thinkfinity Trainer regardless of the position they hold, as long as other training requirements are met. If a Trainer does change organizations or positions within their current organization, we would like them to make that adjustment to their record by editing their profile in myThinkfinity. We also ask that Trainers make routine updates to reflect changes in their e-mail address, phone number, school/organization, mailing address, etc.
If a Certified Trainer moves out of state, he/she should use the “Contact Us” link at the top of the Verizon Thinkfinity homepage to inquire about Verizon Thinkfinity in their new state of residence.
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How can I change my password for myThinkfinity?
Trainers can change their myThinkfinity password by clicking on the Update My Profile link in their myThinkfinity account.
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Are Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers paid for conducting trainings?
Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers are not compensated by the Verizon Foundation for conducting trainings. However, Trainers receive benefits such as: access to resources, communications, and an online management system for training; membership in a national network of educational technology staff developers; and opportunities to be recognized nationally as a Trainer of the Month or Trainer of the Year. Additionally, Trainers get to share a meaningful, high-quality resource with colleagues and students to help improve educational outreach and activity in the community.
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Trainer Profile Information
What does the check box labeled "Please do not contact me to conduct Verizon Thinkfinity Training Sessions. I will schedule my own sessions.” mean?
Checking this box removes you from the list of trainers who can be contacted to conduct or co-conduct a training session. This means that your name will not appear in the search list when other trainers are looking for co-trainers. If you know you will be co-conducting a session with another trainer and they will be setting up the session in the system, this box should not be checked or you will not appear in the search list and will not be able to be added to the training session.
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If a Verizon Thinkfinity Trainer’s e-mail address or other personal information changes, how can they make those changes to their Trainer Profile?
If a Trainer’s personal information - including e-mail address, school/ organization, phone number, mailing address, etc. – changes, we would like the Trainer to make that adjustment in their myThinkfinity Profile.
Trainers should make edits to their profile using the "Manage My Profile" link in myThinkfinity.
To make changes using the "Manage My Profile" link, please follow the steps below:
- Log into myThinkfinity using your login ID and password.
- Click on the "Manage My Profile" link in the right navigation bar.
- Make the necessary edits on each page, being sure to click the "Next" button until you reach the last page where you can save your changes by clicking on the "Complete Profile" button.
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What if my school/organization is not in the list?
Many school and organization names selected through the Organization Selection tool are truncated when searching by state and keyword. For this reason, it may be helpful to search for school or organization names using only a partial school name. For example, many departments of education are listed in the database as “DEPT OF EDUC.” Thus, a search on “department” would not yield these organization names. To locate such truncated school or organization names, be sure to search on partial words such as “dept” or “educ.”
If you have exhausted all other options and are still unable to locate your training, please e-mail FieldTraining@Thinkfinity.org.
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If a Trainer can't remember his/her myThinkfinity login or password, who should be contacted?
A Trainer's Login ID is usually the e-mail address they used when rostering into the Verizon Thinkfinity session at which they were initially trained. If they have forgotten their password, they can click on the "Forgot your Password?" link and it will be e-mailed to their account. If they have changed e-mail addresses since being trained, they should contact FieldTraining@Thinkfinity.org for their information.
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How can a Trainer change their myThinkfinity password?
Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers can change their password in myThinkfinity through the "Manage My Profile" link. Please see the question above regarding making changes to a Trainer's profile for specific steps.
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About Verizon Thinkfinity Training Sessions
What is an "Awareness Session"?
An Awareness Session is less than 90 minutes and intended to introduce Verizon Thinkfinity to an audience of educators and others interested in learning more about the program. Trainers may conduct Awareness Sessions for decision-makers at the building, district, regional or organizational level to familiarize them with the Verizon Thinkfinity Program prior to training; for Field Trainers and End Users/Teachers; for members of a school board or parent organization to showcase the resources that teachers will use with students; etc.
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What is a "TCH-P" training session?
A TCH-P (Partial) training is a session designed and customized for an audience of primarily pre-service or classroom teachers, or other building-level educators who teach and support K-12 students in the school environment. The minimum time requirement for a TCH-P is 90 minutes to cover a portion of the “complete” Verizon Thinkfinity training. It can comprise a variety of components, including but not limited to: a basic overview of the Verizon Thinkfinity program and Verizon’s partnership with premier education and literacy organizations to provide free, high quality, standards- and Web-based resources; navigation to resources from one or more of the 7 Partner sites and the Thinkfinity Literacy Network; use of the Verizon Thinkfinity search engine; and integration of Verizon Thinkfinity resources within the context of a lesson to enhance student learning.
NOTE: “Complete” Verizon Thinkfinity training, covering all of the above components, is represented in TCH-C.
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What is a “TCH-C” training session?
A TCH-C (Complete) training is a session designed for an audience of primarily pre-service or classroom teachers, or other building-level educators who teach and support K-12 students in the school environment. The minimum time requirement for a TCH-C is 6 hours to cover a basic overview of the Verizon Thinkfinity program and Verizon’s partnership with premier education and literacy organizations to provide free, high quality, standards- and Web-based resources. Attendees of a TCH-C will be instructed on the types of online resources available through Verizon Thinkfinity and learn to effectively navigate to resources by way of the main Verizon Thinkfinity homepage, each of the Content Partner sites, and through the Verizon Thinkfinity search engine. Attendees will also develop an integration plan in which they determine how Verizon Thinkfinity resources can best be embedded within the context of a lesson to enhance student learning.
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What is a “TRN-1” training session?
A TRN-1 (Basic) training is a session designed for educators who would like to become a Verizon Thinkfinity Field Trainer to train End Users. The minimum time requirement for a TRN-1 is 6 hours. A portion of this session will mirror an accelerated version of the TCH-C training for End Users, providing an overview of the Verizon Thinkfinity program and instruction on locating and integrating Verizon Thinkfinity’s online educational resources to support student learning. In addition, the training curriculum for end-user sessions will be defined and attendees will compare various training scenarios for end-user sessions. Attendees will also receive access to free training resources through Verizon Thinkfinity’s Trainer Toolbox, as well as Verizon Thinkfinity’s information management system to track and review training data.
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What is a “TRN-2” training sessions?
A TRN-2 (Advanced) training is a session designed for Verizon Thinkfinity Field Trainers interested in expanding their knowledge of Verizon Thinkfinity resources and strategies for successful and engaging professional development to support end-user training. The minimum time requirement for a TRN-2 is 6 hours, and attendees must have successfully completed a TRN-1. Attendees will have opportunities to collaborate with other professionals to discuss various training strategies and to create customized training plans for implementing Verizon Thinkfinity within their communities. A TRN-2 may be conducted as a “day 2” follow-up to a TRN-1, or as a stand-alone session.
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Is there a required amount of contact time for Training Sessions?
An Awareness Session has a maximum time requirement of 90 minutes.
A TCH-P (Partial) has a minimum time requirement of 90 minutes, and no maximum time requirement.
A TCH-C (Complete) has a minimum time requirement of 6 hours, and no maximum time requirement.
A TRN-1 (Basic) has a minimum time requirement of 6 hours, and no maximum time requirement.
A TRN-2 (Advanced) has a minimum time requirement of 6 hours, and no maximum time requirement.
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What is an “official” training session?
An “official” training session is one in which all of the required steps are taken for the session.
An End-User Session (TCH) or Train-the-Trainer Session (TRN) requires the following four steps:
- Trainers should register the session via myThinkfinity;
- All participants should sign onto the Roster via myThinkfinity;
- Participants should complete a Survey via myThinkfinity following the session;
- The Trainer should complete a Follow-up Form in myThinkfinity.
An Awareness Session requires the following two steps:
- Trainers should register the session via myThinkfinity;
- The Trainer should complete a Follow-up Form in myThinkfinity.
NOTE: The Roster and Training Survey steps are optional for Awareness Sessions. However, if a trainer intends to use the Awareness Session to meet a training requirement, all four steps must be completed.
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Why does a Training need to be official?
Verizon Thinkfinity relies on the information collected from trainings to gauge the progress of the rollout in each service area and nationally. This information also drives the national Trainer Recognition Program and supports ongoing efforts to secure funding. Consequently, it is very important that all Trainers complete the required reporting steps for the type of session they are conducting.
NOTE: To support this data collection for all registered sessions, an e-mail reminder is sent to the Trainer seven days after the end date of the session listing any reporting steps that have not been completed. Approximately one month after the training, all sessions that have been registered but have no corroborating data (i.e., Attendee Rosters, Attendee Surveys or Trainer Follow-up Form) are removed from the training calendar. The trainer is sent a notification message via e-mail that the session has been removed.
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What are the survey score requirements and how are they calculated?
The Trainer Score average for all TCH and TRN sessions is calculated by averaging the scores from all participants for the following survey questions:
- How effectively did the trainer design and facilitate activities throughout the training?
- Please rate the trainer’s presentation skills.
- How effective was the trainer at providing useful answers to direct questions?
- How effective was the trainer at creating energy and enthusiasm for Verizon Thinkfinity?
The Trainer Score average for Awareness Sessions is calculated by averaging the scores from all participants for the following question:
- Please evaluate the effectiveness of the trainer.
The Trainer Score average for online courses is calculated by averaging the scores from all participants for he following questions:
- How effectively did the facilitator guide participants through the course content (directing participant activity, highlighting key concepts, identifying tasks and assignments)?
- How responsive was the facilitator throughout the course, answering questions, and providing timely feedback on course assignments?
- How effective was the facilitator at advancing learning (i.e., providing quality feedback on assignments, asking probing questions within discussions, answering questions thoroughly)?
Average score minimums are as follows:
- To maintain Field Trainer status - 4.0 / 5
- To qualify for Certified Trainer status - 4.5 / 5
- To retain Certified Trainer status - 4.5 / 5
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Conducting Verizon Thinkfinity Training
Where can I find the most up-to-date training materials and resources?
The most current training materials and resources are located in the Trainer Toolbox within the myThinkfinity section of the Verizon Thinkfinity Web site. The link to the Trainer Toolbox will take you to updated versions of over 50 resources to help you with your training session. Please note that in order to access Trainer Toolbox, you must use your current Verizon Thinkfinity ID and Password.
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Why can't TRN session attendees access the Trainer Toolbox during the training session?
Attendees of train-the-trainer sessions (TRN-1) will receive access to the Trainer Toolbox the day after they successfully complete their session. Certified Trainers can contact their Training Administrator for access to the Verizon Thinkfinity Demonstration site, if desired.
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Is there a limit to the number of trainings one Verizon Thinkfinity Trainer may conduct?
There is no limit to the number of trainings a Verizon Thinkfinity Trainer can conduct. However, in order to remain “active,” Field Trainers must conduct at least one official* End-User Training or Awareness session to a total of at least 5 participants, and receive an average survey score of at least 4.0 out of 5 within a 12 month period. Certified Trainers must conduct at least three official* Train-the-Trainer, End-User, or Awareness sessions to a total of at least 30 participants, and receive an average survey scores of at least 4.5 out of 5 in a 12 month period.
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Is there a minimum or maximum number of people a Trainer can train during one session?
There is no minimum or maximum number of people that a Trainer can train during one session. However, Trainers should be sure to keep the size of their sessions manageable and in relation to the resources they have available. For example, if you are conducting a Training of End Users (TCH) and your computer lab only has 15 computers, you would not want many more than 15 people to attend your session. However, some doubling up is possible, especially if partnering a less experienced person with a more experienced one.
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What are the greatest challenges that Trainers face?
Trainers are often faced with the following challenges during a training session:
- Time: Time is often the biggest hurdle. Trainers may abbreviate, modify and adapt material to conduct a TCH-P (Partial) session to fit the time allotted. Trainers also may deliver the training in multiple sessions to fit available time slots.
- Technology: Often referenced as a challenge in attendee survey data, technology difficulties range in scope and complexity from download time to plug-ins. It is best for the Trainer to anticipate these issues and take pre-emptive action to avoid them (i.e. assure adequate Internet connectivity on the presenter and participant computers for a quality session, load plug-ins in advance of the training session, and have a site-based tech staff member on-hand for emergencies).
For technical optimization and plug-in requirements, please see our Plug-ins and Utilities page. Basic specifications for trainers' and participants' computers are: a high-speed (T-1 line or higher) connection to the Internet; a Web browser (Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 and above or Netscape version 6.1 and above, with Java script enabled); and the latest versions of RealPlayer, QuickTime, Shockwave, Flash and Adobe Acrobat plug-ins installed on all computers. The trainer's computer also requires Microsoft PowerPoint 98 or higher and a connection to a video projection system.
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What are the technical specifications for a training location?
Basic specifications for trainers' and participants' computers are:
- 1028 x 768 screen resolution,
- a high-speed (T-1 line or higher) connection to the Internet,
- Microsoft® Internet Explorer 6.0 and 7.0, Netscape® 7.2 and Mozilla Firefox™ 2.0 on the PC. We support Safari 2.0 on the Macintosh®. Earlier browser versions may not display optimally on screen and may not run some enhanced features of the site,
- Javascript enabled,
- and the latest versions of RealPlayer, QuickTime, Shockwave, Flash and Adobe Acrobat plug-ins installed on all computers.
Please also visit our Plug-ins and Utilities page accessible from the Trainer Toolbox in the Professional Development section of the Verizon Thinkfinity Web site.
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Required Training Logistics
What is required for a training session to be considered “official?”
In order to be considered an “official” Verizon Thinkfinity training session, specific steps are required.
An End-User Session (TCH) or Train-the-Trainer Session (TRN) requires the following four steps:
- Trainers should register the session via myThinkfinity;
- All participants should sign onto the Roster via myThinkfinity;
- Participants should complete a Survey via myThinkfinity following the session;
- The Trainer should complete a Follow-up Form via myThinkfinity.
An Awareness Session requires the following two steps:
- Trainers should register the session via myThinkfinity;
- The Trainer should complete a Follow-up Form via myThinkfinity.
NOTE: The Roster and Training Survey steps are optional for Awareness Sessions. However, if a trainer intends to use the Awareness Session to meet a training requirement, all four steps must be completed.
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Is there a time limit to complete the steps for a training session?
Rosters and surveys must be completed within two weeks of the end date of the registered training session. After two weeks, the links to the roster and survey will become inactive. Follow-up Forms can be completed at any time.
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What happens if all of the steps for a Training are not completed?
Verizon Thinkfinity relies on the information collected from trainings to gauge the progress of the rollout in each rollout area and nationally. This information also drives the national Trainer Recognition Program and supports ongoing efforts to secure funding. Consequently, it is very important that all Trainers complete the required reporting steps for the type of session they are conducting.
To support this data collection for all registered sessions, an e-mail reminder is sent to the Trainer seven days after the session end date has passed listing any reporting steps that have not been completed. Approximately one month after the training, all sessions that have been registered but have no corroborating data (i.e. Attendee Rosters, Attendee Surveys or Trainer Follow-up Form) are removed from the training calendar. The trainer is sent a notification message via e-mail that the session has been removed.
Sessions that have missing information from one or more of the required reporting steps will not count toward training/recertification requirements or Trainer Recognition (Trainer of the Month/Trainer of the Year) designations.
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Training Logistics: Registering and Removing Training Sessions
Why does my co-Trainer not show up in the list when I search for them?
If the co-trainer you are looking for does not show up in the trainer list, they may have checked the box in their profile labeled "Please do not contact me to conduct Verizon Thinkfinity Training Sessions. I will schedule my own sessions.” Ask them to uncheck this box in the "View My Credentials" section of their myThinkfinity account and they should then appear in the search list.
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Why are Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers asked to register Training Sessions?
Verizon Thinkfinity relies on the information collected from trainings to gauge the progress of the rollout in each State Education Network and nationally. This information also drives the national Trainer Recognition Program and supports ongoing efforts to secure funding. Consequently, it is very important that all Trainers complete the required reporting steps for the type of session they are conducting.
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How do Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers register Trainings?
All Trainers can register their trainings through the myThinkfinity link, found on the top right of any Thinkfinity.org page.
Trainers should also view our 4 Steps to a Complete Verizon Thinkfinity Training PowerPoint Tutorial available in the Training Materials section of the TrainerToolbox. This PowerPoint tutorial provides step-by-step instructions on how to register Training sessions, roster attendees, survey attendees, and follow-up on trainings.
To register your session via myThinkfinity, follow the steps below:
- From any Thinkfinity.org page, click on the myThinkfinity link in the top right. Log in using your Thinkfinity ID and password.
- Click on "Register New Session" under the 4 Step Process for Data Collection section.
- The Agreement Organization and Trainer Name should populate automatically. All other fields will need to be completed by the Trainer.
- Note: Multiple Trainers can now be assigned to the same training session. If you will be co-training with another Verizon Thinkfinity trainer, use the "Invite Trainer" link to search for and select your co-presenter.
- When adding a training date, please note that multiple days can now be added to the same training session. Logistics Forms are not required for a session, but if you are inviting a trainer, or if you are traveling to a location you have never been to before, you may want to have a Logistics Form completed by a site contact to ensure the training goes smoothly.
- When the registration is complete, click on the “Submit” button.
If you have any difficulty, please e-mail FieldTraining@Thinkfinity.org for assistance.
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What if a school/organization is not in the list?
Many school and organization names selected through this tool are truncated. For this reason, it may be helpful to search for school or organization names using only a partial school name. For example, many departments of education are listed in the database as “DEPT OF EDUC.” Thus, a search on “department” would not yield these organization names. To locate such truncated school or organization names, be sure to also search on partial words such as “dept” or “educ.”
If you have exhausted all other options and are still unable to locate your training, please e-mail us at FieldTraining@Thinkfinity.org.
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When training a group of people in multiple sessions (e.g., a block of time each day for several days), how should the Training be registered?
The new Verizon Thinkfinity Information Management System allows trainings that are split over several days to be registered as one complete session. When registering the training in myThinkfinity, select the date and time frame for each section of the training and add them to the registration form.
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Can multiple Trainers be associated with one Training?
Yes!
The new Verizon Thinkfinity Information Management System allows more than one trainer to be associated with a single training.
- To invite a trainer to co-conduct the session with you or to request that another trainer conduct the session for you, click on the "Invite Trainer" link listed on the "Add New Session" page. You can then search for a trainer using their e-mail address or last name, and state.
NOTE: If the trainer you are looking for does not show up in the trainer list, they may have checked the box in their profile labeled "Please do not contact me to conduct Verizon Thinkfinity Training Sessions. I will schedule my own sessions.” Ask them to uncheck this box in the "View My Credentials" section of thier myThinkfinity account and they should then appear in the search list.
- Once selected and added to the training, the trainer you selected will receive an e-mail stating that they have been invited to conduct the session. You may invite more than one trainer at a time.
- Each invited trainer will need to log into their myThinkfinity account, navigate to the Training Calendar, and click on the training's hyperlinked city and state to indicate their availability to conduct the session; either "Available" or "I cannot conduct this session."
- If an invited trainer marks themselves as "Available," then you will need to view the Trainer tab of the training session in question, Select the trainer who has responded as "Requested," and mark them as "Confirmed." If the invited trainer selected "I cannot conduct this session," they will be listed as "Unable."
- If you are looking for a trainer to conduct the session for you, you will need to remove yourself as a trainer once another trainer is located. You can do this by selecting your own record and marking it as "Unable."
Please contact FieldTraining@Thinkfinity.org if you have any questions.
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If a Trainer conducts a training session for only one person, should the session still be registered?
Yes. We have found that some Trainers prefer training their colleagues one-on-one or in small groups over several days during prep/planning periods or even after school. We applaud that and still ask that Trainers register these sessions in order to ensure that their efforts are recorded.
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Should Trainers register a session if they cover Verizon Thinkfinity during another training program - such as Intel® Teach to the Future?
Yes. If a session includes at least 90 minutes of Verizon Thinkfinity training, most likely it is a TCH-P (Partial). If a session includes less than 90 minutes of Verizon Thinkfinity training, it may be registered as an Awareness Session. In some cases, at least 6 hours will be devoted to Verizon Thinkfinity over the course of a multi-day session and all objectives for a complete session will be met – in this case, it may be registered as a TCH-C (Complete).
Note: Regardless of the session type, we ask that when completing the Follow-up Form you mention what training your Verizon Thinkfinity session was incorporated into and how that integration took place. This will help us to understand how Verizon Thinkfinity fits in with ongoing professional development training and will allow us to make any necessary additions to the program to benefit educators in the future. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at FieldTraining@Thinkfinity.org.
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How does a Trainer remove a Training from the calendar?
Trainings in the Verizon Thinkfinity Information Management System are not actually 'deleted,' but 'canceled.'
All Trainers should follow the instructions below to remove training sessions they registered from the training calendar.
- Log into myThinkfinity using your Login ID and Password. Note: Your Login ID is the e-mail address you used when you registered with Verizon Thinkfinity. If you have forgotten your password, please click on the "Forgot Your Password?" link.
- Once in myThinkfinity, click on the "Training Calendar" link under the Trainings section.
- Locate the training you wish to remove in the Training Calendar (using the drop-down list at the top of the calendar to access past trainings) and click on the location name (a hyperlink) to open the "Training Session Details" for that session.
- Once the Training details page opens, click on the Training Status drop-down list and select "Canceled" and then click on the "Save Changes" button. A confirmation e-mail will then be sent to you.
- Once you have made all necessary edits, you can navigate to another page or logout of the system.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at FieldTraining@Thinkfinity.org.
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How can a Verizon Thinkfinity Trainer make changes to a registered Training session?
Trainers can make changes to the following fields in myThinkfinity as directed below.
- Organization to be Trained (Training Organization)
- Training Date(s)/Times
- Training Location
- Maximum Number of Training Attendees (if applicable)
- Log into myThinkfinity using your Login ID and Password. Note: Your Login ID is the e-mail address you used when you registered with Verizon Thinkfinity. If you have forgotten your password, please click on the "Forgot Your Password" link.
- Once logged in, click on the Training Calendar link under the Trainings section.
- Locate your training session in the calendar (using the drop-down list at the top of the calendar to access other months) and click on the hyperlinked city and state to access the Training details page.
- Click on the "Edit Training Session" button at the top of the page and make the appropriate changes.
- Once you have made all necessary corrections, click on the "Update" button.
- Review all changes and then click on the "Save Changes" button. You can then navigate to a new page or logout of the system.
Please contact FieldTraining@Thinkfinity.org if you have any questions.
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Training Logistics: Attendee Rosters
How can Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers remove an attendee from a training session Roster?
Trainers are encouraged to review the Rosters for their training session and remove any attendees that either did not attend the complete session or did not complete the requirements for passing the session. Trainers can follow the steps below to remove an attendee from their Training Roster.
- Log into myThinkfinity using your Login ID and Password. Note: Your Login ID is the e-mail address you used when you rostered into Verizon Thinkfinity. If you have forgotten your password, please click on the "Forgot Your Password" link.
- Once in myThinkfinity, click on the "Training Calendar" link under the Trainings section.
- Locate your training in the calendar, using the drop-down list at the top of the page to access other months, if necessary, and click on the hyperlinked city and state to access the training details.
- Once in the training details, click on the Roster link at the top of the page. To remove an attendee, click on the "Remove" link. If the attendee has completed a Survey for the session, you will not be able to remove them. Please use the Contact Us button at the top of any page to contact Verizon Thinkfinity to have them removed.
Note: The information collected in the Roster is for use by State Education Partners and Verizon Thinkfinity only and is used to track the progress of Verizon Thinkfinity rollout in specific service areas.
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Can my attendees print out certificates of participation?
Attendees who have completed both a roster and a survey for a training session will have access to a Certificate of Participation showing the number of professional development hours completed during that session. Attendees should follow the steps below to access and print their certificate:
- Log in to myThinkfinity using your Login ID and Password. Note: Your Login ID is the e-mail address you used when you registered with Thinkfinity. If you have forgotten your password, please click on the "Forgot your Password" link.
- Once in myThinkfinity, click on the "Click Here to access a list of courses you have conducted or attended" link at the bottom of the home page.
- Edit the Start and End Date ranges as desired and click the "Submit" button to generate a list of sessions.
- Click on the Location hyperlink for the desired session and then click on the Completion Certificate link in the lower right corner.
- The certificate will generate in a new window along with your print menu. Note: You will need to edit your printer preferences to make the certificate print in landscape. You may also want to turn off Headers and Footers for a cleaner Certificate.
- You can then close the certificate window and return to myThinkfinity.
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Why do participants have to sign-in (on the roster) at training sessions?
Participants are required to Roster in at the training sessions so that there is a record of their attendance. The partnerships forged between Verizon Thinkfinity and the State Education Partner organizations require that Verizon Thinkfinity Professional Development be offered to all teachers throughout the State Education Network. The Roster information is for State Education Partners and Verizon Thinkfinity only, and is used to track the progress of Verizon Thinkfinity rollout in specific service areas.
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How do participants Roster into a Verizon Thinkfinity Training?
Participants can follow the steps below to complete the Attendee Roster.
- Click on myThinkfinity from the top of any Thinkfinity.org page.
- Log in using your Verizon Thinkfinity Login ID and Password (new users must first register with the site).
- Once logged in, click on the "Sign-in on Roster" link under the 4 Step Process for Data Collection section.
- A list of the current day's sessions will appear; locate the training you are attending in the list, or use the links at the top of the list to access other days.
- Once you have located the session you are attending, click on the hyperlinked Location.
- Review the Course Session Details page to ensure the training is the correct one, and then click on the Roster button at the bottom of the page. If you have selected the incorrect training, please use your browser's Back button to return to the list.
Note: The information collected in the Roster is for use by State Education Partners and Verizon Thinkfinity only and is used to track the progress of Verizon Thinkfinity rollout in specific service areas.
Please also be sure to view our 4 Steps to a Complete Verizon Thinkfinity Training PowerPoint Tutorial available in the Master List of Resources in the Training Materials section of the Trainer Toolbox. This PowerPoint tutorial for Trainers provides step-by-step instructions on how to register training sessions via myThinkfinity, roster attendees, survey attendees, and follow-up on Trainings.
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How can I view a Master Roster for my Training Session?
Trainers can view the Master Roster for a training session they conducted by following the steps below:
- Log into myThinkfinity using your Login ID and Password. Note: Your Login ID is the e-mail address you used when you registered with Verizon Thinkfinity. If you have forgotten your password, please click on the "Forgot your Password" link.
- Once in myThinkfinity, click on the "Training Calendar" link under the Trainings section.
- Locate your training in the calendar, using the drop-down list at the top of the page to access other months, if necessary, and click on the hyperlinked city and state to access the training details.
- Once in the Training Details, click on the Roster link at the top of the page. This will provide you with a list of attendees who have successfully rostered into your session.
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How can Trainers add an attendee to a training session Roster?
Trainers can follow the steps below to add an attendee to the Roster.
- Log into myThinkfinity using your Login ID and Password. Note: Your Login ID is the e-mail address you used when you rostered into Verizon Thinkfinity. If you have forgotten your password, please click on the "Forgot your Password" link.
- Once in myThinkfinity, click on the "Training Calendar" link under the Trainings section.
- Locate your training in the calendar, using the drop-down list at the top of the page to access other months, if necessary, and click on the hyperlinked city and state to access the training details.
- Once in the Training Details, click on the Roster tab.
- If you are unsure if the attendee has already registered with Verizon Thinkfinity, click on the "Search and Add User" link and search for the user using their e-mail address first. If no match is found, click on the "Add New Attendee" link and complete all required fields.
- You can then click the "Update Roster" button and navigate to any other page.
If you have any questions, please e-mail FieldTraining@Thinkfinity.org for assistance.
Note: The information collected in the Roster is for use by State Education Partners and Verizon Thinkfinity only and is used to track the progress of Verizon Thinkfinity rollout in specific service areas.
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If an attendee has rostered into a session in the past, should they complete the Roster again?
Even if an attendee has previously rostered into a Verizon Thinkfinity training session, they should still roster into the session they are currently attending in order for the Professional Development database to have accurate attendee information for all training sessions.
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Training Logistics: Attendee Surveys
Why do participants have to fill out the Training Survey?
The results of the Training Survey are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the trainer as well as the quality of the Verizon Thinkfinity online resources and training materials. Ensuring that every participant completes the survey is one way to assure the continued improvement and quality of the program.
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How do participants complete a Survey for a Training they attended?
Participants can follow the steps below to complete the Attendee Survey:
- Click on myThinkfinity from the top of any Thinkfinity.org page.
- Log in using your Verizon Thinkfinity Login ID and Password (new users must first register with the site).
- Once logged in, click on the "Complete a Survey" link under the 4 Step Process for Data Collection section.
- The page will refresh to a list of Surveys to be completed.
Please also be sure to view the 4 Steps to a Complete Verizon Thinkfinity Training PowerPoint Tutorial available in the Master List of Resources in the Training Materials section of the Trainer Toolbox. This PowerPoint tutorial provides step-by-step instructions on how to register Training sessions, roster and survey attendees, and complete Follow-up Forms via myThinkfinity.
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Can Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers review survey results for their trainings?
Trainers are e-mailed an aggregate survey report the morning after their training session, if any surveys have been entered.
If a trainer would like to review their results online, they should follow the steps below:
- Log into myThinkfinity using your Login ID and Password. Note: Your Login ID is the e-mail address you used when you rostered into Verizon Thinkfinity. If you have forgotten your password, please click on the "Forgot your Password?" link.
- Once logged in, click on the "View Survey Results" link under the Surveys section in the right navigation bar.
- Locate your training session in the calendar (using the drop-down list and Submit button at the top of the page or the previous/next month hyperlinks at the top of the calendar to access other months) and click on the hyperlinked Location to access the Survey Results page.
- Once in the Survey Results, trainers can review Survey Data, Comments, Respondent Information (to see who has completed a survey), and also export the survey to Excel.
- Trainers may also use the Survey "Filter" to view results of other surveys.
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Training Logistics: Trainer Follow-up Form
Why are Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers asked to complete the Trainer Follow-up Form?
Verizon Thinkfinity relies on the information collected from trainings to gauge the progress of the rollout in the State Education Network and nationally. This information also drives the national Trainer Recognition Program and supports ongoing efforts to secure funding. Consequently, it is very important that all Trainers complete the required reporting steps for the type of session they are conducting. The Follow-up Form is especially critical for Awareness Sessions because it is the only other step (aside from Registration) that is required for completion. If the Follow-up Form is not submitted, Verizon Thinkfinity will have no data to support that the training actually took place and the session may be removed from the Training Calendar altogether. This will result in a loss of data for Verizon Thinkfinity and in a loss of credit for a training session for the Trainer.
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How can Trainers complete a Follow-up Form for a session they conducted?
All Verizon Thinkfinity Trainers should complete their Follow-up Forms through myThinkfinity.
Be sure to view our 4 Steps to a Complete Verizon Thinkfinity Training PowerPoint Tutorial available in the Master List of Resources in the Training Materials section of the Trainer Toolbox. This PowerPoint tutorial provides step-by-step instructions on how to register Trainings sessions, roster and survey attendees and complete Follow-up Forms via myThinkfinity.
To complete your Trainer Follow-up Form via myThinkfinity, follow the steps below:
- Log into myThinkfinity using your Login ID and Password. Note: Your Login ID is the e-mail address you used when you Rostered into Verizon Thinkfinity. If you have forgotten your password, please click on the "Forgot your Password?" link.
- Once logged in, click on the "Trainer Follow-up" link under the 4 Step Process for Data Collection section.
- A listing of incomplete Follow-up Forms will be listed - if nothing is listed, there are no outstanding forms to be completed.
- Click on the "Follow-up Form" tab in the upper right corner of the Training Session details page.
- Complete the Follow-up Form and click the "Submit" button.
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